Manasseh became king of Judah at the age of twelve, and reigned for fifty-five years. He did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord. He built the high places, which Hezekiah his father had broken down. He erected altars for the purpose of worshiping Baalim, and made groves to worship the host of heaven. He even built altars for idols in the Temple. To make matters worse, he caused his children to pass through the fire. He sought the counsel of witches and wizards, used enchantments, and communicated with familiar spirits. Manasseh led Judah and the people of Jerusalem astray, so that they did more evil than the heathen nations. Needless to say, the Lord was provoked to anger with Manasseh (2 Chr. 33:1-9).
The Lord sent prophets to Manasseh, but he refused to listen. So the Lord brought against Judah the army commanders of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh prisoner, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon.
If the story of Manasseh ended on that note, we might not be surprised. For a man who did so much evil, this might be what he deserved. We might be led to believe that he got what he deserved, and move on to the next chapter. But that’s not how the story ends! Grace interrupts our expectations and turns the story around.
In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. And when he prayed to Him, the Lord was moved by his prayer and listened to his plea; so He brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God (2 Chr. 33:12–13).
In his distress Manasseh didn’t seek witches or wizards. He didn’t consult with familiar spirits or the host of heaven. Rather, he prayed to the God of his fathers! It doesn’t look like there’s any hope for such a man. Certainly it doesn’t look like Manasseh would know how to pray, or Who to pray to. But that is the power of God’s grace! And for those who believe that Manasseh only sought the Lord because he was in bondage in Babylon: “And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of the Lord, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the Lord, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city. And he repaired the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed thereon peace offerings and thank offerings, and commanded Judah to serve the Lord God of Israel” (2 Chr. 33:15–16). That’s what repentance looks like. It tears down the old life, and begins to build a new life. Manasseh’s false gods and altars were torn down, and replaced with the True God and real worship.
Beloved, it doesn’t matter how bad you may have been. It doesn’t matter what evil things you have done. The blood of Jesus Christ still cleanses, and the grace of God still saves.