Context No. 3058 of 4322 · 2 Chronicles

2 Chronicles 33:10-17: in context

10The LORD spoke to Manasseh and to his people, but they didn’t listen. 11Therefore the LORD brought on them the captains of the army of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh in chains, bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon. 12When he was in distress, he begged the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. 13He prayed to him; and he was entreated by him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God. 14Now after this, he built an outer wall to David’s city on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entrance at the fish gate. He encircled Ophel with it, and raised it up to a very great height; and he put valiant captains in all the fortified cities of Judah. 15He took away the foreign gods and the idol out of the LORD’s house, and all the altars that he had built in the mountain of the LORD’s house and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city. 16He built up the LORD’s altar, and offered sacrifices of peace offerings and of thanksgiving on it, and commanded Judah to serve the LORD, the God of Israel. 17Nevertheless the people still sacrificed in the high places, but only to the LORD their God.

The LORD warns Manasseh and his people, but they will not listen. So God brings the Assyrian army, who capture Manasseh, bind him with fetters, and drag him to Babylon. And there, in his distress, this king who had done more evil than the nations humbles himself greatly and prays. And God, astonishingly, is moved by his plea, hears him, and brings him back to Jerusalem. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God.

This is one of the striking accounts of repentance in all of Scripture. Manasseh, one of the most wicked kings Judah ever had, is broken by captivity, humbles himself, and cries out, and God receives him and restores him. Even the worst offender, brought low and genuinely humbled, finds a God ready to forgive. And his repentance is not mere words; it shows in action, he tears out the foreign idols and rebuilds the altar of the LORD. No one is beyond the reach of a mercy that meets a humbled heart.

Do I believe that no failure of mine is beyond God's mercy if I will humble myself and turn, and does my repentance show, like Manasseh's, in changed action?

Sources

2 Chronicles 33:12: "When he was in distress, he begged the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers."
2 Chronicles 33:13: "He was entreated by him... and brought him again to Jerusalem. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God."
Isaiah 55:7: "Let him return to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him; to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."