My first childhood theater experience was the musical Peter Pan. I remember the fancy lobby, the red velvet chairs, and the crowd’s buzz as we waited for the curtain to rise. I also remember booing at Captain Hook as he schemed against Peter and cheering for Tinkerbell when she rescued him. There were good guys and bad guys, and I was delighted to participate in the tale.
As I read about the kings of the southern kingdom of Judah, I similarly shuffle them into categories. “Boo!” to King Ahaziah; “Yay!” to King Jehoshaphat. There are so many names and details that my mind instinctively attempts to simplify the data.
But there’s a problem with this approach. The conclusions are false. My categorizing leads to polarizing. I regard each king as all bad or all good, either sinner or saint. It may be easier for my mind to make sense of oversimplified labels, but they’re not true. There’s much more to every king’s story.
Today we learn about King Hezekiah and King Manasseh. As we read, let’s resist the urge to categorize and oversimplify. Instead, let’s make space for complexity and nuance as we consider their faithfulness and brokenness.
First, we cheer for King Hezekiah, who restored the temple, smashed idols, and defended Jerusalem. He led with faith, courage, and prayer. “He did what was right in the LORD’s sight” (2Chronicles 29:2). Yay! But there’s more to his story. Even this faithful man of God arched his back in pride as he refused God’s provision during an illness (2Chronicles 32:25). Can we accept the truth that even mighty King Hezekiah was a mixed bag?
Next, we boo Hezekiah’s son, King Manasseh, who practiced witchcraft, defiled God’s temple with idol worship, and even burned his children to death as sacrifice to false gods. Clearly, he was wicked and led Judah far from the Lord. “He did a huge amount of evil in the LORD’s sight, angering him” (2Chronicles 33:6). Booing is a massive understatement. But there’s more to his story, too. Deep in his pride and rebellion, Manasseh hit rock bottom. As a defeated king and shackled prisoner in Babylon, he turned to the Lord in prayer and repentance. Can we accept the truth that even evil King Manasseh was a mixed bag too? “When he was in distress, he sought the favor of the LORD his God and earnestly humbled himself before the God of his ancestors” (v.12).
Yes, there’s more to these stories. In fact, there’s complexity and nuance in everyone’s story. We may be tempted to categorize ourselves or others as all bad or all good, but this is not biblical. Our best days don’t define us, and neither do our worst. God defines us. And He calls us His children. Saved by grace. Sinners made saints. May we delight in participating in this ultimate, true tale of God and His kingdom.
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41 thoughts on "Manasseh’s Repentance"
This was such a good devotional. Everyone is complicated, even the worst people are not beyond God’s reach, and even the Christians we put on pillars as perfect models can betray God and us. We need to practice humility and wait for God’s final judgment on others.
The LORD is altogether GOOD!
So late to the game today as I’ve been running around like crazy all day. This devotional is very fitting for me today as I finally finished up jury duty and the trial has wrapped up. It is so easy to cast judgement on somebody even when we don’t know them. As I reflect back on the decision we came to it is a comforting reminder that even though on our best days they don’t define and same with our worst days. @Foster mama praying for you!!
Yes this was a really good one. It seems they did a lot of back and forth. One king sought God he died he son rebelled against God…over and over. You think they would learn but things are still much the same today.
Foster Mama! Thank you for your comment. I am praying for your decision about this client !
Adrienne. Paring for you
This devotional was spot on. I too have been oversimplifying these kings by placing them into good or bad categories. We are so much more complicated and dynamic than these categories can describe. In one moment I am following after God and in the next moment I am following after my own sinful desires. God sees me as his child in my best moments and my worst. I pray I would see myself and those around me as he sees me.
What a change of event! What a surprising twist when repentance hits the innermost of one’s heart. The Lord of glory brought a drastic 360 change of one’s life, from fetters in Babylon to being an honorable king. What a full restoration of status, heart and mind, power and influence. Our God is amazing and full of surprises.
Praying for prayer requests of our dear sisters, VICTORIA E, DOROTHY, SEARCHING, FOSTER MAMA.
@LISA CHAPEK: amen that the real enemy is desperate. May we continue to intercede for healing to come, and an awakening/repentance from leadership level.
If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14 ).
Be blessed dear sisters. The name of the LORD is a STRONG TOWER; the righteous run to it and are safe (Proverbs 18:10).
“there’s complexity and nuance in everyone’s story.” When I read this I knew Patti had some how gotten into my mind and thoughts. I seem to be calling out to God and Christ every other day if not every day for some reason or another. God, Christ and the Holy Spirit are the true friends I know I can count on to get me through any situation.
Sisters, I asked yesterday for prayer regarding my sister, Carol, well she is in the hospital. I am going to have to talk to her about getting her son out of the house. Please pray for God to help me use the proper words and to not sound mean but to be unrelenting.
Be blessed and know God, Christ and the Holy Spirit are ALWAYS, ALWAYS there for you.
At first while reading the passages, I’m thinking, oh my gosh they are back and forth. In faith and following the Lord to out of faith and not following the Lord. It makes your head spin. BUT we do the same. Or at least I do. I’m faithful and then I meet up with someone and fall into sin of gossip or such. It goes back to “why do I do what I don’t want to do?
“Our best days don’t define us, and neither do our worst. God defines us. And He calls us His children. Saved by grace. Sinners made saints. May we delight in participating in this ultimate, true tale of God and His kingdom.
Faithfulness verses brokenness , we are not beyond the grace of God! So, cry out to him in our brokenness and repent !
Loved this devotion. Great reminder that God is the one who defines us. We are saved by grace! Thank you Jesus! Amen.
Thankful that God Defines me. I am His child saved by Grace.
Is it just me or do King Sennacherib’s words at the wall of Jerusalem sound just like what the enemy would say to us in light of Nashville? “Have any of the national gods of the lands been able to rescue their land from my power? How much less will your God rescue you from my power? Prideful, deceptive words from a desperate enemy who knows he can’t stand against God directly so he attacks his children. I stand at the wall in prayer, will I flinch? Will I look to others or worldly resources to deliver me? Will I get angry at people and fight against them instead of fighting the real enemy? Will I doubt the call to be strong and courageous? Or, will I cry out to God and invite others to join me? I choose the later by the grace of God. I choose to believe He can bring glory out of tragedy. I choose to pray for the brokenhearted that He would bind them. I choose to pray for the captives to sin and evil that He would set them free. I choose to humble myself and allow Him to search my heart to make sure it’s completely His. How about this? There is pride (idolatry) in every part of our society (government, education, business, medicine, legal, etc.) Whatever part you work in or are connected to, pray that people would respond to the call of the Lord and tear down the idols. Ask Him to prepare you to deliver the message that it’s time to return to Him (2 Chronicles 30:6-9). May we celebrate this Passover/Easter as Hezekiah did where people are returning, we are consecrated and we interceding for His healing (2 Chron 30:13-20). Where there is joy in our land and the enemy leaves in disgrace (2 Chron 32:20)
A beautiful story! I pray that I will stay humble before the Lord! I pray that God will work with me to see that people are not lost causes! That God can not only bring me closer to him, if I seek. But, he can change the hearts and minds of others, who come to him. Nobody is a lost cause.
@Michelle Patire, thanks for sharing your story of redemption! It sounds very similar to what my adult children are going through, so it gives me hope when I hear of people like you, that have come back to Jesus. There is so much New Age influence and false spirituality out there that entices. You are a beautiful example of God’s pursuit and His grace. ❤️
Father, thank you for defining me❤️
We have such a beautiful Hope! How could we survive in this broken world without it?? And He gives us grace even when it’s given at our last breath. So thankful.
Lifting all my shes in prayer.
@ foster mama- praying for peace after your meeting regarding taking a new client. Keep trusting that He will guide you.
@Kat D- thanks for your comment this morning on the previous day :) I felt led to pray because of the heaviness of our world and the shooting. May God bless you and help you trust in Him, friend!
Wow. These stories in 2 Chronicles are just hitting deep. I have been meditating on my own journey with God. I was listening to a testimony the other day by someone who used to be a “Ghost Hunter” who turned to the Lord and realized how deceived she was. It reminded me of my own story of being obsessed with the “spiritual” but not obsessed with Jesus, who I had already claimed as my savior. Very confusing time in life. Lol.
I hear my own story when the people go to the high places but only sacrifice to God. Like when I went to a Buddhist temple and prayed to God. Such a wild and confusing time.
I also relate when I read about Manasseh after he is carried away captive with hooks and fetters.
This especially touched me- 2 Chronicles 33:13 NKJV- “Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God.” It’s like all his confusion cleared when he humbled himself and God restored him to his throne. Like proof God was who He said He was. It is just so similar to my own story.
Being oppressed by the demonic because of all the new age books I read, the things I practiced, feeling the physical weight of my sin– I cried out to God and He opened my eyes to see my sin in an INSTANT.
It’s hard to put all this to words. But I’m blown away by the fickleness of our hearts, but also those same hearts realize our desperate need for God in lowest moments.
I’m thankful that God doesn’t define me by my past, when I worshipped myself and was so mislead. God, thank you that even then, you saw me as Your child and led me to see clearly.
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Thank you Lord, that you don’t define us by our failures. You define us by Yourself — as Your family.
I am guilty of putting people into boxes – there’s the “good people” box and the “bad people” box. But I am reminded by today’s reading that this is not how God labels people. There is the sinner who needs regeneration and the regenerated who constantly needs to be set back on God’s path. There IS more to everyone’s story! Praise God that He is just and faithful and has amazing, abundant grace! Father help me to see people through your eyes, not my own. Help me to be gracious and forgiving and leave any judging to you – the Righteous Judge. Amen.
So thankful for God’s mercy and grace!
Yesterday, one of our SRT sisters mentioned Lynn Austin’s 5-part series about the kings…it is EXCELLENT (especially when you get to #2-#5) and really put me in that time, increasing my understanding!!
Ha! I posted before having done any of the reading or meditation today!
Yes, thank you @PATTI SAULS — so, so true — and @ TAYLOR ♥️ for ““On my best days, I’m a child of God; on my worst days, I’m a child of God” “.
Lord help us!
Thank you for sharing this song. So good
♥️
VICTORIA E – I don’t feel inadequate…I AM most certainly inadequate and many days I am extremely hard on myself about it and then I try to remember to run into the arms of Jesus and pray to be better tomorrow. But, your post yesterday made me reflect on something from my childhood…My father always taught us (with words) that only God is perfect and he (Dad) is not. But, he carried himself in such a way that he was perfect, faultless, beyond questioning, etc…and NEVER apologized for anything. Instead of teaching us to honour our Father, it made us fearful, lack confidence, untrusting of him, apprehensive to be imperfect around him and therefore avoid too much time with him…I KNOW, this is a GIANT tangent but I recognized recently how important it is to me that the kids in my life know they can call me on my errors, knowing I am doing my very best and are not afraid to make a mistake around me.
Still, I am that little girl who never feels like I get ANYTHING totally right (as a wife, foster mother, homemaker, daughter, health professional, friend, servant)…my loved ones remind me to see the even small successes I DO have daily (and not just see them as “luck”)…Thank you Jesus for every moment when Your hand upon me and working with me produces beautiful results!
PRAYER REQUEST along those lines. I am working outside the home VERY little and barely feel like I can keep up but, have a meeting today about potentially taking on another person in my work (that seems “high maintenance”) who wants specifically me. Will I be enough Lord?! Do you want this for us Lord?! (Please pray about my meeting and this client…May God guide)
Thank you, Father that we aren’t defined by what we do, but rather by you who loves us enough to chase after us and bring us back to yourself.
Amen
Amen! And Amen!
Very enlightening when put into these words ♥️
♥️
There’s a song I hear on K-Love that’s called “I’m So Blessed” by Cain where some of the lyrics go “On my best days, I’m a child of God; on my worst days, I’m a child of God” that I have going through my head as I read this devotional.
@Karen I like what you said about checking my heart to not let pride seep in and that no one is too far from God. Great points!
@Sarah D rejoicing with you that your interview went well and praying against anxiety!
@Kacie Watson you posted on Monday but I just wanted to say I’m praying for you and know what that kind of heartache post-breakup feels like. I pray the Lord comforts you in this time and I’m here for you too!
I hope everyone has a blessed day <3
Love this devotional. It gives such hope when we think of loved ones who are not yet saved. ANYONE can be saved by humbling themselves before the Lord. No sin is too great for God to forgive.
It also is a call to personal reflection. None of my sins are too great for God to forgive, but have I truly humbled myself? Do I let pride get in the way of humbling myself before the Lord? Please, Lord, forgive my pride! Cleanse me from this sin that sometimes stops me from truly humbling myself before you!
Amen.
“This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” —and I am the worst of them.” So thankful for this verse in 1 Timothy to end today’s teaching!
PATTI SAULS – great job as always. You spoke right to me. I, too, love this: “Yes, there’s more to these stories. In fact, there’s complexity and nuance in everyone’s story. We may be tempted to categorize ourselves or others as all bad or all good, but this is not biblical. Our best days don’t define us, and neither do our worst. God defines us. And He calls us His children. Saved by grace. Sinners made saints. May we delight in participating in this ultimate, true tale of God and His kingdom.” Such a great reminder, PATTI!
SEARCHING – thanks for including the definition of seduce. Certainly a power to guard against.
So grateful for the Blood of Jesus! Let me never shy away from sharing my testimony. In Jesus name, Amen
We serve an awesome and forgiving God! His mercies are truly new every morning.
King Manasseh – he humbled himself, God heard him and brought him back into his kingdom in Jerusalem. This was after SO many evil deeds – 2 Chronicles 33:9 NKJV: 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. The dictionary defines “seduce” as to
“attract (someone) to a belief or into a course of action that is inadvisable or foolhardy” so not only did he commit horrible, evil acts (more evil than the pagan nations!), he made it seem like a good idea and the people did evil as well.
That sounds crazy until we look around at what people do and believe in today’s world. If we keep our eyes on God, study His word and seek Him and His will, we will be more able to discern truth of God from the lies of the evil one, no matter how dressed up the lies are.
SARAH D – praying for you
DOROTHY – praying for you and for your sister
GAYLE R – I love that idea! I’ll have to look into that. Thank you for sharing.
Update on my elderly friend – the heart surgery is to be done in the next several weeks.
LOVE that phrase- “GOD defines us!” Thanks be to God!
Me too, JILLIAN GIBSON, “Our best days don’t define us, and neither do our worst. God defines us.”
This may be the quote of the year!
I pray that I would keep this in mind with regards to others and learn to extend grace.
KACIE WATSON – praying for the Lord to draw near and comfort you and that you can trust Him to reveal His plans for you conserning a spouce.
Sinners made Saints! Wow! Thank you Lord for your love
Amen to that. It is God who defines us, not our good or bad days. Hallelujah for that truth!