Psalms 74:4 Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they set up their ensigns for signs.

This is without a doubt the most difficult of all scriptures to clarify. The reason is because of the similarity between ensign and sign. The symbolism is so powerful that the hidden meaning is difficult if not impossible to discern without God’s help. In this lies the problem, because those who set up their ensigns believe with a fervor of the roar, that they hear God.

“I hold forth the Word of God!”

Sign or ensign? Difficult to say isn’t it. Those who know God don’t have to be told that he is holding forth the Word, they know it. Then again, the lost do not know it and must of a necessity be told it is the Word of God. So who is to say sign or ensign?

A cross on a steeple signifies a church. Sign or ensign? Who am I to judge what goes on in another congregation? Who am I to judge the sincerity of any who attend there? It is not for me to know unless God is calling me to enter in and then and only then if I hear and obey the One True God.

Many people believe that they are called by God to do a good work, specific to a wound, an injustice, or a clear service. All those have labels and identities called signs. Sign or ensign? Now do you see the difficulty? Passion may or may not indicate an ensign.

So what is my point?

Isaiah 18:8a Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me are for signs…

You are the sign of His love, mercy and grace.

2 Chronicles 33 (by bits and pieces) Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign; And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger; Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err; And the Lord spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken.

Reading this as it is written I would want to say, “Manasseh, boy, you are in for it now!” It is one thing to sin, but to be in a position of authority and to lead others into your wickedness is so much worse. God has in their past opened up the earth and swallowed men for less. This king is in for it, he desereves what he gets for what he has done.

So let us continue this telling.

Wherefore the Lord brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh; when he was in affliction, he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly; was intreated of him (God); brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord he was God.

Well that wasn’t what I expected. Since Manasseh would not listen to God, God used the things of the world to bring Manasseh back into submission. Praise God and this king went about undoing all that he had done. Or did he?

17a The people continued to sacrifice at the illegal places of worship, (God’s Word Version)

Other versions of this passage refer to “the high places” which were set up for sacrifices to other gods and not the Lord Jehovah. They sacrifice to the one true God but not in the right place. Manasseh’s damage had been done and the undoing of it was not in accordance with God’s design.

You shall worship the Lord thy God with all your heart….. that’s the right place.