Zephaniah-God Cares for His Own

By Mary Vee
Zephaniah

From the Journals of the prophet Zephaniah

Photo Courtesy

My great-great grandfather, King Hezekiah ruled Judah. 

Since Hezekiah died we have had a lot of trouble here in Judah. 

When I was little, my father told me what had happened to our people long ago. He said, "After years of trouble and disobeying God while King Ahaz led us, we celebrated when his son, King Hezekiah took over the throne. 

"Your great-great-grandfather Hezekiah proved his love for God by tearing down the idols, opening the temple doors, and teaching the people to worship God as He had commanded."

He looked at me with a tear in his eye. "Yes, Hezekiah was a great king." He sighed. "Then his son, Manasseh ruled. Manasseh liked all the glory that came with being king. He wanted to please the nations all around us instead of the Almighty God. 

"He brought back all the idols. The people of Judah listened to him, setting aside all the good Hezekiah had taught them." He squeezed his eyes shut. "Terrible. Just terrible. The new children born in the country didn't know about God. They learned to worship these awful idols."

"Then what happened?" I asked him.

"Well, son, God did as He said He would. The people were punished. The Assyrian army came and took many of the rich and smart men, women, and children from Judah and made them slaves. We who are here are all that is left. 

"Manasseh cried out to God and said he was sorry. God heard his prayer and let him come back home. His son, Amon became king and did bad things like his father had done. There were and still are many of us who are afraid of the kings."

My father had taught me the stories of what had happened to our people, even from the days of Moses. I loved learning the wonderful things God did, but was very sad to hear about the bad things our people did.


Now that I'm older, I have the chance to tell others how God took care of us and about the good leaders we had like Moses, Joshua, David, Hezekiah, and others. 

Bad king Amon has since died and his son, eight-year-old Josiah has been crowned king. He is too young to make decisions right now. I have been appointed as an advisor for him. 

Recently, God gave me a message that I wrote down. 

The message is: because of the years of disobedience to God's Word, the people of Judah would be punished. The day of the Lord is coming. 

No matter what I said, many of the people didn't care. They didn't listen to me or God's message. They kept doing the bad things they enjoyed.

The punishment will come. They will see. But after a time, God said,
"The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you.
He will quiet you with his love.
He will rejoice over you with singing."

I especially liked delivering the last phrase. Just think, God will rejoice over us with singing. Isn't that good news?

I am wondering what young Josiah will do as king. Will he be a good king like Hezekiah or a bad king?

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1. Who is Zephaniah?
2. Had the people of Judah obeyed God?
3. Why or why not?
4. Who is the new king?
5. How old is he?
6. Why is Zephaniah helping the king?
7. Did you know God sings?

The Fall and Rise of Kings

By Mary Vee
II Kings 21 and II Chronicles 33

From the Journals of Josiah

Photo Courtesy

My grandfather, King Manasseh died and was given an honorable burial in the gardens of Uzza. 

I'd heard about the terrible things he'd done when he first ruled Judah and his time as a prisoner in Babylon.

Grandfather saw what he'd done wrong and wept before God. He tried to undo the bad and show his change of heart by getting rid of the idols and telling the people of Judah to worship God like He had started to do, but a lot of the damage had been done. Men and women continued to worship in the high places.

When grandfather died, his son Amon became king of Judah. Apparently my father, King Amon, preferred the old days when everyone worshiped idols. During the time he ruled he never changed. He became angry and yelled. He worshiped all the old idols that Grandfather use to have.

My father didn't live very long. I don't know if the people weren't happy with him or if it was because he never seemed to love God or respect Him. He became king at twenty-two years old and only ruled two years.

I'll never forget the day when several of father's officials came into the palace pretending to want to talk with him about an important matter. They ganged up on him and killed him. 

I know my father didn't follow the laws of God and had been a bad king. I think I even understand why the officials ganged up on him. I am only eight years old and very confused.

The guards and citizens from the kingdom surrounded the officials and everyone else involved in my father's murder and killed them.

The priest held a huge ceremony before all the people to crown me king. 

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1. How did Josiah know Manasseh?
2. Who became king after Manasseh?
3. What kind of a king was he? 
4. What happened to Josiah's father?
5. How old was Josiah?

6. Why did the priest have a huge ceremony before all the people?

Manasseh - Tried to Make Things Right

By Mary Vee
II Chronicles 33

From the Journals of Manasseh

Photo Courtesy

I will never forget how much it hurt when the soldiers beat me and dragged me on the long walk to Bablylon. When the Assyrians came in and captured the people of Jerusalem I felt terrible for them, even afraid. But when the soldiers found me in my hiding place and tied me with brass shackles, put a hook through my nose and dragged me away from my home everything became real.

I knew what caused all this trouble. The prophet Isaiah told us, but like the others I wouldn't listen. 

I made up my mind to walk away from the idols and advice from my frieda that took me away from the ways my father, King Hezekiah gave. I hurt the people of Jerusalem and had become a wicked king. I know what my father did and will now do those things that honor God myself...if I ever get back home.

God did hear my voice and my prayers. I meant every words of sorrow, and He knew I did. God let me go back home.

Before the attack by the Assyrians, I had let everything go. Judah seemed at peace. When reports came to me that the walls had crumbled in places and needed repair I ignored them. Who would attack us? We worshiped the gods of other nations and did whatever we could to show friendship to all the countries around us.

This is not what God wanted us to do. He wanted us to worship Him, and Him alone. We should have stood strong in the ways God taught in the Scriptures. But I didn't let the people. I can't help but sigh when I think back to the shameful things I did to men who refused to stop worshiping God.

I admit, I deserved the terrible treatment the Assyrians gave me.

To show my change of heart I set to work rebuilding the outer wall of Jerusalem, the City of David. I started west of the Gihon spring in the valley and kept rebuilding as far as the entrance of the Fish Gate and circled the hill of Ophel. I made sure the wall was not only stronger, but higher. The city had to be honored and kept safe. 

I ordered military commanders to protect all the fortified cities in Judah. We would become a strong nation again. Along with military strength we also needed to change our hearts. I got rid of the foreign gods and removed the images from the temple of the Lord. Next I took down the altars I had built on the temple hill and in Jerusalem and threw them outside of the city.

Once the idols and altars had been removed I fixed the altar of the Lord and offered a sacrifice to Him. I did this before all the people who remained in the city and ordered them to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. 

I knew there were men and women who still went to the high places where they use to worship the idols, but this time they went there to worship the Lord their God. That isn't so wrong...is it?

Author's note-the answer to Manasseh's question is yes. God wants us to completely obey Him not just kinda obey Him. God had told the people to worship at the temple in Jerusalem.

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1. Where did the soldiers take Manasseh?
2. Why did they take him there?
3. Manasseh remembered what ____________ had done.
4. As soon as Manasseh came back to his home he decided to repair the __________
5. Why was this repair so important?

6. What did Manasseh get rid of?

7. What did Manasseh order the people to do?
8. Can anyone be ordered to do this--really---in their heart?

Manasseh-From King to Slave in One Morning

By Mary Vee
II Chronicles 33

From the Journals of Manasseh

Photo Courtesy

The soldiers pushed and pulled me to walk faster. We had walked for days and my legs were tired.

My tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth and my nose stung from the hook the soldiers put through my nose.

They wouldn't talk to me. They didn't even talk to each other. There have been many times I had wished the people of Judah would leave me alone, even for five minutes. Now I wish I could be with them.

I didn't know how far we had to walk before we would get to Babylon. The nights were cold and no one gave me a blanket. I didn't have any servants. Instead, I had gone from king to slave in one morning.

With all the quiet, except when the soldiers yelled at me to walk faster, I thought about my dad, King Hezekiah, and his strong desire to get rid of all the idols. He spent a lot of time praying to God and he listened to the prophets. While Dad was alive, we did well. I see that now. 

Maybe he was right all along. 

We finally arrived in Babylon. Everything looked strange. The people spoke a different language and I couldn't understand them. They shoved me when I didn't understand where I needed to go. 

That night. My first night in Babylon. I finally understood. God had helped Judah so very much when my dad ruled, but let the Assyrians take us as prisoners when I led them away from worshiping God.

What have I done? I have ruined everything.

When at last the guards left me alone, tied in a prison cell, I called out to God and begged for His forgiveness. I had disobeyed the only true God who lives and had led the people away from HIm. I fell to the floor and wept. God deserved to be worshiped and offered what praise I could. I didn't have anything to give Him anymore--except my life and dedication.

Some time later a prophet told me God had heard my prayers. God listened to everything I said and saw I meant every word. 

I lost track of the days in prison, but one day a guard came to my cell. I didn't know if he planned to kill me or torture me. No matter what would happen I deserved it for what I had done. The guard spoke in my language! He said the king of Assyria had decided to let me return to Jerusalem and the kingdom.

I returned to the city and ran to the palace. I walked through every room then ran to the temple. There I sensed God's presence and knew the Lord is God. I had never sensed such a clean feeling in my heart before.

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1. Where did the soldiers take Manasseh?
2. Why did they take him there?
3. What was the journey like for Manasseh?
4. What did Manasseh want to have back?
5. What did Manasseh do with the quiet time?

6. When Manasseh was thrown in jail, what did he do?

7. Who heard him?
8. What happened to Manasseh?

Manasseh-My Shame

By Mary Vee
II Chronicles 33

From the Journals of Manasseh

Photo Courtesy

I have  been walking for last several days. My feet hurt. As king of Judah I never thought such terrible things would happen to me.

My father, King Hezekiah, loved God with all his heart, soul, and mind. I thought he was crazy for devoting his life to God.

After my dad died, I listened to my friends instead of my father's advisors and the prophets. 

My father had spent his life getting rid of the idols throughout our country. My friends, though, said we needed to bring then all back. By telling the men, women, and children to worship the same gods as those countries around us, we would win the other country's favor and be safe.

I was young and didn't know what to do. I had never loved the God my father worshiped so I listened to my friends. We rebuilt all the gods. I had them placed everywhere even in the temple and the temple courts. The people seemed happy and willing to bow down to these gods. Everything seemed fine.

Until the prophet Isaiah walked through the streets yelling something about not bowing down to the idols. I didn't worry too much. No one listened to him.

Then one day the Assyrian army attacked.  They came like a swarm of bees out of no where. We had no warning to prepare. The soldiers shoved their way into Jerusalem and captured all the important people. The very people who had been used to riding in style and dressing in the best clothes now walked the streets with their hands and feet tied.  

I hid, but it didn't do any good. The army commanders searched the city until they found me. My friends, the soldiers, no one could save me. The Assyrians took me prisoner and put a hook in my nose. It hurt so much. They put bronze shackles on me. I couldn't hardly move but the Assyrian commanders made me walk. For days. With little food.

I was alone.

The guards yelled at me.

I hurt. Was hungry. Thirsty. 

I looked at the the last of Judah's land as the soldiers dragged me away. I honestly didn't think I would ever see it again. 

This was the first time I really cried and felt totally hopeless. Everything was lost. The people of Judah had become slaves. 

And as the king, I will probably be killed. 

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1. Why did Manasseh's feet hurt?
2. Who was Manasseh's father?
3. What did Manasseh's father do with the idols?
4. What did Manasseh do with the idols?
5. What message did God give the people?

6. Did the people listen.

7. What happened to them?
8. What happened to Manasseh?

Manasseh-Learning Lessons the Hard Way

By Mary Vee
II Kings 19 and II Chronicles 32-33

From the Journals of Isaiah

Photo Courtesy

Some people just have to learn lessons the hard way.

God did punish Sennacherib as He said He would. Remember, Sennacherib was the bully who picked on King Hezekiah? 

The bully became frightened and took his army home to Assyria. 

One day, while King Senacherib was worshiping his god Nisroch in a temple made special for this idol, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer sneaked in behind him and thrust their swords into him, killing him.

Not wanting to be caught by any of their father's army, the two boys ran as fast as they could to get away. They kept running out of the city and west, to the land of Ararat. 

Their brother, Esarhaddon, took over as king of Assyria.

In the meantime, the Lord continued to send messages to Manasseh and his people to stop worshiping idols, but they wouldn't listen. I delivered every message God gave me. Trust me, He loved them very much and wanted to give them every possible chance to change from their wicked ways.

Since the people of Jerusalem and Judah kept worshipping idols and ignoring the Almighty God who had rescued them so many times, He had to give them the punishment.

The Assyrian army regrouped and marched toward Judah. They showed their power by taking the wealthy, smart, and beautiful people from Judah as prisoners. They dragged them away from their homes and forced them to walk for days to Assyria where the people of Judah became slaves. 

The Assyrian commanders took King Manasseh prisoner. They put a hook in his nose and put bronze chains on him. He had to walk in shame all the way to Assyria. Manasseh cried out, begging for mercy but the commanders didn't listen.

Many men, women, and children from Judea were also taken that day. They were frightened, but not yet sorry for disobeying God. The army was very cruel to them, pulling them away from their families, putting their hands and feet in chains, and beating them.

Not all of the men, women, and children were taken at this time. The smart, rich, and important people were taken captive at this time. The Assyrian army left the poor to take care of things.

I was sorry to see them cry, but in truth, God had warned them and they refused to listen. Hopefully they will cry out to God and say they are sorry soon. If not. They will have to wait the seventy years God said they would have to wait.

Sigh. If only they had listened and obeyed God.

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1. Who is Sennacherib?
2. What was Sennacherib doing in the temple?
3. What did his two sons do?
4. Why did his sons run away?
5. What was going on in Judah (What was God doing?)

6. What didn't the people of Jerusalem do? (God asked them to do this)

7. What happened to them?

Manasseh-Trouble Ahead But God Will Help Them

By Mary Vee
Isaiah 40-66

From the Journals of Isaiah

Photo Courtesy

I walked the streets of Jerusalem and Judah telling the people what was to come.

God would not put up with Manasseh and the people Judah's decisions to worship idols. He would not put up with disrespect to His laws.

The people will be taken away and will become slaves in another country.

But, God is also a loving God. Who, after their time of punishment, will restore the people of Judah to their homes. 

Jerusalem will be rebuilt and He has decided to use Cyrus as the tool to make it happen.

When the people cry out, ready to say they are sorry, God will listen.

He does not keep His words secret. He wants the people of Jerusalem to know in advance what will happen so they cannot say their idols and their worship of their idols brought the punishment and their forgiveness. He will not yield His glory to another.

God will prove Himself as the one who created the heavens, the one who is our protector, the one who will send a Messiah to help us.

Babylon will be cruel and for this Babylon will suffer.

Seventy years will pass, but the Lord will not forget those in exile. Then all mankind will know that the Lord is our Savior, our Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.

Come all of you who are thirsty. Come to the waters and you who have no money, come buy and eat...the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel will give you great things.

The Lord has revealed Himself to those who did not ask for Him. He was found by those who did not seek Him. To a nation that did not call on His name He said, "Here am I, Here am I." All day long He holds out His hands to us, a stubborn group of people.

He called to us but we did not answer. He spoke, but we did not listen.

If we want to be the person God honors we must be humble and really sorry for the things we have done wrong then honor His Words.

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1. Why did the prophet Isaiah walk the streets of Jerusalem and Judah?
2. What will happen to the people?
3. But God is also a ____________ God and will _______ their cry.
4. What will Babylon do?
5. What will happen to them?
6. What does God want us to be like?

Manasseh- Following the Crowd

By Mary Vee
II Kings 20-21

From the Journals of Isaiah

a Baal idol Photo Courtesy

What amazes me is how easily the people of a nation follow their leader.

I thought, really hoped, the people of Judah had changed their hearts, truly loved God and loved to follow his laws as Hezekiah showed them.

I thought they had seen and felt the joy that could only come by following his ways. 

Instead they chose to do what was popular. 

Manasseh was only a boy of twelve-years-old when he became king. He didn't know what he was doing. 

He had friends that talked him into looking at what all the nations around Judah did. He didn't want to listen to his father's advisors. 

Manasseh and his friends didn't want to stand alone in a faith worshipping the Almighty God when all the other nations around them had idols decorating their cities and villages.

Manasseh's dad, King Hezekiah, was dead. This meant Manasseh could do what he wanted as the new king. He listened to his friends and rebuilt the high places his father had destroyed. He built altars to Baal and made new Asherah poles for the people to worship like his grandfather, Ahab had done. 

Manasseh bowed down to the stars and worshiped them. He built altars in the temple of the Lord. I wept and tried to speak with him. He would not listen to me.

Instead he built more idols. He added altars to all the starry hosts in both courts of the Temple, and sadly, even offered his own son for a sacrifice to these idols. 

He became excited and encouraged the people to join him in practicing sorcery. He even went to fortune tellers. I am so sad to say they people did as he asked. No one that he was willing to listen to rebelled or try to teach him to turn away.

Then one day he took the carved Asherah poles that he ordered to be made and put it in the temple. God's temple! The temple God said, "In this temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my Name forever....if only they will be careful to do everything I commanded them and will keep the whole Law that my servant Moses gave them."

But the people did not listen.

Manasseh sadly led them astray. The people of Judah did more evil than the nations God had punished before them.

One thing I can tell you, though. Manasseh may be leading the people down a wrong path and this may look like he has won, but God has already said the people of Judah will be punished for not obeying His laws.

They wouldn't have to be punished, if they would only say they were sorry.

Unfortunately, I have a feeling they are enjoying all these bad things too much to care. Come back to see what happens. 

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1. Who was Manasseh's father?
2. What did Manasseh want to change for what his father did?
3. Why did he want to make these changes?
4. Who tried to help him?
5. How old was Manasseh when he became king?
6. Why did the people follow him?
7. Do you think this will turn out well? Why?