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An Evil King is Restored
July 30, 2026 · 22 min
In this Bible Story, we learn of the wicked kings Manasseh and Amon. They openly sacrifice their own children at the altar of false gods, and mock God himself. This story is inspired by 2 Chronicles 33 & 2 Kings 21. Go to https://www.BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is 2 Kings 21:20 from the King James Version.Episode 152: As Ammon lay assassinated, he left behind his eight-year-old boy Josiah to be king in his place. Josiah clung to God and pleased Him in all he did. Even when he grew older, he did not abandon the God of Israel. Instead, as he grew, he got rid of the idols of the land. After the land was cleared, he turned his attention toward restoring the temple. It was in this act that he would discover The Book of The Law of God and turn the people of Judah toward their God in repentance.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world’s greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd Haberkorn
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Dr. Jack Graham is the pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church, one of the nation's largest, most dynamic congregations.
July 30, 2026 · 22 min · BIAY translations
In this Bible Story, we learn of the wicked kings Manasseh and Amon. They openly sacrifice their own children at the altar of false gods, and mock God himself. This story is inspired by 2 Chronicles 33 & 2 Kings 21. Go to https://www.BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is 2 Kings 21:20 from the King James Version.Episode 152: As Ammon lay assassinated, he left behind his eight-year-old boy Josiah to be king in his place. Josiah clung to God and pleased Him in all he did. Even when he grew older, he did not abandon the God of Israel. Instead, as he grew, he got rid of the idols of the land. After the land was cleared, he turned his attention toward restoring the temple. It was in this act that he would discover The Book of The Law of God and turn the people of Judah toward their God in repentance.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world’s greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd Haberkorn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices ...more Show the full description Show less In this Bible Story, we learn of the wicked kings Manasseh and Amon. They openly sacrifice their own children at the altar of false gods, and mock God himself. This story is inspired by 2 Chronicles 33 & 2 Kings 21. Go to https://www.BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is 2 Kings 21:20 from the King James Version.Episode 152: As Ammon lay assassinated, he left behind his eight-year-old boy Josiah to be king in his place. Josiah clung to God and pleased Him in all he did. Even when he grew older, he did not abandon the God of Israel. Instead, as he grew, he got rid of the idols of the land. After the land was cleared, he turned his attention toward restoring the temple. It was in this act that he would discover The Book of The Law of God and turn the people of Judah toward their God in repentance.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world’s greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd Haberkorn
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0:00 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, as his father Manasseh did. 2nd Kings 21 20. Heavenly Father, I stand before0:12 You as a conduit to those who are lost in wicked thoughts, actions, and behaviors. As You did with Manasseh, I pray You will do with0:24 all those who are desiring to harm and inflict torment on those around me. Because You are a forgiving God and a good God, I pray for the hearts of0:36 all those whose faith has grown cold to be turned around so they can behold and experience your goodness again. I come against every lie that would tell0:48 them that you are mad at them and that you have abandoned them. Instead, use me as a vessel to spread your love so that your truth can shine through the0:59 darkest of arts. As you forgave me and gave me a new life, I know that you will do the same for them. Through the power of your Holy Spirit, I know1:11 that nothing is impossible. So I thank you in advance that souls are being saved and lives are being restored back to You. In1:23 Jesus' name, amen. Thank you for praying with us today. Continue your time with God by listening to today's Bible story, brought1:35 to you by bible in a year dot com.1:38 For nearly 3000 years, Homer's The Odyssey has shaped the Western imagination. As 1 of the foundational works of Western literature, it explores permanent questions1:50 about courage, duty, loyalty, family, leadership, temptation, and the search for home. In 1 of the epic's defining moments, Odysseus rejects the offer of
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5:13 An evil king is restored. In our last story, king Hezekiah is saved from the clutches of death and spared for another 15 years. In this
5:25 time, Hezekiah became friends with the leaders of Babylon. In an attempt to impress them, he showcased all of Judah's wealth. This would prove to be a fatal mistake for the righteous king
5:36 since Babylon was an evil nation rising slowly to overtake the world. Now we see the evil reign of Hezekiah's son, Manasseh. His cruelty and wickedness was
5:48 unmatched by any king before him. He made his dwelling place in darkness. However, all darkness needs is a little bit of light. Inspired by the book of 2nd Kings.
6:02 Hello. I'm Jack Graham with today's episode of the Bible in a Year podcast. But before we begin, I want to let you know about a unique e book that's yours to download absolutely free today.
6:14 It's called Breaking Free From Stress and my prayer is that it will help you conquer the daily task and pressures and burdens that bring stress in your life. Download your free copy of Breaking
6:26 Free From Stress today by visiting jack graham dot org slash stress. That's jack graham dot org slash stress. In our last episode, we heard how
6:38 God spared Hezekiah from death and gave him 15 more years of life. We also learned that in his eagerness to impress the nation of Babylon, Hezekiah foolishly opened his gates to show a
6:49 rising enemy all that Judah had to offer and ultimately to plunder. It was a naive and selfish decision and a costly lapse in judgment and discernment.
7:02 Today we'll learn of the reign of his son Manasseh, a stark contrast to his father's reign of righteousness. Manasseh proves to be an evil king, far from God. But as we will be reminded today,
7:14 God is able always to drive out the darkness with his perfect light. Let's listen now to the word of God.
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7:53 does evil begin in a man's life? Does circumstance cause bitterness to turn into hatred and hatred to turn into evil? Is evil conceived through one's broken
8:05 childhood, or does evil creep its way into someone's nature without warning or cause? These answers may never be fully known. However, for king Manasseh, evil was just as
8:17 much a part of him as his beating heart. Manasseh, the son of the righteous king Hezekiah, began his rule in Judah at the young age of 12. Even as a child, death
8:29 and cruelty enticed him. He was drawn by the exotic idols of ancient cities. Manasseh devoted himself to the gods of mountains and forests. He erected altars in the city
8:41 to Baal and Azeroth. As Manasseh grew older and more powerful, his capability for evil increased. He would lure children and young women into the forest to offer them up as
8:53 sacrifices. He even burned his own sons as an offering to the Valley of the Son of Hinnom. Manasseh laughed and cried as his son's burning corpses turned to ash.
9:05 His worship of exotic gods muddied his mind like a swamp. He was never satisfied. He was continually looking for new and creative ways to sin. He delved into omens
9:16 and sorcery, studying the ways of witchcraft and human sacrifice. He developed a curiosity for necromancers and speaking to the dead. Manasseh's mind and heart were completely covered
9:28 in darkness, and he loved it. He enjoyed the dark recesses of wickedness. He made his home there. He did not sin ignorantly as other kings had. No, Manasseh was much more shrewd
9:40 than that. He saw his vile ways as an act against God. He challenged him. He challenged his goodness, his righteousness, and his power. King Manasseh
9:52 thought himself equal to God, a mistake many men had made before him. 1 evening, Manasseh sat at the edge of the forest in Jerusalem. He sat praying and speaking to the
10:04 evil spirits he had bound his soul to. In the dead of night, he chanted and sang to the false gods of ancient Canaanites. The forest rested on a small hill, and Manasseh could see the temple
10:16 at the bottom in the middle of the city. He smiled a wicked smile and began to walk into the city with his servants. Manasseh stood in front of the vast temple. The ivory pillars and
10:28 beams of cedar were illuminated by torchlight. It was a truly beautiful sight, especially after his father had restored it. Manasseh remembered his father's obsession over the temple. It
10:40 bored him as a child, but as an adult, it vexed him. His father, King Hezekiah the righteous, was a pitiful man to him. Manasseh spat on the temple floor and gestured for his servants
10:52 to break open its doors. Together, they erected large idols to the Canaanite gods. The temple, the dwelling place of God, had been defiled with Manasseh's worthless idols.
11:03 Manasseh burst into laughter as he remembered the words of the Lord, in Jerusalem shall my name be forever. The evil king lay in his bed pleased with his work. He
11:15 enjoyed provoking God to anger. It was a pleasant game for him, and he loved every minute of it. As the weeks went by, Manasseh's depraved practices seeped into the daily lives of
11:27 Judeans. They entered the temple to pay homage to false gods, and mediums were consulted by many in the city of Jerusalem. Manasseh was pleased with his influence on Judah's culture, but
11:39 God was not playing Manasseh's games. He would not allow for him to corrupt his children. The Lord sent messengers regularly, imploring of Manasseh to repent and turn
11:50 from his ways. Every messenger was either rejected or killed for sport. The Lord tugged on the king's heart with his spirit, but his soul had been sealed shut by years of
12:02 calloused rebellion. The Lord had given Manasseh many chances to turn from his ways. Now it was time for God to remove his protection from the king. Manasseh awoke in the dead
12:14 of night to screams. He looked out his window to see flames near the palace. He could see shadows of Assyrian soldiers raiding nearby homes. They were not harming anyone.
12:26 No, they were looking for someone. They were looking for the king. Panicked, the king began to move his furniture in front of his doors. He ignored the pleas for help on the other side of the door and continued to
12:38 fortify his chambers. Smoke began to creep in through the window, and King Manasseh could barely breathe. He could hear violent banging on the other side of the fortified door. The banging grew
12:49 louder and more violent. Manasseh watched helplessly as the furniture began to move, and the door cracked open. The Assyrians burst through the door after several minutes of
13:00 banging. Manasseh lifted his sword to fight, but was quickly struck down onto the floor. He could barely see the Assyrians' faces because of the smoke. However, he could see the large metal
13:12 hook dangling on a chain in 1 of their hands. The man drew closer with the hook. Manasseh tried to crawl away, but was kicked in the ribs immediately. Manasseh held his side and watched
13:24 as the man bent down and drove the metal hook into his shoulder. The hook attached to a chain of bronze was driven deep into the king's right shoulder. He screamed in agony as the man tugged on the
13:36 chain, forcing Manasseh to his feet. Manasseh was then led away out of Jerusalem, captive to the Assyrian army. Manasseh was dragged out of the country of Judah
13:48 towards Babylon. He was beaten and bound in bronze chains. Food and water was scarce, and the evil king began to break down. As the Assyrians were camping, Manasseh lay in the
14:00 cold, bound in chains, with the hook still driven securely in his shoulder. He looked up to the stars and began to weep. He did not pray to the dead that night. He did not seek
14:12 the comfort of Baal or the shrine of Asherah. In the cold and in pain, Manasseh wept before God. He asked for the Lord's favor and forgiveness. He wailed
14:23 towards the sky and humbled himself before the living God. The Lord saw Manasseh's tears. God was moved by Manasseh's words. For the 1st time in the king's
14:35 life, he had a true connection with his god. Early the next morning, the Assyrians released the king and sent him back to Jerusalem. He returned to his home with a damaged ego and a
14:47 humbled heart. No longer did Manasseh spite God. He knew that he was the Lord of heaven and earth. He knew that he was not only powerful, but merciful. Although Manasseh
14:59 did not deserve mercy from God, he received it. As the sun breaks the morning fog, Manasseh's mind began to clear. He saw his nation with new eyes. He fortified the
15:11 cities to protect his people from harm. He stripped away the idols in the street and temple. He restored the temple that had been desecrated and became a devoted worshiper until the end of his days.
15:24 After Manasseh died, his son Amman was made king. Amman did not share the story of his father. He devoted himself to evil and conspired against the Lord.
15:36 He led many people astray and was selfish in everything he did. He abused those who served him and worshiped himself as a god. Because He refused to humble Himself,
15:48 His servants assassinated Him in His own home. His son Josiah was then made king after Him.
16:00 In today's scripture passage, Hezekiah has been succeeded by his son Manasseh. Still a child when he became king, Manasseh did not follow the righteous footsteps of his father or
16:11 live in the wonderful legacy that he had been given. In fact, he went the exact opposite direction. Hezekiah had torn down the idolatrous altars and even the high places
16:23 where evil gods were worshipped in Judah. But as Manasseh grew, his evil heart could not get enough of the evil deities of the foreigners. He erected altars and Asherah poles
16:35 in the city. He defiled God's house and sacrificed his own sons to false gods. As much as Hezekiah found great joy in serving the Lord, his son Manasseh seemed to
16:47 take joy in blaspheming and insulting God, making a mockery of his holiness and doing all kinds of evil things. But as we have seen time and time
16:59 again, as the king went, so did the people. They soon turned their back on God and went back to their old ways, chasing after the exotic gods and empty
17:10 promises of those false deities. Here's what we read in 2nd Kings 21 verses 11 and 12. Because Manasseh king of Judah has done these abominations, having done
17:22 wickedly more than all the Amorites who did go before him and has also made Judah sin with his idols. Therefore, thus the Lord says the God of Israel, behold, I am bringing such
17:34 calamity on Jerusalem and Judah that whoever hears of it, both his ears will tingle. Yes. God is a God of love. He is full of mercy and grace towards his
17:46 children. But there is a time when God sends judgment. Manasseh and the people of Judah deserve this judgment to be annihilated, wiped out because of their mockery of God.
17:58 The Bible says, remember this, whatever a man sows that he will also reap. The people were sowing their own judgment and they reaped it. But even in his judgment,
18:10 we see God's immeasurable mercy. He sent Assyrians to capture the king. They drove hooks into his shoulders and led him in chains through the forest, likely some of the very land where
18:22 Manasseh had murdered his own children in the fire. And then they took him out of Judah. Imagine this king who so pridefully mocked God, defied
18:33 God, and engaged in so many vile acts. Now he is brought down, chained like a slave of the enemy. It is a visual depiction of his inner state. He has
18:45 been enslaved to sin and wickedness for years. The hooks in his flesh were strong, but not nearly as powerful as the grip that sin had on his heart and mind. So Manasseh was
18:57 led out of the land. In chains, under the control of the sworn enemies of God's people, Manasseh's heart broke. He cried out to God, the only 1 who could rescue him.
19:09 And though he didn't deserve it, God heard his cry. He forgave the king because God could see there was genuine repentance, heart change. Was this all just desperation and
19:21 fear? Well, certainly that. But it does not make it any less genuine if God chooses to forgive. A contrite heart, a repentant heart is what God seeks from all
19:33 of us, and that's what Manasseh offered to the Lord. So amazingly, the Assyrians released the king and he returned, humbled and restored to Judah. He
19:45 tore down the altars and restored God's temple and lived out his days in humility serving the Lord. This is a wonderful story of salvation that comes through
19:56 repentance and deliverance from God. His son Ammon sadly did not follow him and persisted in evil until he was killed by his own servants. But Ammon's son, Josiah, would lead
20:08 Judah into another area of reform, revival, and return to the Lord. We'll hear his great story the next time we're together. Dear God, thank you for your word always
20:19 that reminds us that you will judge sin. But when we genuinely cry out to you and seek you and return to you in your grace and mercy because of your cross and
20:31 resurrection that we can come back to you and that you will receive us like prodigal children into your family. And we pray this with deep gratitude in our hearts for your grace and
20:43 mercy. Amen. Thank you for listening to today's bible in a year podcast. Before we go, I want to let you know about a unique e book that's yours to download
20:54 absolutely free today. It's called breaking free from stress and my prayer is that it will help you conquer the daily task and pressures and burdens that bring stress into your life.
21:06 Download your free copy of Breaking Free From Stress today by visiting jack graham dot org slash stress. That's jack graham dot org slash stress.
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