2 Crônicas 33

2 Crônicas 33

Meyer - 2 Chronicles 33:12 When he was in affliction, he besought the Lord his God. So long as this story stands on the page of revelation, no sinner need despair of mercy. There was hardly a sin possible to man that Manasseh did not commit. “He did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.” And he made his people do worse than the heathen. Then came awful sorrow. Bound in fetters, exposed to consummate cruelty and disgrace, he was carried to Babylon, and thrust into the dungeons, where other captive princes were immured, with little chance of liberation or permission to revisit his native land. But there the Spirit of God did His work. He humbled himself greatly, and prayed. What tears, and cries, and bursts of heart-broken penitence, were his! How those walls were saturated with the breath of confession, and those stone floors indented by his kneeling at perpetual prayer! And God came near to his low dungeon, and graciously heard his supplication, and brought him back again. Yes, and He will do as much for you. The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth from all sin; the grace of God is exceedingly abundant with faith and love; all sins and blasphemies may be forgiven to the sons of men. Turn to Him with brokenness of soul, and He will not only forgive, but bring you again; and give you, as He did Manasseh, an opportunity of undoing some of those evil things which have marred your past. For the rest, it is good not to wait for affliction to stir us up to seek God, but to abide in Him for love’s dear sake. James Smith - MANASSEH’S CONVERSION 2 Ch 33:1–13 1. He was Honoured. Son of a godly man. 2. He Sinned. “Did evil in sight of the Lord” (v. 2). 3. He was Warned. “Lord spake to Manasseh” (v. 10). 4. He was Humbled. “Bound with fetters” (v. 11). 5. He Prayed (v. 12). 6. He was Saved. “The Lord heard his supplication and brought him … into his kingdom” (v. 13). Doing Something Right In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly. 2 Chronicles 33:12 Today's Scripture & Insight: 2 Chronicles 33:10-16 The letter from “Jason,” an inmate, surprised my wife and me. We “foster” puppies to become service dogs to assist people with disabilities. One such puppy had graduated to the next training phase, which was run by prisoners who’ve been taught how to train the dogs. Jason’s letter to us expressed sorrow for his past, but then he said, “Snickers is the seventeenth dog I’ve trained, and she is the best one. When I see her looking up at me, I feel like I’m finally doing something right.” Jason isn’t the only one with regrets. We all have them. Manasseh, king of Judah, had plenty. Second Chronicles 33 outlines some of his atrocities: building sexually explicit altars to pagan gods (v. 3), practicing witchcraft, and sacrificing his own children (v. 6). He led the entire nation down this sordid path (v. 9). “The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention” (v. 10). Eventually, God got his attention. The Assyrians invaded, “put a hook in his nose . . . and took him to Babylon” (v. 11). Next, Manasseh finally did something right. “He sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly” (v. 12). God heard him and restored him as king. Manasseh replaced the pagan practices with worship of the one true God (vv. 15–16). What regrets do you have? How might you honor God by letting Him redeem them and use you to serve Him? Thank You, Father, that You’re always ready to hear my honest prayers. A FRESH START When he was in affliction, he ... humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. -2 Chronicles 33:12 A young man was driving an old worn-out car on a desolate road in a downpour when the engine died. As he coasted to the side of the road, another car stopped and the driver got out and asked what was wrong. The stranger opened the hood, tinkered with something, and signaled the driver to turn the ignition key. When the car started, the amazed driver shouted, "Thanks, I was afraid the engine had failed for the last time." The rescuer replied, "Every car has at least one more start in it if you can get a spark. The same principle applies to people. Someday you will have occasion to apply this knowledge. Remember, as long as a single spark of life remains, it's not too late for anyone to make a fresh start." Thirty years later, this once-stranded driver is a chaplain in a large prison. He testifies that those words about a fresh start have come back to him again and again. Just as God gave Manasseh a new start when he repented (2 Chronicles 33:12-13), this chaplain has seen God work miracles with hardened men. We're thankful, Lord, that when we fall We can begin anew If humbly we confess our sin, Then turn and follow You. - Sper It's never too late to make a fresh start with God 2 Chronicles 33:13 When he prayed to Him, He was moved by his entreaty and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God. KJV And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God. NKJ 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. NET When he prayed to the LORD, the LORD responded to him and answered favorably his cry for mercy. The LORD brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. Then Manasseh realized that the LORD is the true God. BGT καὶ προσηύξατο πρὸς αὐτόν καὶ ἐπήκουσεν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐπήκουσεν τῆς βοῆς αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν αὐτὸν εἰς Ιερουσαλημ ἐπὶ τὴν βασιλείαν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔγνω Μανασσης ὅτι κύριος αὐτός ἐστιν ὁ θεός LXE and he prayed to him: and he hearkened to him, and listened to his cry, and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom: and Manasses knew that the Lord he is God. CSB He prayed to Him, so He heard his petition and granted his request, and brought him back to Jerusalem, to his kingdom. So Manasseh came to know that Yahweh is God. ESV 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. NIV And when he prayed to him, the LORD was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God. NLT And when he prayed, the LORD listened to him and was moved by his request. So the LORD brought Manasseh back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh finally realized that the LORD alone is God! he was entreated: 1Ch 5:20 Ezr 8:23 Job 22:23,27 33:16-30 Ps 32:3-5 86:5 Isa 55:6-9 Jer 29:12,13 Mt 7:7,8 Lu 23:42,43 Joh 4:10 brought him: Ezr 7:27 Pr 16:7 21:1 Mt 6:33 knew: De 29:6 Ps 9:16 46:10 Jer 24:7 Da 4:25,34,35 Joh 17:3 Heb 8:11 MANASSEH'S REPENTANCE AND RESTORATION When he prayed to Him, He was moved by his entreaty and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God - This shows the incredible mercy and compassion of God. Even though Manasseh’s sins were grievous, God responded to his sincere repentance. This reflects the truth found in Ps 51:17 where David declares, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” God’s heart is always open to those who turn to Him in humility and faith. Then - When is then? When Yahweh brought him back to Jerusalem, obviously moving in the hearts of the Assyrians to release Manasseh and allow him to return to Jerusalem. It was ALL of the LORD's doing! Manasseh knew that the LORD was God - Knew is much more than knew intellectually. The Hebrew verb yada describes knowing intimately and was used of Adam "knowing" Eve in intimate relation. The Septuagint verb ginosko affirms this sense because it means to know by experience. Thus knew describes a true knowledge of Yahweh. One might even call this an OT example of one being "born again!" Manasseh's knowledge of Yahweh was person and life changing. Manasseh came to understand that the LORD alone is the true God, sovereign and merciful. 🙏 THOUGHT - Manasseh’s story is a profound testimony of God’s grace and mercy. It reminds us that no one is beyond redemption, no sin so deep and dark that God cannot or will not forgive. When a sinner truly repents, God forgives. As 1Jn 1:9 assures us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Manasseh’s repentance demonstrates that even the hardest heart can be changed when they "put aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save (their) souls." (Jas 1:21+) Believer's Study Bible - The "Prayer of Manasseh," one of the 14 books of the O.T. Apocrypha, is based entirely on these four verses (cf. 2Ch 33:18, 19). Andrew Hill: The expression “the Lord was moved” (2Ch 33:13) is unusual and marks a theological distinctive of the God of the Bible. Unlike the deaf Baals after which the Israelites continually strayed, the God of Israel is not only approachable, but he listens to prayer and is capable of responding with empathy toward those in dire need (Ex. 22:27; 2Ch 30:9; cf. 1Ki 18:26; Isa. 44:18; Hab. 2:18). The stark contrast between God who listens to the plea of Manasseh (2Ch 33:13) and the people who pay no attention to God (2Ch 33:10) would not be lost on the Chronicler’s audience. The episode foreshadows the hallmark attribute of Jesus Christ as the great high priest, who is moved to grant mercy because he sympathizes with human weakness, having experienced it himself (Heb 4:14-16). (See 1 and 2 Chronicles - Page 19)