Manasseh

It is sad to read the life of King Manasseh of Judah.  His father, King Hezekiah, was a Godly man.  The Bible says that Hezekiah “did what was good and right and true before the LORD his God.  And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, in the law and in the commandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart" ( 2 Chronicles 31:20,21).   But Manasseh did evil in the sight of the LORD.  He rebuilt the high places which Hezekiah, his father, had broken down.  He built altars for the Baals and made wooden images.  Manasseh built altars for the hosts of heaven, worshiped, and served them.  He made his sons pass through fire and used witchcraft and sorcery.  He even set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God!  ( 2 Chronicles 33).  

But his story does not end there!

The Lord sent His prophets to speak to Manasseh and his people, but they would not listen.  Therefore the Lord brought the captains of the army of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh with hooks, bound him with bronze fetters, and carried him off to Babylon.  When Manasseh was in affliction, he humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers and prayed to Him.  The Lord heard his cry and brought him back to Jerusalem.  Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God!

When we read about Manasseh's actions, we think there can be no greater sinner than him. Manasseh defied every rule and broke every law!  But when he repented of his sins and returned to the Lord, the Lord did not forsake him but restored him!  God loves a repentant sinner!  No wonder God called David a 'man after His own heart.  'That is the hope we have in the Lord too.  Our past transgressions should not deter us from drawing close to the Lord.  Sometimes when we pray for some people in our lives, we think they are far gone and can do nothing about that.  But the good news is that no one who repents is beyond God's grace!  The Bible says that, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”.  And there lies our confidence!

My friend, let us take this opportunity to humble ourselves before the Lord and remove those habits, desires, ambitions, activities, and friends that keep us from God. 

---