"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT GOD'S GRACE TO SINNERS"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT GOD'S GRACE TO SINNERS"

2 Chronicles 33:9 So Manasseh seduced Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to do more evil than the nations whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel.
2 Chronicles 33:10 And the LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they would not listen.
2 Chronicles 33:11 Therefore the LORD brought upon them 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.
2 Chronicles 33:12 Now when he was in affliction, he implored the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,
2 Chronicles 33:13 and prayed to Him; and He received his entreaty, heard his supplication, and brought him back to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God.

Some explanatory notes, application, questions and a prayer:

These verses detail an incident in the life of King Mannaseh. He was the son of King Hezekiah. As it turns out, he wound up being the most evil of the kings in Israel. Yet, in this particular incident, we see the enormous and tremendous grace of God towards the king, and towards his people. God is indeed gracious isn't He.

1. A man can be very evil and very stubborn and not listen to God.
2 Chronicles 33:9 So Manasseh seduced Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to do more evil than the nations whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel.
2 Chronicles 33:10 And the LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they would not listen.

This king seduced the people of God to do evil, and when the Lord spoke to him he would not listen.
We as men and women, are capable of doing sinful and evil things.
We are also capable of refusing to listen to God when He speaks to us.
Such was the case here.

2. God is capable and does chastise His people when they are disobedient.
2 Chronicles 33:11 Therefore the LORD brought upon them 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.

Our actions have consequences. The seductive ways, and the stubborn ways of King Manasseh brought judgment from the Lord. In this case, God used a foreign king to put a hook into king Manasseh and bound him and carried him off into captivity.
I'm certain the king never imagined what would happen to him as a result of his sin.
God tried to speak to him, but he refused to listen.
And thus God took very severe measures with him.

3. A man can come to his senses repent to God and find grace and restoration.
2 Chronicles 33:12 Now when he was in affliction, he implored the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,
2 Chronicles 33:13 and prayed to Him; and He received his entreaty, heard his supplication, and brought him back to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God.

It took the pain of being in captivity to bring King Manasseh to his senses.
And he began to implore or cry out to God.
He humbled himself greatly before God.
He prayed to God.

And God received his prayers, and heard his supplications, and brought him back to Jerusalem into his kingdom.
Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God.

Some questions and statements:

1. It's quite sobering to know what the human heart of capable of doing isn't it?

2. And it's easy to not realize how our actions can affect so many people.

3. We are capable of tuning the Lord out when He tries to speak to us.

4. If we don't listen to God He may choose to bring some severe chastening into our lives.

5. But, if we come to our senses, and turn to God, He will forgive us and restore us.

6. Sometimes it takes a lot to bring a man to his senses, and for him to really realize that God is God.

A prayer:

Father, You are so merciful. Look how You dealt with this King. He was stubborn and would not listen to You, so You brought him into a situation that would humble him. Father would you please not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
We do not need to get ourselves into trouble with You. We would rather walk in close intimacy and obedience to You.
In Jesus name we pray. Amen

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia.