Over the past few Sunday evenings we have looked at some of the kings who served Israel. There is much to be learned from examining the lives of biblical characters. When we realize that it was God who determined to include their biographies within the pages of Holy Scripture. We know it was not without purpose and plan.
Many sociologists put forth the idea that man's environment determines his behavior. While that is probably true to some degree, we know that it isn't an accurate way to determine how an individual might turn out. Of course one would think that with godly parents and a godly home, the result would always be godly children; but we painfully have to admit that isn't always the case.
Tonight we will look at a man who had a godly heritage, but he chose to go a different direction in his life than his godly parents. We call this the free will of man. Every one of us has a free will to decide whether or not we will follow God in our lives. As a parent, I wanted to provide an atmosphere that would help my children to choose the right path. I want you to understand tonight, that I claim no glory for them making those choices. I thank God for His grace in their lives and for the choices which they have and continue to make. But it isn't over yet is it? Many are the folks who get started on the right path and then stray in later years.
I. His Ruin v1-9
A. Manasseh had good godly parents.
1. Hezekiah: a godly king - one of the best Israel had ever seen
2. Hephzibah: means, "my delight is in her" it is used symbolically of Zion in Is. 62:4
3. I do not want to minimize the importance of a godly heritage…we should do our best to provide an atmosphere of spirituality for our children and grandchildren…BUT
B. He chose to go his own way
1. Manasseh had a deceitful heart.
Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
(Mark 7:21) For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts…"
2. His deceitfulness and wickedness is revealed by his actions.
(Proverbs 23:7a) For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:
C. He is considered by most all O.T. scholars to be the worst king ever to rule over Israel.
(2 Kings 21:16) Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; beside his sin wherewith he made Judah to sin, in doing that which was evil in the sight of the LORD.
D. Manasseh's ruin should reveal some things to us
1. A person's heritage does not determine spiritual success
2. Godly parents are beneficial if they are heeded.
3. Man, when left to his own desires, will become increasingly evil - because man is depraved!
II. His Rejection v 10
(2 Chronicles 33:10) And the LORD spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken.
A. Manasseh had every opportunity to serve God
1. He could have followed his father's example
2. Instead he followed after his grandfather, Ahaz
3. He led the people into gross idolatry
B. God sent him warnings by way of the prophets
(2 Peter 3:9) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
1. Manasseh refused to heed God's warnings
2. He continued on in his idolatrous ways.
3. Tradition holds that he killed Isaiah by placing him inside a hollow log and then sawing it in half.
C. God continues to send warnings to the wicked - even today
(Ezekiel 33:11) Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
1. To those who are without Christ, God sends forth this message 'Turn from your way and live' because 'There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death'
2. Oh what a gracious and merciful God: to give us opportunity after opportunity to receive Christ as Savior.
(Isaiah 55:6) Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
3. But still there are those who say NO to His wondrous grace and like Manasseh, reject His loving warnings.
III. His Punishment v 11
(2 Chronicles 33:11) Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.
A. What a tragic picture
1. Manasseh refused God's grace and experienced His judgment
2. We see him bound and carried away by the enemy
3. Thorns = literally hooks through the nose as you would do to a wild bull.
B. We see this happen today!
1. A person hears the gospel, and rejects it over and over
2. One day they experience God's judgment.
(Proverbs 29:1) He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
3. All too often the result is final; but we find Manasseh was brought to his senses
IV. His Repentance v 12
(2 Chronicles 33:12) And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,
A. Brought about by his affliction
1. When you are at the bottom you are more likely look up.
2. Manasseh's story is much like the prodigal son who had to wake up in the hog pen before he saw his true condition
3. Repentance is a change of mind, a complete turnabout in your thinking 4. Jesus said, 'Except ye repent ye shall likewise perish'
B. Shown by his attitude
1. When in affliction he knew which God to whom to pray.
2. Although he was responsible for leading his nation into idolatry he knew that only one God could hear and answer prayers.
3. He returned to the God of his fathers he had left them and. their ways of worship.
4. He had forsaken the worship of God for the new and more popular fads in religion.
C. Shown by his prayer (2 Chronicles 33:13a) And prayed unto him:
1. He humbled himself greatly before God (Proverbs 16:18) Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
2. When we come before God it must be with a humble spirit.
(Luke 18:13) And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
3. Manasseh 'entreated' the Lord, which means he cried out earnestly and urgently for God to help him.
V. His Restoration v 13
(2 Chronicles 33:13) 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.
A. God delights in showing mercy, and saving a sinner
1. The Bible speaks many places about the joy in heaven over just one sinner that repents.
2. God is delighted when we came to him in repentance and faith.
3. As we have said before, God wants to see all come to know Him.
B. God answers prayer
1. Manasseh was released from his bonds and returned to Jerusalem.
2. God will release you from the bonds of sin and set you free!
C. God gives assurance
1. Manasseh knew that the Lord was the only true God.
2. There was no doubt in his mind about it
3. God gives us assurance of our salvation also.
(1 John 5:13) These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
VI. His Restitution v 15
(2 Chronicles 33:15) 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.
A. We are not saved by our good works, but we are saved unto good works!
(Ephesians 2:10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
1. When a person gets right with God…there will be a change in their life!
2. The will want to serve Christ; want to be obedient to Him; and want to learn more about Him!
3. We become new creatures with a new outlook and purpose for living!
B. Manasseh showed that he had changed.
1. He was interested in caring for what God had restored unto him.
2. He destroyed the places of idol worship and he restored godly worship of the One True God!
3. I believe he sought to undo the damage he had done earlier on in his wicked life.
C. Many folks have the talk without the walk
1. People who have seen the hand of God in their lives say they will change but don't
2. I have seen a number of prisoners and jailhouse conversions.
3. If there is no change then there was no real repentance!
Manasseh had done more to hurt God's cause than any other king of Israel. He had dabbled in everything imaginable, but God still was merciful and forgiving toward him. When he turned to God, God did not turn him away!
Paul called himself the chiefest of sinners... the worst of the worst. But we know how God used him for His glory. God specializes in hard cases. Manasseh serves a great example to us of the longsuffering and mercy of God toward all who reject Him.