The Prayer of Manasseh—Judah’s Evil King
Manasseh was perhaps more wicked than all the kings of Judah. He led Judah to commit more abominations and divination than all the pagan nations before them. He was an idolater, a mass murderer, even burning his children in the fire as an offering to pagan gods. His sin was grave, but Manasseh repented when God afflicted him and handed him over to captivity.
The prayer of Manasseh is an example of what true repentance looks like. God is a God of justice and vengeance, but he is also merciful, pitiful, and long-suffering. He is moved by genuine broken repentance and will forgive any sin, however horrific, if it is heartfelt.
May this prayer of Manasseh, a great idolater and betrayer of God Almighty, inspire you to humble yourself and repent for any sin you have committed against Jehovah, great or small. Repentance moves God’s heart. He who searches hearts is faithful to forgive sincere repentance.
“And the Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they would not listen. Therefore, the Lord brought upon them the captains of the army of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh with hooks, bound him with bronze fetters, and carried him off to Babylon. Now, when he was in affliction, he implored the Lord his God, and HUMBLED HIMSELF GREATLY before the God of his fathers, and PRAYED TO HIM; and He RECEIVED his entreaty (plea, prayer), HEARD his supplication, and BROUGHT HIM BACK TO JERUSALEM INTO HIS KINGDOM. Then Manasseh KNEW THAT THE LORD WAS GOD.” 2 Chronicles 33:10-13, NKJV
The Prayer of Manasseh
O Lord, Almighty God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and of their righteous seed; who hast made heaven and earth, with all the ornament thereof; who hast bound the sea by the word of thy commandment; who hast shut up the deep, and sealed it by thy terrible and glorious name; whom all men fear, and tremble before thy power; for the majesty of thy glory cannot be borne, and thine angry threatening toward sinners is importable: but thy merciful promise is unmeasurable and unsearchable; for thou art the most high Lord, of great compassion, longsuffering, very merciful, and repentest of the evils of men. Thou, O Lord, according to thy great goodness hast promised repentance and forgiveness to them that have sinned against thee: and of thine infinite mercies hast appointed repentance unto sinners, that they may be saved.
Thou therefore, O Lord, that art the God of the just, hast not appointed repentance to the just, as to Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, which have not sinned against thee; but thou hast appointed repentance unto me that am a sinner: for I have sinned above the number of the sands of the sea. My transgressions, O Lord, are multiplied: my transgressions are multiplied, and I am not worthy to behold and see the height of heaven for the multitude of mine iniquities. I am bowed down with many iron bands, that I cannot life up mine head, neither have any release: for I have provoked thy wrath, and done evil before thee: I did not thy will, neither kept I thy commandments: I have set up abominations, and have multiplied offences.
Now therefore I bow the knee of mine heart, beseeching thee of grace. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, and I acknowledge mine iniquities: wherefore, I humbly beseech thee, forgive me, O Lord, forgive me, and destroy me not with mine iniquites. Be not angry with me for ever, by reserving evil for me; neither condemn me to the lower parts of the earth. For thou art the God, even the God of them that repent; and in me thou wilt shew all thy goodness: for thou wilt save me, that am unworthy, according to thy great mercy. Therefore, I will praise thee for ever all the days of my life: for all the powers of the heavens do praise thee, and thine is the glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Image copied from: https://oceanlibrary.com/deuterocanonical-prayer-of-manasseh/
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