2 Chronicles 33:12,13
“When he was in distress, he appeased the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. When he prayed to Him, He was moved by him and heard his pleading, and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD alone is God.”
This was quite a repentance. I wouldn’t have expected it. I would have thought he was way beyond repentance. I also would have thought he had burned up all of God’s good will. I can’t recall any king enacting so much evil. He allowed witchcraft, all sorts of idols and false gods and human sacrifice. He sacrificed two of his sons in the fire.
God took away everything. He was taken captive to Babylon. It was in that state that he looked up to God. He was so fortunate God was patient. Way beyond what would have been expected.
I have to pause here, as God is merciful to all of us. We were also in bad places. Romans 5:10 says, “For if, when we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!” We were His enemies. We might not have thought it, but we opposed much of His ways and hurt those He loves.
He puts us in places which bring us to repentance. His mercy is far and wide. I’ve heard the Holy Spirit called the hound of heaven. A dog might smell a morsel and go to great lengths to get it. So, the Holy Spirit does this for us.
He restored the king to his land and throne. The amazing mercy and goodness of God. Just having his life I would have thought enough. But this one who wrought so much evil and antichrist in his ways was restored. Amazing. There’s hope for us.
Lord, thank You for Your mercy and restoration. Psalm 18:31-34 says, “For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God. The God who encircles me with strength, And makes my way blameless? He makes my feet like deer’s feet, And sets me up on my high places. He trains my hands for battle, So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.” Lord, You are amazing. He strengthens us, He takes us to high places. We are so unworthy and You are so good.
This great mercy and love of God will be why we praise Him in eternity. We are all there, when we shouldn’t have been. We’ve been all blessed when we shouldn’t have been. He makes our paths strait, He protects and makes us capable for all the situations He puts us in. We shout, “God is great!!”.
Thank You, Lord. We sit humbly before You. We are in awe for all You’ve done. We’re not finished. There’s more, and more. Thank You.