Manasseh... one of the last kings of Judah... before the exile to Babylon...
Manasseh led Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem astray,
to do more evil than the nations whom the Lord destroyed
before the people of Israel.
2 Chronicles 33:9 ESV
The Lord tried to warn Manasseh... tried to get his attention...
but he just wouldn't listen...
Therefore the Lord brought upon them the commanders
of the army of the king of Assyria, who captured Manasseh
with hooks and bound him with chains of bronze
and brought him to Babylon.
2 Chronicles 33:11 ESV
Manasseh... he was the worst...
he certainly got what he deserved...
surely the Lord was done with him...
And when he was in distress, he entreated the favor of the Lord his God
and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.
He prayed to him, and God was moved by his entreaty
and heard his plea and brought him again to Jerusalem
into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew
that the Lord was God.
2 Chronicles 33:12-13 ESV
If you've never seen the grace of God in the Old Testament...
well open your eyes... because there is none greater than this...!
The wicked king... who closed his ears to the Lord...
comes to God with his entreaty...
and the Lord... He's moved...
He saves him...
grace offered... salvation given... in advance...
knowing the debt would be paid...
by His Son...
Manasseh's history includes a godly father...
King Hezekiah... who did right in the eyes of the Lord...
he cleaned and restored the temple...
sent out an altar call to not only Judah... but also to the northern kingdom... Israel...
inviting all for an extravagant Passover...
Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he did what was good
and right and faithful before the Lord his God. And every work
that he undertook in the service of the house of God
and in accordance with the law and the commandments,
seeking his God, he did with all his heart, and prospered.
2 Chronicles 31:20-21 ESV
This was Manasseh's daddy...
this was the household he grew up in...
surely some seeds of faith were planted in his heart...
and as with all seeds... under the right conditions...
they germinate and grow...
The right conditions for Manasseh was intense affliction...
Even after all he'd done... he knew who his God was...
he fell on his face... humbled... desperate...
and cried out to the Lord...
who by His amazing grace... heard... and saved...
So two lessons...
no one's gone too far for God's saving grace...
and never hesitate to plant seeds of faith...
no telling when they might sprout...
"For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower,
and bread to the eater, so shall my word be
that goes out of my mouth; it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. ..."
Isaiah 55:10-11 ESV
Monday Lamentations 3:31-66
Tuesday Lamentations 4-5
Wednesday Ezra 1:1 - 2:32
Thursday Ezra 2:33 - 3:13
Friday Ezra 4:1 - 6:12
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