Guarding Against Idolatry
BRD REFLECTION 2025
2 Chronicles 33:1-25, 34:1-33 and Psalm 98:1-9 (NIV)
(Esther Low Bee Lian from Mandarin Ministry)
READ:
In this devotion, I will reflect on 2 Chronicles 33 and 34. The verses that caught my attention are:
• 2 Chronicles 33:2 – “He did evil in the eyes of the Lord…”
• 2 Chronicles 33:22 – “He did evil in the eyes of the Lord…”
• 2 Chronicles 34:2 – “He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord…”
OBSERVE:
In 2 Chronicles 33:1-9, Manasseh led Judah and the people of Jerusalem into idol worship, child sacrifices and occult practices. God allowed Manasseh to be captured by the Assyrians and brought to Babylon (v.11). Manasseh humbled himself and repented (v.12). God forgave Manasseh and restored him back to Jerusalem (v.13).
Like his father’s early reign, Amon also did evil in the eyes of the Lord (from v.21). While Manasseh repented and corrected his evil deeds (v14 to 17), Amon did not repent. Amon’s reign was very short-lived. He was assassinated and he reigned for only 2 years.
In 2 Chronicles 34, Josiah did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. But because of the evil deeds of his ancestors, God still planned to bring disaster on Judah. God saw Josiah’s humility and fear of God, and promised that He would not let Josiah see the disasters while he lived.
APPLY:
This reading reminds me of the second commandment in Exodus 20:4-6, and made me realize that doing evil here refers to idol worship. But I can also see God’s love and forgiveness to those who repent and walk right with Him.
Idol worship extends beyond worship of man-made statues and false gods. Whatever that shifts my focus away from God, whatever takes priority over my time for God can become an idol in my life, for example, work, Korean dramas, YouTube and Facebook. Therefore, I must admit that there is some form of idol worship in my life, which I need to be vigilant and guard against with God’s help.
DO:
I will repent, pray and take action to correct my sins.
PRAY:
Dear Heavenly Father, indeed You are a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Help me recognize the “idols” in my life and guide me to remove them, so that I may have more time for You. In Jesus’s name, I pray. Amen.
