I know this is a very late blog. I’m not usually so very late with writing it, but today I have voted in the local government elections, spent some time with Mike and put in more than 7 hours work, so it’s not surprising. Between it all, I have been pondering my Bible reading over the last two days.
There’s one king in the Bible who was 12 years old when he became king. He reigned for 55 years, so he was 67 when he died. He probably became known as the most evil king of ever. His name was Manasseh. In the Old Testament his story is recorded in 2 Chronicles 33. There is a list of 9 things he did wrong – some bad, some too horrific to mention – all disobedient to God.
Manasseh’s father was Hezekiah one of the best kings ever – he was faithful, obedient and sought his God wholeheartedly. His son, however was the complete opposite.
Manasseh led his kingdom of Judah and the people of Jerusalem astray, so that they did more evil than the nations the Lord had destroyed before the Israelites. The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention. (2 Chronicles 33:9-10)
As a result of his disobedience, God dealt with them by sending the king of Assyria to defeat them. They took Manasseh prisoner. They put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles & took him to Babylon.
That was enough for God to get his attention.
2 Chronicles 33:12-13
“In his distress he sought the favour of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God.”
I took two things away from this.
- If you have children who are wayward, it’s not over yet.
- It’s never too late to humble yourself before God and repent, regardless of what you have done.
How that works out in the afterlife or on the day of judgement, I don’t know, but I know that God is loving and kind, just and fair and He has a plan that none of us here on earth have yet thought of.
So that is what has been brewing in my mind between all the busy-ness of the day and now it’s written for others to ponder.
The Orthodox church believes Manasseh prayed a prayer of repentance and which is sometimes used in their services. It’s off that website, that this picture comes:
It’s never too late.
These are the days.
Keep the smile going.
God bless you.
Helga xx 🙂