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Interesting Times On The Horizon For Barbados

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Prime Minister David Thompson

Barbadians were startled by the announcement from Prime Minister David Thompson today that his illness has forced him to take medical leave for 2 months. BU is emboldened by the tenor of his press conference which sounded the confidence he has in Barbadians to succeed during this difficult period for the country which coincides with his own personal challenges. Despite frequent and sometimes robust debate which BU facilitates, Barbadians remain fiercely proud of what our little island has achieved oftentimes against the odds.

Barbados in its post Independence existence has been viewed as a model in the areas of governance, education, telecommunications to list a few. Many suggest because we are our own worst critic it means we are not proud to be Bajan. Of course not! The Barbados brand continues to be respected around the world.

BU extends to Prime Minister David Thompson and his family the very best wishes. We also do the same to Acting Prime Minister Fruendel Stuart with whom the fate of Barbados will rest at a very difficult time in our development.

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142 responses to “Interesting Times On The Horizon For Barbados”

  1. Nia Avatar
    Nia

    No, I won’t say it here. The PM himself has chosen not to reveal his condition publicly, so I feel it would be disrespectful for me or anyone else to do so.

  2. Nia Avatar
    Nia

    And I was just speaking under assumption anyway.

  3. Pretty Blue Eyes Avatar
    Pretty Blue Eyes

    @Nia,
    it is disrespectful for you to reveal it, since you are just like the man in the street, you are only guessing. Look it is stomach cancer and it is a highly dangerous one so Nia, shut your mouth, Barbados too small to hide anything from everyone, somebody is going to talk.

  4. David Avatar
    David

    @GP

    Given your bible training are you saying the quote from Kings was not an applicable one for the moment?

    How can prayer change God’s will?

  5. Nia Avatar
    Nia

    @Pretty Blue Eyes,
    Yes, I made it quite clear in my comments that I was only speaking on assumption, which is the same thing as ‘guessing’. You are obviously an extremely ill-mannered individual – exactly what are you telling me to “shut my mouth” about? Would you speak to someone who you don’t even know like that in person?

    Well, maybe you would.

    I thought I was allowed to make a comment on this blog like everyone else, and I did so politely without being rude to anyone, so I don’t really understand the hostility.

    Anyway, I didn’t come here to fight with anyone, I only comment if I feel I can add positively to the conversation.

    David said: “How can prayer change God’s will?
    That’s kind of why I made my original comment. I felt the overwhelming response of Bajans on this sad affair has been simply “to pray”. I feel those of us who are Christians sometimes forget that God works through natural processes. He doesn’t really intervene in the way we are raised to believe that he does.

  6. Rubbenheim Avatar
    Rubbenheim

    @Bajan Truth ‘@ Bajan Truth // July 1, 2010 at 10:35 PM “My other disappointment was that he still has not told Barbadians about his state of health, nothing about what is the problem. This is what was promised when he received the diagnosis. This is not a private issue, this is a public person …”

    —————

    Noted, but on that point, then do you agree that every senior public official for example, Leader of the Opposition, should disclose their health status, which affects their ability to cope with affairs of the state.

    For example, conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, which are both chronic and serious?

    After all, you yourself have expressed above, the thought that such such be disclosed.

  7. Rubbenheim Avatar
    Rubbenheim

    On the title of the article above, ‘Interesting Times on the Horizon for Barbados’, they will be.

    You know why? Because we will no longer accept drivel from those who represent us in Parliament.

    We will demand accountability and we will root out those we work against our nation.

    Times have changed. Better believe it.

  8. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    David @ July 2, 2010 at 3:30 PM
    Re @GP
    Given your bible training are you saying the quote from Kings was not an applicable one for the moment? Yes. The passage to follow here is 1 Tim 2:2 . There is no similarity between the circumstances, character or career of Hezekiah , and that of the current PM. But I wont be discussing the obvious comparisons.

    Should folk pray for the PM According to 1 Tim 2:2 they should.

    1 Tim 2 1-6 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2. For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
    3. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4. Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
    5. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6. Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

    How can prayer change God’s will? Yes. There is God’s DIRECT WILL and there is his PERMISSIVE WILL. God postponed Hezekiah’s death by 15 years. If you read Nahum you will find that though he postponed the judgement on Ninevah when they repented at the preaching of Jonah, that when they reverted to their original behavior, in Nahum’s time some 100 years later he again pronounced judgement on them again—and effected it!
    “How can prayer change God’s will? Read 2 Chronicles 7 14 for a start.

    f my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
    15. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.

    But there are several other verses that teach that God is prone to respond to the prayer’s of his people. After all 2 Peter 3: 9 makes it very clear that The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance .

  9. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    David

    If God’s people in Barbados chose to prayer for the PM in sincerity, there is nothing that can stop the Lord God from listening to their prayers if they are praying in his will, and in Jesus’ name. He may not give the desired result for his own good reasons, but there is nothing wrong in praying. Certainly 2 Chronicles 7 14 suggests that we should. Read the stories of Asa and Jehosaphat and see

  10. Nia Avatar
    Nia

    @Georgie Porgie,
    I am definitely going to be researching those passages you quoted, thanks very much. The difference between God’s permissive will as opposed to his direct will is something I must admit I did not consider much at all.

  11. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    Nia
    The Scripture is filled with stories of men chosing God’s second best (permissive will). Look at King Saul, David, Solomon to name a few.

    Malachi teaches that God HATES DIVORCE. Jesus told the men of his day that GOD PERMNITTED IT BECAUSE OF THE HARDNESS OF THIER HEARTS These are just a few of the top of my head.

    This does not mean that God is weak, it means that he is patient knowing full well how hard it is for us to obey this is well stated in 2 Peter 3:9

  12. Pretty Blue Eyes Avatar
    Pretty Blue Eyes

    @NIA
    You are the one fighting my dear with yourself that is > As for the ‘ill mannered” part don’t even start me , it is all a matter of perception, by the way I am Christian and there is nothing wrong with praying and believing for a miracle even when it looks like there is no hope. Prov. 37 Commit thy way unto God, trust also in Him and He shall bring it to pass”. The passage in Mark 11, 21-24 gives good reading about speaking things into action and beliiving the end result.

  13. ac Avatar
    ac

    @Bonny
    I did pray for you when Your back gave out! Miracles do happen.

    I wonder what the spin would have been if the PM had referenced the 23rd psalm!

  14. Nia Avatar
    Nia

    Wow, thanks Georgie Porgie (and Watchman too), I really have a lot of research to do this weekend now! I’m still a bit new to this and not an expert at all. Still grappling with how to apply what I have been taught within the bibilical context meaningfully to everyday life, especially in trying times like these and otherwise. So I find both of your comments very enlightening. Lots to ponder on for sure.
    I definitely agree with GP’s earlier statements about fatherhood being the highest of offices and responsibilities for a man to bear. Somehow, I think our PM understands that too.

    And about praying for God’s will to be done.

    I also think much can be found in the biblical context with regards to Rubbenheim’s statements about those of us who live in Barbados demanding accountability, and calling out “evil enablers” especially within our leadership. I find we are almost taught it is not “Christian” to challenge our leaders, to call them out on their foolishness. We are just supposed to accept authority. Apparently that is what a lot of Christians did during the Nazi Holocaust, just accepted what was going on. The ones who spoke out against it the most fervently were the Jehovah Witnesses, interestingly enough, which is why so many of them ended up in concentration camps.

    And there are plenty of examples in the New Testament of Jesus being “anti-foolishness” and calling out enablers. The Pharisees of course, for one. Jesus did not hesitate to call people fools, hypocrites. He even called out his own disciples on their foolishness.

    So interesting times ahead indeed….

  15. ac Avatar
    ac

    Drum Rollllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll!

    Here comes the Bible thumpers!

  16. David Avatar
    David

    It is interesting the PM would quote the much discussed bible verse and call on the nation to offer up prayers on his behalf.

    Interesting indeed.

    Is there a case to be made for if our leaders are religious they should not be shy about acting it out in their pronouncements and actions while in government?

    It seems we always wait until catastrophe strikes.

  17. Bonny Peppa Avatar
    Bonny Peppa

    Nia
    Welcome to BU. No need to get ruffled if someone appears to be hostile to you; that’s how we do it here but we mean no harm really. It is all done in good faith. We curse, agree, fight and curse each other sometimes but all in good faith. As for me, I am the saint on BU. I hardly use an expletive except on the odd occasion. If you doubt me, ask ac, Porgie, Amused, Negroman, BAFBFP…….. and the list goes on. So take it easy and don’t stress out yourself. There’s more to come.

    ac

    Girl, de back is cumin good. Nevva again will I let Amused entice me to try a ting wid a lamp post. He is too adven’trus fa me Souley. Nevva again.

    Amused
    mwahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, ya sexy ting ya.

  18. Enuff Avatar
    Enuff

    Stupse

  19. Pat Avatar
    Pat

    Stomach cancer, eh? Well, that is not too bad. Just remove the entire thing. We had heard up here in the Great White North that it was pancreatic cancer for which there is NO cure.

    My friend in Toronto’s husband had his stomach removed in 1988. He lost lots of weight. Was off work for a year. However, he is alive today and enjoying a good retirement on an Ontario teachers pension. By the way, he is still skinny as a rake, but he is happy that he could raise his two kids who were both under ten at the time.

    A girl here in this City went into the hospital three weeks today. She died this past Tuesday from lymphatic cancer. Now that was fast. She is a Christian who went to about seven churches in the last 5 years and all those church members and pastors were praying for her as well. She still died.

  20. Pat Avatar
    Pat

    @ Nia

    Don’t let Bonny Peppa lead you down the garden path on a rope, like a goat! Me, I be the nice one around this place. Me and the Yardbroom and the Bushtea. Just ask MME, Amused or Anon.

  21. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    I agree with you Pat . The 5 year survival for stomach cancer is about 15 percent if it is caught early. But pancreatic cancer is not very easily cured because of it’s relations. This is what I was alluding to earlier.

    There are some very importandt structures around the pancrease, and pancreatic cancer tends to present late in its course.

    In pancreatic cancer you have the aorta on the left, the inferior vena cava on the right and you have to contend also with the hepatic portal vein. If the cancer is all around these vessels it is very hard for the surgeon to know what he is dissecting.

    You have described two scenarios. It seems that the Lords will is being done in both cases.

    Oh by the way CCC I have attended operations of pancreatic cancers so I have seen what I am talking about. Maybe I wil put up a ppt to show the difficulty of fooling around in the epiploiec foramen of Winslow.

  22. Pat Avatar
    Pat

    @ GP

    Thanks for that. I have lost two colleagues to pancreatic cancer. Both nice persons. Both went in 6 weeks after diagnosis. If the PM has pancreatic cancer and I was told by someone who is in touch with a DLP “big-up” that it was, then he may, like Patrick Swayze live a year with the right treatment and medical attention. However, I think the quality of life will not be good. It is better to go when your number is called.

    I look forward to the ppt presentation.

  23. Bajan Truth Avatar
    Bajan Truth

    @ CCC & Hants – DON’T WORRY YOU ARE IN GOOD HANDS

    What are good hands? Stuart,’ revered and admired by the legal fraternity’, since when? Let me ask the BU family a question, when you are choosing a surgeon to do a serious medical procedure who do you pick? The one who is your buddy, who only got sweet talk or the one who is competent in their field and has a good track record for performing in that procedure. Our economy is in deep doo doo. Report yesterday by economists, despite pronouncements by P.M.. economy is good, flat line on growth again in vital economic sectors. Is Guyana still growing? US dollar and stock market plunged heavily yesterday, recovery still shaky. We lost 60m on sugar etc. strains in the economy less spending, bounce checks etc in paper today, people houses selling out.

    I thought and thought all night, which ten good hands could Hants mean. Which one would be competent to lead our country in these extraordinary times. So Hants and CCC help me, who are the ten that will fit this bill? Do some due diligence and help us select?

  24. Bajan Truth Avatar
    Bajan Truth

    @ CCC & Hants – DON’T WORRY YOU ARE IN GOOD HANDS

    What are good hands? Stuart,’ revered and admired by the legal fraternity’, since when? Let me ask the BU family a question, when you are choosing a surgeon to do a serious medical procedure who do you pick? The one who is your buddy, who only got sweet talk or the one who is competent in their field and has a good track record for performing in that procedure. Our economy is in deep doo doo. Report yesterday by economists, despite pronouncements by P.M.. economy is good, and the medium term strategy is working, there is a flat line on growth again in vital economic sectors. Is Guyana still growing? US dollar and stock market plunged heavily yesterday, recovery still shaky. We lost 60m on sugar etc. strains in the economy less spending, bounce checks etc in paper today, people houses selling out.

    I thought and thought all night, which ten good hands could Hants mean. Which one would be competent to lead our country in these extraordinary times. So Hants and CCC help me, who are the ten that will fit this bill? Do some due diligence and help us select?

  25. Crusoe Avatar
    Crusoe

    Interesting to note that the PM asked bajans to (paraphrased) continue to fight for what he has worked for throughtout his career as a youth leader, lawyer and politician, in his absence (although indicating his ‘hope’ to return).

    Sounds rather ominous and telling.

    Anyway, best wishes to himself and his family and I ask the DLP ‘youngsters’ to stand behind Freundel Stuart as a mentor, be patient and learn, most of all, respect Bajans of all walks of life and remember your constituents.

    I ask the other older members such as Estwick and Mr.Kellman, to stand close and guard the principles of the party, be aware of those who would wish to cause strife ammidst the challenge and be the wise men who take the country to to the next election with the country in mind, with every man, woman and chld in mind.

    Leave the bickering and selfishness to others and be the men of honour at a time of trouble.

    You do this and history will reward you well.

  26. Carson C. Cadogan Avatar
    Carson C. Cadogan

    BAJAN TRUTH

    “What are good hands? Stuart,’ revered and admired”

    Now you are saying that he is no good.

    When you(BLP) were in office you thought so much of him that you (BLP)offered him a post as a Judge which he turned down.

  27. Pearl Avatar
    Pearl

    I too wish our Prime Minister well. Prayers are good but I also believe that if he and his family can remain positive and hopeful it will help as well.

  28. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    @Bajan Truth,

    It does not take a genius to lead a country. Just an intelligent man or woman who will do the job when asked to.
    You talk about politicians as if they require a Masters from Harvard or Uof T or a bariffle uh degrees like Georgie Porgie.

    You Bajan Truth should be “tru”th to yourself. Barbados is full of intelligent people and near geniuses like Georgie Porgie( have to repatriate he ) and Darcy Boyce.

    Stuart will do the job he is called on to do.

  29. Donald Duck Esq, Avatar
    Donald Duck Esq,

    Will we have a budget statement this year? Could mr stuart tell us soon?

  30. David Avatar
    David

  31. My Name Is Not Sylvan..... Avatar
    My Name Is Not Sylvan…..

    I deeply sympathise with PM Thompson and wish him a speedy recovery. But I do have to think that this country is bigger than any one man. The affairs of state wait for no man, Mr. Thompson has realised this and has stepped aside to address his personal health issues and to allow the ship of state to sail on.

    In a similar vein, Mr. Thompson being on sick leave does not act as a “pass” for this administration to escape criticism. Criticism of the DLP Government policies is not a criticism of a man at a time of personal crisis, it is criticism of a moribund administration that is failing Barbadians. Attempts by DLP party members to say “Our leader is sick “go easy” on us” are merely trying to milk one man’s personal problems for political benefit.

    Barbadians did not elect David Thompson to run the country they elected this party (okay St. John people did elect DJT) Mr. Thompson’s illness does not excuse the party from it’s manifesto that it seems to have abandoned.

    Mr. Thompson’s illness does not excuse the DLP from having to explain why despite coming in on a platform of “cost of living, cost of living, cost of living” the cost of living continues to soar.

    Mr. Thompson’s illness doesn’t stop the DLP from having to explain why the party that championed free education is about to take away free health care.

    Mr. Thompson’s illness doesn’t stop the DLP from being answerable for the state of the country’s economy.

    Any DLP member who attempts to say that it does, is trying to exploit Mr. Thompson’s illness for political purposes.

  32. Bajan Truth Avatar
    Bajan Truth

    @ Carson, Hants& Adrian Hinds

    My question is, who are the ten persons that could lead the country and how would they meet the standard for competent leadership? A set of names and due diligence indicating their competence to handlet his crisis. (That is the answer required for this question.)

    Ah see why reasoning and comprehension gave problems in 11+.
    Did I say Stuart was no good. If a man is good enough to be a judge would he make a good pilot. You don’t have to be a genuis, but right now you need competence and experience in economic management, not just economics. What is going to be different, Thompson said there will be minimal difference when he is on leave. He is right. Same team shuffled to different chairs doing the same thing. Tell me can we assume delerection duty on the budget; more philandering and malingering on Clico; inappropriate economic strategies for the mess we are in ; misallocation of resources to meet the economc crisis; and skyrocketing cost of living.

    @ Adrian Hinds -You have Arthur, Mia, Mascoll and Persaud, on one side and Stuart, kellman, Estwick and Sinckler on the other. Which set would you trust to develop a good economic strategy for this tradegy; who can be creative in implementing among the challenges and difficulties.Which set you think Bajans will trust at this time?

    I wish Mr. Stuart luck, I notice he is going to Caricom meeting, do your best. I also note he is coming back early. Is it worry about the machinations of the other nine prime ministerial candiates, no eight( Kellman is with him) working to sabotage him?

    Time will tell, if we are in for a repeat of the past tradegy of Haynes and Sandiford.

  33. Carson C. Cadogan Avatar
    Carson C. Cadogan

    BAJAN TRUTH

    “Adrian Hinds -You have Arthur, Mia, Mascoll and Persaud, on one side”

    If Gearbox was on the other side I would choose the other side rather than the side with th crooks on it.

  34. Carson C. Cadogan Avatar
    Carson C. Cadogan

    BAJAN TRUTH

    I might be stupid, but honesty means a lot to me.

    A bunch of proven crooks(Barbados Labour Party) seeking desperately to get their grubby hands back into the cookie jar sounds like a recipe for disaster to me. The longer we keep them out the better for little Barbados.

    However the Democratic Labour Party have only themselves to blame. People like you and other corrupt Barbados Labour Party operatives should be blogging from your suites at the Dodds Hilton in St. Phillip. The Democratic Labour Party refused to call you to account for your misdeeds. All the more reason we the people have to keep you of office.

    Almost one billion dollars in cost over runs and you have never said whose pockets the excess went into. Now you want more. Remember that greed is one of the deadly sins. You have to meet your maker at some point in time. What will you tell him?

  35. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    @ HANTS
    Re Barbados is full of intelligent people and near geniuses like Georgie Porgie( have to repatriate he ) and Darcy Boyce.

    Thanks for your kind remarks, but I must confess that I am not a genius, just above average. Never thought that I would be mentioned in the same sentence or on the same day as Darcy.

    All Harrisonians of the period 63- 70 know that Darcy was a stellar student who got all A’s in his report cards throughout his days at HC.

    It would be great if he could translate this early promise to the current economic scene. I was quite pleased when he was selected by the PM and had expected great deeds from him; However, I guess that it is one thing to be a bright student and a book beater, than to come up with practical solutions.

    But one wonders with the relative dummies around him, if this is not a case of putting a bright boy in with the dunces when we insist on zooning in our educational system.

  36. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    Speaking with experience Hants, it is not easy to cover much ground when you yoke a througbred with a jackass. In fact this is specifically prohibited in the Bible.

    One can just imagine the grief one would experience trying to function in a cabinet with such duffers. I have often wondered why God made some men bright, and some quite the opposite. Do you have any idea how painful it is is to wait around leap years for dummies to catch up?

  37. Carson C. Cadogan Avatar
    Carson C. Cadogan

    Georgie Porgie

    I find you quite amusing. Everyone is dummy except you.

    “and hold four degrees in Theology including a Doctorate” maybe if they held four degrees in Theology including a Doctorate then you would consider them.

    Tell me, how many degrees do you have in getting facts wrong? You did not know what was the name of Manasseh’s son, you still don’t know who is Ahaz, this is something even a dummy like Watchman got right. How many other things have you got wrong oh bright one? How glad I am that you were not my GP I probably would have gone to the great beyond by now.

  38. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    Jackass

    You really think that I dont know who Ahaz was? And that Amon was Manasseh’s son?

    The best of us get trivial facts wrong man.

    Would you like to see some of my notes on the Kings of Judah foolbert?

    Tell me is Eustine still living?
    She didnt mind being my patient.

    You do remember who Eustine is, right?

  39. Carson C. Cadogan Avatar
    Carson C. Cadogan

    Sounds like I mash your corns Georgie.

  40. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    Here is my note on Ahaz’s father from my unpublished work The KINGS of JUDAH 2008
    10- JOTHAM. II Chron. 27; II Kings 15:32-38

    Jotham, who succeeded his father Uzziah, was a good king. In fact he was the third of three good kings in a row that Judah had. He ascended the throne at age 25 and reigned for 16 years. The account of his life may conveniently be discussed under the headings:-
    A- Jotham’s WAYS II Chron. 27;2,6; II Kings 15:34
    B- Jotham’s WALLS II Chron. 27:3,4
    C- Jotham’s WARS

    A- Jotham’s WAYS
    In II Chron. 27;2, we read of Jotham that “he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord.” The Chronicler clearly stated the reason Jotham became strong in verse 6. There we are told that “Jotham became mighty because he prepared his ways before the lord his God.” Jotham’ success and prosperity was clearly due to his relationship with God.

    Jotham had a healthy respect for the law including that recorded in Exodus 30 and Numbers 18 which specifically excluded kings from seeking to exercise both the roles of king and priest simultaneously. Such a combined regal and sacerdotal office is reserved only for the Lord Jesus Christ.

    The humorous references that Jotham “did not enter the Temple of the Lord” (27:2) and “howbeit he entered not into the temple of the LORD.” II Kings 15:35. are to be understood in light of 2 Chronicles 26:16 where Uzziah acted inappropriately and presumptuously when he “entered the temple of the lord,” thereby violating the holy place. Unlike his father, Jotham did not attempt to assume the role of priest by offering incense on the altar. That Jotham was not guilty of such a big error was due to his willingness to learn from his father’s example and a tribute to his fear of the Lord.

    It is noteworthy that the chronicler has surprisingly devoted only a very short chapter to discussing what might ordinarily be considered an important and influential reign in the light of Jotham’s accomplishments. Sailhamer suggests that the reason for this is because “Such a reign does not serve to build hope in the fulfillment of the Davidic prom¬ise. ……….The kings that interest the chronicler are those who bring revival.”

    Jotham was certainly a good king, and his reign was an exceptionally good one in terms of his success in war and building. Although 2 Chronicles 27:6 reports that “Jotham became mighty because he prepared his ways before the Lord has God,” Jotham apparently failed to lead his people in righteousness. There was no reformation of abuses or revival of the people. during his reign as far as we know. Jotham’s subjects did not please the Lord by their living. We are told in 2 Chronicles 27:2 that the people “did yet corruptly,” and II Kings 15:35 reports that “the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burned incense still in the high places.” Jotham like his predecessors since Solomon was either unwilling or unable to uproot idolatry (2 Kings 15:35) or cause his nation to serve God with a perfect heart

    Despite his personal righteousness and good example, Jotham’s people as a whole continued in their corrupt ways and heeded not the example of their king nor the warnings and exhortations of such contemporary prophets as Isaiah, Micah and Hosea.* Instead, the people of Judah persisted in their sin, as both Judah and Israel continued to heap up wrath against the day of wrath and punishment which was to overtake them. In fact, it was it was during Jotham’s reign that God began to send invading armies from Israel and Syria. against them ( II Kings 15:37) in the hope that they would repent of their sinful ways. Soon after, during the reign of Jotham’s successor, Ahaz, Judah found herself in deep trouble

    B- Jotham’s WALLS
    Jotham was a builder who exhibited his care for the Temple by building a temple gate. (27:3; II Kings 15:35), and in so doing, contributed to the greater glory of Yahweh. He also built on the wall of Ophel, cities in the Judean mountains in addition to fortresses and towers in the forests for protection.

    C- Jotham’s WARS
    As a result of his seeking the Lord and obeying His laws and his care for the temple, 2 Chronicles 27:5 records that Jotham won a decisive victory over the Ammorites, his neighbors to the east. These people submitted to him and paid him massive payments of tribute for three years.

    He kept his nation strong militarily as his father had done.

    ————————————————————————————————– .
    * To properly understand the existing conditions of the people and their attitude toward: God at this time one should read the first five chapters of Isaiah concurrently.

    LESSONS TO BE LEARNED – applications

    Jotham was willing to learn from his father’s mistake by not intruding into the holy place. However, it seems that he did not enter the temple at all…
    You can’t help but feel sympathetic toward him, but he set a very bad example for the nation. As a result “the people did yet corruptly.” They did not turn to God. Here is a man with a tremendous opportunity to lead his people back to God, but he had this hang-up—perhaps a root of bitterness. His father was made a leper in the temple, and he didn’t want to go into that temple.

    There are a great many people today who do just that sort of thing. They are kept away from God’s house by prejudice. I have seen a number of folk who have dropped out of God’s service because of prejudice, or an unfortunate incident which had happened years before or had involved a loved one

    There is a background for this. When his father went into the temple, he was made a leper. But, of course, he went the wrong way—he intruded into the holy place

    Here is a young man who could have been a great king, but a prejudice prevented him from being a great king and doing great things for God.

  41. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    No you have not mashed my corns.
    I mashed yours.
    Go and argue with Eustine

    Now here is a note on Manasseh

    13
    MANASSAH II Kings 21:1-18; II Chron. 33:1-20
    Manasseh was a unique and most evil king who ascended the throne of Judah at the age of 12, and reigned 55 years. Manasseh reigned longer than any of the monarchs of Judah. Despite his wickedness, he reigned longer than David, longer than Solomon, and longer than his father Hezekiah, who were all good kings. Why? Because God is merciful. God is longsuffering. He is not willing that any should perish.

    Manasseh was unique also in that he was one of the few examples of an evil Judean king who turned out good. Certainly his conversion and repentance was the most dramatic turnabout exhibited by any of the kings of Judah. One commentator asserts that “ in terms of the experience of an individual, Manasseh furnishes the most explicit and dramatic example of the efficacy of repentance in the whole bible.”

    Manasseh’s history shows that a good father does not always produce a good son. Hezekiah was perhaps the best king and led the nation in a revival; yet his son was the worst king, who chose to go all the way into idolatry. Along with Ahaz he ranks as one of the two most wicked kings that Judah had, but Manasseh was the most wicked king of all. During his reign there was such godlessness that God had to intervene.
    .
    The fact that Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign means that he was born during the fifteen-year period after God had extended the life of Hezekiah.

    Let us consider Manasseh’s evil reign under the following headings.

    Manasseh’s sins
    Manasseh’s punishment
    Manasseh’s repentance and restoration

    Manasseh’s sins

    Let us list and discuss Manasseh’s sins

    1- He did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord (2 Chron. 33:2)
    2- He copied the heathen in their abominations (2 Chron. 33:2). The significance of this to the Chronicler was that Manasseh chose the worship of heathen gods of nations that the Lord (the true God, and the one that Manesseh ought to have been worshiping ) had cast out before the children of Israel
    3- He restored the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down (2 Chron. 33:3). Manesseh went to extremes in restoring the degraded system of heathen worship and in desecrating what was sacred to God.
    4- He reared up altars for Baalim (2 Chron. 33:3). Manesseh went into idolatry in a big way. He was as bad as Ahab and Jezebel, and he worshiped Baal as they had done.
    5- He worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them (2 Chron. 33:3).
    The heathen had a pantheon of gods in cased they missed out one. Manesseh built altars for them in the two courts of the temple (2 Chron. 33:4–5), contrary to the law as stated in Deuteronomy 16:24 & 17:3. Manesseh actually “introduced right into the temple in Jerusalem the worship of the hosts of heaven: like the worship of Jupiter, the worship of Mercury, the worship of Venus, and the worship of all the stars. In other words, he established the horoscope there. You could have had your horoscope read in the temple in that day.” (McGee)

    Now we may castigate Manasseh for his interest in the horoscope , but isn’t it amazing that even in the enlightened age in our day intelligent people place as much confidence in the stars. Many church goers claim that consulting their horoscope is just innocent fun, but many put more confidence in the horoscope than they put in God Checking the horoscope is big business today as can be seen by its prominence in myriads of magazines and daily newspapers.
    6-He caused his children to pass through the fire (2 Chron. 33:6).
    “We are not told how far he went in causing “his children to pass through the fire.” There were degrees. He could have let them pass through the fire and only get well singed. Or he could put the baby right down in the arms of that red-hot idol. You just cannot think of anything as bad as that! This is idolatry, and Manasseh seems to have gone into it all the way.” (McGee)
    7- He observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards. (2 Chron. 33:6).
    Manasseh used enchantments and witchcraft and dealt with familiar spirits (lit., a divining demon present in the physical body of the conjurer). In our day we are seeing a return to such satanic worship. Check deut 18:9

    8- He wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger. (2 Chron. 33:6).
    Readers will no doubt agree that the following quotation from Constable’ commentary on 2 Chronicles are appropriate here.

    “If Manasseh had searched the Scriptures for practices that would most anger the Lord and then intentionally committed them, he could not have achieved that result any more effectively than he did.”92

    9-He set up an idol in the form of a carved image in the house of God. (2 Chron. 33:7)
    This was Manasseh’s most serious offence. It was in a sense a forerunner of what we read of the antichrist in Daniel 7-9 and Matthew 24 2 These 2 and Revelation 13

    God had promised that if these people would worship Him and be faithful to Him, “according to the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses” that He would bless them by not removing them from out of the land which He had given to their fore fathers.” (2 Chron. 33:8). However Manasseh’s acts were “ a calculated attempt to throw off the lordship of Yahweh, to claim independence from the Covenant,and to drive him from the land which he had given Israel.”91

    10- Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the Lord had destroyed before the children of Israel. (2 Chron. 33:9)
    “Manasseh’s sin is repeated, in essence, whenever man uses or manipulates his fellow-men for some supposedly higher good than their own welfare—or, indeed, uses any part of God’s creation for purposes other than those which God intends.”95

    11- Even though the Lord spake to Manasseh, and to his people, they would not hearken (2 Chron. 33:10).
    Both Manasseh and the people of Judah whom he had led into sin, were disobedient and refused to heed the warnings of a longsuffering God- but to no avail.You can be sure that when a man or a nation reaches this place, God will move. And so He did, as we shall now see.

    Manasseh’s punishment
    Manasseh’s punishment is detailed in 2 Chronicles 33: 11-12.

    Wherefore the Lord brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon [2 Chron. 33:11].

    Manasseh’s sin eventually led to the fall of Jerusalem long after his death, but its immediate effect was great distress for him himself. Because of his personal sin God punished Manasseh personally. God sent trouble—and plenty of it—to him, as he was captured by Ashurbanipal’s Assyrian forces while hiding among thorns and actually taken from his throne and carried captive to Babylon in humiliation with his hands manacled or bound with fetters, and his ankles fastened together with rings and a bar..

    This should have been a warning to the nation that God was now getting ready to send them into captivity because of their continual sin.

    Manasseh’s repentance and restoration

    2 Chron. 33:12–13 reports that in affliction, Manasseh “ he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.And prayed unto him: and he was entreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord he was God.

    Though it is quite probable that there was some political motive that induced the Assyrians to restore Manasseh to his kingdom, we can be quite sure that God overruled this act for His own and higher purpose.

    2 Chron. 33:12–13 is one of those wonderful passages in Scripture that corroborates the truth of 2 Peter 3 :9, as Manasseh’s repentance was both a dram¬atic example of God’s grace in action, as well as his patient longsuffering as taught in 2 Peter 3: 9. You and I might have given up on Manasseh I’m sure, but God did not give him up. Not only did God allow him to reign longer than any of the monarchs of Judea, but God revealed how gracious God is, in that when Manasseh was a helpless captive in Babylon, God heard his prayer. When Manasseh found himself in real trouble, he sincerely came back to God. God forgave him and restored him!

    It is most interesting that the Chronicler emphasized the results of the king’s repentance, and that he magnified the grace of God rather than the rebellion of the sinner. That God would accept Manasseh upon his repentance is a striking evidence of divine mercy and grace, and reminds also of the truth of Romans 5:20 where sin did abound .

    By relating Manasseh’s repentance and restoration the Chronicler sought to encourage the returned exiles who first read Chronicles. If God had had mercy on Manasseh and had reestablished him in the land, He could do the same for them as taught in 2 Chron. 7:14, where we read “If My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

    The fact that even such a man as Manasseh can be forgiven, restored and used of God should be an encouragement to every sinner. that even the most wicked of¬fender can find grace when he humbles himself and calls out to God in prayer. Even Manasseh, the king most responsible for the exile, is an example of that theme:

    Manasseh’s repentance and restoration should also be an encouragement to godly parents with children who have rebelled against God and gone astray from God and His word. Maybe you despair that your child will ever turn back to God. Just remember that Manasseh was a son of godly parents who went into sin to the very limit. But God did not give up on him. When Manasseh turned back to God in repentance, God heard his prayer and restored him.

    [2 Chron. 33:17].
    Manasseh’s captivity in Babylon cured Manasseh of idolatry, and from that time on to the end of his life he “knew that the lord he was God.” When he returned to Jerusalem, he took away the strange gods and the idols out of the house of the Lord, and he repaired the altar of the Lord and sacrificed there.
    Check this out from Kings

    2 Chron. 33:17 reveals that the people Judean people never did truly come back to God but still sacrificed in the high places. We read “Nevertheless the people did sacrifice still in the high places, yet unto the Lord their God only.” It is noteworthy that the account in 2 Kings does not even mention Manasseh’s repentance; probably because it had no national consequence as indicated by the chronicler.

    Manasseh’s sins had dire consequences for his people and his kingdom. Both the writer of Kings and Jeremiah suggests that his years of wickedness was the point of no return that made captivity and the exile to Babylon inevitable for Judah. We read in 2 Kings 23:26……….However, the lord did not turn from the fierceness of His great wrath with which His anger burned against Judah, because of all the provocations with which Manasseh had provoked Him. [2 Kings 23:26]

    And Jeremiah 15:4 states……….And I shall make them an object of horror among all the kingdoms of the earth because of Manasseh, the son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, for what he did in Jerusalem.

    Another major consequence of Manasseh’s early sins was that in spite of his repentance, the people of Judah continued in the old ways he had introduced (33:17), as he was unable to turn back the tide of evil and abomination which he had instituted and set in motion. Manasseh could not erase the effects of his early wickedness, because as one has well said “A half century of paganism could not be overcome by a half-dozen years
    of reform.” We read in 2 Chronicles 33:17 that despite Manasseh’s repentance, the people still sacrificed in the high places, though only to Yahweh. One of the sad and salient features of sin is that its effects can never be wholly turned back.

    Manasseh began as an extremely evil king that led the hearts of the people away from the Lord (33:2-9) However, he showed evidence of true repentance after his conversion because during the last years of his life he seems to have earnestly tried to undo the wrong he had done (II Chron. 33:14-16).

    The final consequence of Manasseh’s early sins was that his son Amon, the next king, followed in his father’s earlier footsteps, and multiplied the earlier sins of his father (33:23), rather than adopt the behavior of his converted father.

    Although after his repentance god permitted Manasseh to be released from his personal captivity in Assyria, the change was ttoo late to recover the nation eventhough he would have wished to have blotted out his past evil deeds he could neither restore the innocent lives he had taken nor could he halt the practices of idol;arty that he had launched

    What happened to Manasseh singly in his exile to Babylon was soon to happen to the nation as a whole

    2 chron 33 9-10
    Having noticed the personal punishment of Manasseh, let us discuss the national punishment 10 2 kings 21 9 -16
    Under Manasseh,, the nation ripened to judgment and thus the prophets were moved to tell of impending divine destruction. God promised that they would be dealt with just as Israel was.

  42. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    Here is my note on Amon
    14 AMON (II Kings 21:19-26; II Chron. 33:21-25).

    Because of the brevity of Amon’s reign, which marks the lowest period of the history of Judah up to that time, both the writer of 2 Kings 21:19-26 and the chronicler have not devoted much attention to it.

    Amon succeeded his father Manasseh to the throne of Judah at the age of 22, and reigned for two years in the same evil way as his father had done in his early days, rather than the ways of Manasseh’s life after his conversion. His reign was in essence a continuation of that of his father in his earlier years. Sailhamer points out that“Amon’s failure was a direct result of his father’s earlier sins—the effects of Manasseh’s sins continued to be felt among his people and in the life of his son Amon.” * Sailhamer 110 In fact he exceeded the evil practices of his father. This included sacrificing to the same images that his father had made.
    Amon’s brief reign was characterized by idolatry and failure to humble himself before the Lord. The significant phrases in the Biblical record of Amon are surely 2 Chronicles 33:23 which informs us that “He humbled not himself before the Lord” and 2 Kings 21:22, where we are told that “He forsook the Lord God of his fathers and walked not in the way of the Lord.”

    Amon thus differed from his father in that he failed to repent as his father Manasseh had done. Although he witnessed the process of his father’s repentance and its benefits, this had no influence on him. Instead he chose “to do evil in the sight of the Lord.” Not only did he refuse to humble himself before the Lord, but he also “hardened his heart, defied God and died in rebellion against Him. His im¬penitence in sin was his eternal ruin.” *Jensen

    Rather than experiencing forgiveness and restoration as his father had done he died prematurely as a result of a conspiracy by his own servants who murdered him. The people of Judah exacted justice on his murderers and placed his son, Josiah, a lad of eight years on the throne.

    Amon’s fate would have been a warning to the returned exiles to seek the Lord as Manasseh had done. Amon’s fate presents a similar warning to contemporary people.

    Application re spiritual lesson from this concerning influence Amon followed in the footsteps of his father
    Amon following Manasseh’s evil ways, rather than the ways of Manasseh’s life after his conversion. The evil which Manasseh had done had its effect on his son Amon

  43. Fair Play Avatar
    Fair Play

    Prime Minister David Thompson did the right thing in stepping down for a period of time to look after his health. Whatever his health issues are, I hope he gets the best medical care there can be to bring him back to good health.
    I now wish Mr. Stuart all of the best and may he continue the great tradition of giving Barbados the kind of leadership that keeps it as a stable developing country.
    Your first order of business is to get the legislation for freedom of information and integrity in public life passed. These two pieces of legislation that you promised would lick the wind out of the sails of those persons who want to get their hands back on power.
    As Haunts said it only takes an intelligent person to be Prime Minister. The civil service has the technocrats to give advice or hire advisers who are competent in the areas you need help.
    The budget is read in parliament; therefore it does not require a genius to read the budget prepared by technocrats. Bring the budget.
    Doctor Estwick did a good job when he was in opposition shadowing the Ministry of Finance and therefore should be given the job of presenting the budget.

  44. ac Avatar
    ac

    @David

    Thanks for bringing some civility to the thread .i ENJOY THE MUSIC LITTLE PEACE AND QUIET! Love You Barbados!

  45. Bajan Truth Avatar
    Bajan Truth

    @ Carson

    I might be stupid, but honesty means a lot to me.

    A bunch of proven crooks(Barbados Labour Party) seeking desperately to get their grubby hands back into the cookie jar sounds like a recipe for disaster to me. ……The longer we keep them out the better for little Barbados.

    . People like you and other corrupt Barbados Labour Party operatives should be blogging from your suites at the Dodds Hilton in St. Phillip. ….

    Almost one billion dollars in cost over runs and you have never said whose pockets the excess went into. Now you want more. Remember that greed is one of the deadly sins. You have to meet your maker at some point in time. What will you tell him?
    ====================================================

    Dear, dear, dear, when you get heated your limited powers of reasoning further desert you. Let me help.

    Thank you for your good wishes. What I say to my Maker will be between me and Him. Man judgeth after the outward appearance, God judges the heart.

    When did I become a BLP operative? I need to ask if they will be serving fatted calf, because I would have to cut off somebody’s hand, cause I pay for that. I had enough of that. The DLp I will deal with at the poll.

    We can agree about the cookie jar situation because I am all blasted mad at the depletion of my personal cookie jar by the folly in economic management a la DLP. So anytime you ready to guard the B’dos cookie jar, my cookie jar,leh we work together. Don’t worry about yours I already trying to guard it by trying to help you not to vote the wrong place, but you might think I preventing you from adding calf cookies to your jar. That would be dishonest for you to do and I know you say you are an honest man, so let us try to guard the jars together.

    Now if we are going to do that we have to be on the same page, bearing in mind that GP said that a horse and mule should not be yoked together. It is hard on the mule and frustrating for the horse, and I get easily frustrated. So let us agree that we will deal with facts not claims. Now you are better connected than me, I only heard Mr. Thompson claim that 1B in cost overruns is part of the corrpution of the BLP, you know hands down in we cookie jar. Did he give you the facts, chapter and verse so, project by project, then we could discuss it. This is important. ecause if it is not true and his track record on maths and truthfulness has not been strong. I remember his having us all geed up in the park for the secret document; now corruption corruption and no lock up or facts. That would turn the two of us into jackasses, and while that might be a step up for you, it would cramp my style.

    Pass on the info. but you must first distinguish between an item costing more because you asked for more and the same item with no additions costing more because of poor tendering,or poor execution. Unfortunately as bad as that is i do not know if you can lock up people for that. What we want is real shenannigans. Like if you have the bank account details, documents, pictures, tapes anything at all that would satisfy the auditor genral, and he might have more documents than you. We can talk.

    Boy we could sit and reason together like the Bible say, and it would please GP. We could catch the bastards so they can’t get back in the cookie jar.

  46. Carson C. Cadogan Avatar
    Carson C. Cadogan

    Georgie

    The important part of your notes:-

    “A half century of paganism could not be overcome by a half-dozen years
    of reform.”

    Fourteen years of Barbados Labour Party corruption can not be overcome by three years of Democratic Labour Party reform. It will take a bit more time than that as you well know.

  47. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    @ Bajan Truth
    Sir. You are expecting too much Sir! Much too match.
    But we live in a democracy Sir. Consequently jackasses are allowed to bray.

    Logic reason coherence are not necessary/ Trivia and nit pickings are often the order of the day. Thats is why I wonder why Darcy has not come up with stellar solutions.

    Is it that he is incapable (that I doubt)
    Is it that he is prohibited
    Is it that those around him are uneducable
    Or has he simply given up

    I know how it feels to be on committes with folk who just are not cappable of comprehending the way foward

  48. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    Mr Cadagon Sir

    Dont extrapolate my Bible notes towards your political diatribe. Those notes were to show you that I know who is who among the Kings of Judah.

    Now I dont really care about the BLP or the DLP. Like most Bajans I know folk in both parties. I look to NONE of them for help. My help cometh from the LORD.

    However, I expect who ever are holding jobs, to function in those jobs and do well therein. I have never taken or applied for a job that I could not do well. I expect the same from others. Is that not reasonable?

  49. PIG THE RAT Avatar
    PIG THE RAT

    Georgie Porgie–you pompous jackass

  50. Bonny Peppa Avatar
    Bonny Peppa

    Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that my Prime Minister would be restored to good health and come back with guns blazing so that de likes of Bajan Truth and his entourage can stop talking so much shite day in day out on dis blog. Heavenly Father you know that the whole world is in economic turmoil but dese kiss-me-ass,yardfowl- humbugs just preaching gloom n doom every blasted time dem open da mout. . I pray for dis lil ‘gem’ dear Father and for my PM. Excuse de expletives dear Father and answer my prayer for Christ sake, Amen.

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