Introduction

Welcome, beloved friends, to this sanctuary of solace, this haven of hope, where we gather together, united by our shared faith, our shared love for our Savior, and our shared desire to understand His word more deeply. We are all seekers here, seekers of truth, seekers of wisdom, seekers of the divine. And it is in that spirit of seeking that we turn our hearts and minds today to the story of Manasseh, a story that is as profound as it is poignant, as timeless as it is timely.

Before we delve into the depths of this story, let us hear the words of the great Christian thinker, J.I. Packer, who once said, "The life of true holiness is rooted in the soil of awed adoration." It is in this spirit of awed adoration that we approach our study of Manasseh, a man who learned the hard way that true holiness cannot be found in the pursuit of earthly pleasures, but only in the humble and heartfelt worship of our heavenly Father.

Now, let us turn to the Scriptures:

"Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years... He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, following the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites... The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention. So the Lord brought against them the army commanders of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh prisoner... In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors. And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea..." (2 Chronicles 33:1-20)

"...Manasseh king of Judah has committed these detestable sins. He has done more evil than the Amorites who preceded him and has led Judah into sin with his idols. Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I am going to bring such disaster on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle..." (2 Kings 21:11-16)

As we reflect on these words, let us bow our heads in prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for the gift of Your word, for the lessons it teaches us, for the comfort it brings us, for the wisdom it imparts to us. As we study the story of Manasseh, may we be reminded of Your mercy, Your might, and Your steadfast love for us, even when we stray from Your path. May we learn from Manasseh's mistakes, and may we be inspired by his eventual redemption. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

Manifestation of Manasseh's Misdeeds

Manasseh was a young king, ascending to the throne at the tender age of twelve. His reign, which lasted for fifty-five years, was marked by a series of actions that were deeply displeasing to the Lord. He followed the detestable practices of the nations that the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. This was a clear deviation from the path of righteousness that the Lord had laid out for His chosen people.

Manasseh's actions were not just a personal failing. As the king, his actions had a profound impact on the people he ruled. His embrace of the detestable practices of the nations that had been driven out before the Israelites led the people of Judah astray. They followed their king down a path of sin and idolatry, moving further and further away from the Lord.

The Lord, in His infinite wisdom and mercy, did not remain silent. He spoke to Manasseh and his people, warning them of the consequences of their actions. But they paid no attention. They were too caught up in their sinful ways, too enamored with the false gods they had chosen to worship. They had turned their backs on the Lord, ignoring His pleas for them to return to the path of righteousness.

The Lord's warnings were not empty threats. He brought against them the army commanders of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh prisoner. This was a clear demonstration of the Lord's power and His willingness to punish those who strayed from His path. It was a stark reminder that the Lord is a just God, who will not let sin go unpunished.

Manasseh's imprisonment was a turning point in his life. In his distress, he sought the favor of the Lord his God. He humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors. This was a significant change in Manasseh's attitude. He had gone from a proud and arrogant king, leading his people into sin, to a humble and contrite prisoner, seeking the Lord's favor.

When Manasseh prayed to the Lord, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea. This is a testament to the Lord's mercy and His willingness to forgive those who truly repent of their sins. Despite all the evil that Manasseh had done, the Lord was willing to listen to his plea and show him mercy.

However, Manasseh's sins had consequences. The Lord declared that He was going to bring disaster on Jerusalem and Judah. The sins of Manasseh had led Judah into sin, and the Lord was going to punish them for their transgressions. This was a clear demonstration of the Lord's justice. He would not let the sins of Manasseh and the people of Judah go unpunished.

Mercy and Might of God's Forgiveness

In the midst of the turmoil, we find Manasseh, a king who had strayed far from the path of righteousness, suddenly finding himself in a dire situation ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO