2 Chronicles 33:18-25: a reflection

18Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer to his God, and the words of the seers who spoke to him in the name of the LORD, the God of Israel, behold, they are written among the acts of the kings of Israel. 19His prayer also, and how God listened to his request, and all his sin and his trespass, and the places in which he built high places and set up the Asherah poles and the engraved images before he humbled himself: behold, they are written in the history of Hozai. 20So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house; and Amon his son reigned in his place. 21Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign; and he reigned two years in Jerusalem. 22He did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight, as did Manasseh his father; and Amon sacrificed to all the engraved images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them. 23He didn’t humble himself before the LORD, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but this same Amon trespassed more and more. 24His servants conspired against him, and put him to death in his own house. 25But the people of the land killed all those who had conspired against King Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his place.

The account of Manasseh, one of Judah's most wicked kings, ends with a striking note of mercy: his prayer, and how God listened to his request, and how he humbled himself before the LORD. Manasseh, after all his great wickedness, humbled himself before God, and God heard him and restored him. But his son Amon, who did the same evil, is contrasted with him: he didn't humble himself before the LORD, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but this same Amon trespassed more and more. The difference between them was the humbling: Manasseh humbled himself and found mercy; Amon did not, and only grew worse. Humbling oneself before God opened the way to mercy for the one, and its absence left the other in his sin.

Notice the difference the humbling made. Manasseh and Amon both did great evil; but Manasseh, at last, humbled himself before God, and God heard him and restored him. Amon did not humble himself, and only trespassed more and more. The same evil, but a different end, and the difference was the humbling. Manasseh's humbling himself opened the way to God's mercy, even after all his wickedness; Amon's refusal to humble himself left him in his sin, growing worse. However great the sin, humbling oneself before God opens the way to mercy; and however similar the sin, the refusal to humble oneself leaves one in it. The humbling made all the difference: mercy for the one who humbled himself, ruin for the one who would not.

That is worth taking to heart, for humbling ourselves before God opens the way to his mercy, however great our sin. We can feel that our sin is too great for mercy, that we are beyond restoration; but Manasseh, after all his wickedness, humbled himself and found mercy. Humbling ourselves before God, however great our sin, opens the way to his mercy; and the refusal to humble ourselves, however small we think our sin, leaves us in it. Do not think your sin too great for mercy, nor refuse to humble yourself before God; Manasseh humbled himself and was heard. Humble yourself before God, however great your sin, trusting that this opens the way to his mercy, as Manasseh humbled himself and God heard him and restored him, while Amon would not humble himself and only grew worse; for humbling ourselves before God opens the way to his mercy, however great our sin, and it is not the greatness of our sin but the refusal to humble ourselves that leaves us beyond restoration.

Lord, the account of Manasseh, one of Judah's most wicked kings, ends with a striking note of mercy: his prayer, and how you listened to his request, and how he humbled himself before you. Manasseh, after all his great wickedness, humbled himself before you, and you heard him and restored him. But his son Amon, who did the same evil, is contrasted with him: he didn't humble himself before the LORD, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but this same Amon trespassed more and more. The difference between them was the humbling. Show me the difference the humbling made. Manasseh and Amon both did great evil; but Manasseh, at last, humbled himself before you, and you heard him and restored him. Amon did not humble himself, and only trespassed more and more. The same evil, but a different end, and the difference was the humbling. Manasseh's humbling himself opened the way to your mercy, even after all his wickedness; Amon's refusal left him in his sin. However great the sin, humbling oneself before you opens the way to mercy. Take that to my heart, for humbling myself before you opens the way to your mercy, however great my sin. I can feel that my sin is too great for mercy, that I am beyond restoration; but Manasseh, after all his wickedness, humbled himself and found mercy. Humbling myself before you, however great my sin, opens the way to your mercy; and the refusal to humble myself leaves me in it. Keep me from thinking my sin too great for mercy, nor from refusing to humble myself before you; Manasseh humbled himself and was heard, Lord. Help me humble myself before you, however great my sin, trusting that this opens the way to your mercy, as Manasseh humbled himself and you restored him.