2 Chronicles 33 - Ezra 8: Tragedy, then a new beginning

Bad news, good news:  Manasseh was one of the most evil kings Israel ever had. He even set up an Asherah idol in the temple itself. But 2 Chronicles adds some detail that was not included in 2 Kings--Manasseh repented! After he was captured, removed from the throne and carted off to Babylon in chains, he repented. "Total repentance," according to 2 Chronicles 33. God responded by restoring him to his throne in Jerusalem. He recognized that God had done it, and he followed God the rest of his life, removed the pagan paraphernalia from the temple and the city, and undid some of the damage he'd done earlier in his life. I like this story--there's hope even for someone as evil as Manasseh.
- Solomon's work undone:  God judged Israel via Nebuchadnezzar, who destroyed and burned the temple. He knocked down the Jerusalem wall, then took the Jews off to Babylon to live in exile.There's not much detail here, but it's heartbreaking just the same.
- A new beginning:  The book of Ezra tells the story of a wise biblical scholar named Ezra, a descendant of the wonderful Phinehas and his grandfather, Aaron. Ezra was put in charge of leading the Israelites back to repopulate Jerusalem and to rebuild the temple. Through God's miraculous workings, the King of Persia commanded the temple to be rebuilt and helped to pay for it. Ezra was a remarkable man--he committed himself to:

• studying God's Word
• living it, and
• teaching Israel to live its truth and ways (Ezra 7:8-10).

Elena's verse of the day:  "Many wept bitterly because they remembered seeing the first temple years before. Others were so happy they celebrated with joyful shouts" (Ezra 3:12).