2 Chronicles 33:12,13–The Humbling of Manasseh And when he was in affliction, he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, And prayed unto him: and he was entreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord he was God. This man experienced a remarkable change. Once a proud king he became humble like a little child. Moreover, though a very wicked man a time came when he began to do good. We trust that this was true repentance and true conversion. It was like others of whom we read in the Bible – Nebuchadnezzar, the people of Nineveh, and, most famously of all, Saul of Tarsus. What happened to Manasseh and what do we learn about God? The first thing to note here is the importance of searching the Scriptures. The first account we have of Manasseh is in 2 Kings chapter 21. There no mention is made of any repentance. We are left with the picture of an evil man indeed, one who continued in sin until the end of his days. It is a reminder that we need to piece together the parallel accounts of certain events recorded in the Bible, “comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1Cor.2:13). We learn here God’s great longsuffering. Manasseh reigned for fifty-five years, longer than any other king in Israel. How did he spend these years? He was a great idolater. He revived the abominations his godly father Hezekiah had suppressed. He worshipped Baal, the sun, moon and stars. He even polluted the temple of God with idolatry. Overall he made Judah worse than the heathen. He was also a great murderer: “Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another” (2Kings 21:16). Yet God bore with him. There were divine judgments and finally captivity in Babylon but God did not destroy him or the nation. Though the Israelites were only promised possession of Canaan as long as they obeyed the Lord (2Kings 21:16) yet they were not cast out. God is faithful to His promises. Though it is wrong to presume upon God’s patience yet here is a comfort to Christian parents who see their children go astray. They should continue to pray for them and have hope in a covenant God. Then we see God’s readiness to hear prayer. In his time of need Manasseh bowed his knee and his heart before the Lord. He took his proper place before the Most High, the Holy One of Israel, the God of his fathers whom he had disgraced. He made a full confession of his shameful past. And the Lord heard him! What an encouragement to any sinner. We also observe God’s willingness to pardon sin. Whatever your past or your present, do not think that you have gone so far in sin that there is no way back. God is more merciful than we understand. “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” (Isa.55:7). Finally we should note the evidence of a sinner’s repentance. A man who has truly turned from sin will seek to repair the damage he has done. There is no way we can pay our debts to God. The Lord Jesus Christ has paid for His people’s sins, but our repentance involves acknowledging our sins to those we have offended and seeking to make amends. Remember the words of Zaccheus: “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold” (Luke 19:8). When he repented Manasseh set himself to undo the evil work of idolatry (2Chron.33:14-16). A new spirit was seen in this changed man. He had a zeal for the glory of the true God whom he now believed. Can we too say that we have really left our sins behind and that our desire is towards the Lord alone?