False Worship 2 Kings 21, 2 Chronicles 33

From the inception of the Jewish nation beginning when Abram “went forth as the Lord had spoken to him…when he departed from Haran” (Gen. 12:4), God has been both identifying, warning against, and disciplining his covenant people with regard to false worship. God through Joshua recounts the nation’s history and says of the beginning, “From ancient times your fathers lived beyond the River, namely, Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor, and they served other gods. Then I took Abraham from beyond the River…” (Joshua 24:2-3). In fact, the Bible is replete with examples of and warnings against false worship practices found among the covenant people of God. One such example comes from the life and time of Manasseh, a wicked king leading the Southern Kingdom of Judah. In 2 Chronicles 33 and the parallel account of 2 Kings 21, the Bible reveals some important truths about false worship. Through the chronicling of Manasseh’s wickedness, God identifies at least three underlying beliefs that promote false worship, three attitudes prevalent in false worship, and the damaging results of false worship in the lives of His people.

In giving an account of Manasseh’s false worship practices, God reasserts His authority over the nation and in so doing brings a telling accusation against His people. God has the right to judge His people because He has authority over them and they have bucked His authority by disobedience and rejecting worship of the Lord God only. 2 Kings 21:4 states “He built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “In Jerusalem I will put My name.” 2 Kings 21:7-8 states “Then he set the carved image of Asherah that he had made, in the house of which the Lord said to David and to his son Solomon, “In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen from all the tribes of Israel, I will put My name forever. And I will not make the feet of Israel wander anymore from the land which I gave their fathers, if only they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that My servant Moses commanded them.” 

But God’s account of their disobedience goes beyond the matter of authority and reveals an underlying belief problem in the hearts of the people. Not only is God calling them to account for their actions, but He is also saying to them, “You show by your actions that first, you believe obedience to my law is irrelevant (“if only they will observe to do according to…”). Second, you believe that my presence in your midst is not adequate (“In Jerusalem I will put My name”). Third, you believe that my covenant promises are not sufficient” (“I will not make the feet of Israel wander anymore from the land which I gave their fathers…”). 

God’s account of their idolatry also reveals at least three attitudes prevalent in false worship. First, those engaged in false worship will have an attitude of self-seeking pleasure. Manasseh had erected an Asherah to coincide with his worship of Baal. The Canaanite practice of ritual fornication is insinuated. Second, those engaged in false worship will have an attitude of self-protecting manipulation. Manasseh was seeking to manipulate events in his life and possibly/probably people in his life with astrology, witchcraft, and divination. Third, those engaged in false worship will have an attitude of self-proving extreme dedication. Manasseh went so far as to sacrifice his own children/child to prove how dedicated he was to getting the attention of an Amorite god.

Warnings against and the results of disobedience and idolatry are well documented throughout the Bible. In the account of Manasseh, three effects of false worship were evident in his kingdom. First, unrighteousness was rampant during Manasseh’s reign. “He did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the abominations...” 2 Kings 21:2. “...Manasseh seduced them to do evil more than the nations whom the Lord destroyed before the sons of Israel.” 2 Kings 21:9. Second, injustice was rampant during Manasseh’s reign. “Manasseh shed very much innocent blood until he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another...” 2 Kings 21:16. The final result of idolatrous false worship is calamity. “...Behold, I am bringing such calamity on Jerusalem and Judah...” 2 Kings 21:12.

To gain a full grasp of how this account might apply to the church, we must realize the people in Judah were still worshiping God in form and fashion. But they were also worshiping many other gods, therein participating in religious syncretism, or combining and reconciling different religious thoughts such that there is no distinction in the minds or practices of the worshipers. God through His prophet Amos rebukes Israel for the very attitude that Judah had in Manasseh’s day. “I hate, I reject your festivals, Nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them; And I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fatlings. Take away from Me the noise of your songs; I will not even listen to the sound of your harps. But let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like and ever-flowing stream. Did you present Me with sacrifices and grain offerings in the wilderness for forty years, O house of Israel? You also carried along Sikkuth your king and Kiyyun, your images, the star of your gods which you made for yourselves. Therefore, I will make you go into exile beyond Damascus, says the Lord, whose name is the God of hosts.” Amos 5:21-27. This proves the point of religious syncretism. They worshiped God, and a host of other gods too. The church is full of false worship today. And we serve the same just God, who judged the sin of His covenant people some 2600 years ago. I believe the church is due to either repent of false worship, or to face calamity. It is 1 Peter 4:17 which states, “For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?”