Grace through a right relationship with Jesus Christ

Introduction

The Sin

• He followed practices of the nations ().

• He rebuilt shrines destroyed by Hezekiah ().

• He rebuilt shrines destroyed by Hezekiah ().

• He built altars to Baal ().

• He placed image of Asherah in the temple ().

• He worshiped the host of heaven (; ; ; ; ).

• He burned his son as an offering (; ; ; ; ; ).

• He practiced illicit forms of divination: soothsaying (), consulting false prophets (; ; , , ; , ), and necromancy

Not only did Manasseh violate the prescribed manner of worship in Deuteronomy, but he led Judah to sin in the process and kindled the anger of God against the nation. Manasseh stands out as a ruler of the worst kind.

John D. Barry; David Bomar; Derek R. Brown; Rachel Klippenstein; Douglas Mangum; Carrie Sinclair Wolcott; Lazarus Wentz; Elliot Ritzema; Wendy Widder

2 Kings 21:16 CSB

16 Manasseh also shed so much innocent blood that he filled Jerusalem with it from one end to another. This was in addition to his sin that he caused Judah to commit, so that they did what was evil in the Lord’s sight.

He persecuted all the prophets who spoke for God. There was blood everywhere from the atrocities he commited including the deaths of Isaiah and Micah.

There is an old Jewish tradition that Isaiah was put to death at this time, having been sawn asunder in the trunk of a tree. Manasseh has been called the “Nero of Palestine.” M. G. Easton

Judgement Comes

2 Chronicles 33:11 CSB

11 So he brought against them the military commanders of the king of Assyria. They captured Manasseh with hooks, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon.

This would not have been a pretty site. They would have put a hook through his lips or jaw and bound him in chains.

We see all the horrible things that King Manasseh did and think to ourselves that he deserved it all for the atrocities he committed. What do we deserve?

Romans 5:8 CSB

8 But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Hebrews 9:27 CSB

27 And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment—

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Grace Extended

2 Chronicles 33:12–13 CSB

12 When he was in distress, he sought the favor of the Lord his God and earnestly humbled himself before the God of his ancestors. 13 He prayed to him, and the Lord was receptive to his prayer. He granted his request and brought him back to Jerusalem, to his kingdom. So Manasseh came to know that the Lord is God.

Why do we wait until we are at the end of our ropes before we reach out to God?

Righteousness Revealed

2 Chronicles 33:14–16 CSB

14 After this, he built the outer wall of the city of David from west of Gihon in the valley to the entrance of the Fish Gate; he brought it around the Ophel, and he heightened it considerably. He also placed military commanders in all the fortified cities of Judah. 15 He removed the foreign gods and the idol from the Lord’s temple, along with all the altars that he had built on the mountain of the Lord’s temple and in Jerusalem, and he threw them outside the city. 16 He built the altar of the Lord and offered fellowship and thank offerings on it. Then he told Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel.

2 Chronicles 33:14–16 CSB

14 After this, he built the outer wall of the city of David from west of Gihon in the valley to the entrance of the Fish Gate; he brought it around the Ophel, and he heightened it considerably. He also placed military commanders in all the fortified cities of Judah. 15 He removed the foreign gods and the idol from the Lord’s temple, along with all the altars that he had built on the mountain of the Lord’s temple and in Jerusalem, and he threw them outside the city. 16 He built the altar of the Lord and offered fellowship and thank offerings on it. Then he told Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel.

King Manasseh was returned to his kingdom. How did this happen? Only a miracle of God.

He:

built the outer wall of the city of David and heightened it considerably.

also placed military commanders in all the fortified cities of Judah.

removed the foreign gods and the idol from the Lord’s temple

removed all the altars that he had built on the mountain of the Lord’s temple and in Jerusalem

built the altar of the Lord and offered fellowship and thank offerings on it.

told Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel.

Conclusion:

God can forgive any sin and turn any heart. There is no one beyond redemption. Is there a Manasseh in your life. Someone who is the embodiment of evil. Someone who seems to far away from God. Someone who is a thorn in your side.

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide; What can we do to wash it away? Look! There is flowing a crimson tide, Brighter than snow you may be today.

Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that will pardon and cleanse within; Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that is greater than all our sin!