Homilist 2 Chronicles 33:12-18 And when he was in affliction, he sought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,… Manasseh is an eminent instance of the power, richness, and freeness of the Divine mercy. Observe — I. THE SINS WHICH HE COMMITTED. 1. Their contributory cause. His early freedom from restraint, his coming to supreme power when only twelve years of age. 2. Their special nature. The catalogue is appalling. 3. Their aggravated nature. (1) They were committed in defiance of religious education, and of the admonitions and example of his father. (2) They were of more than common enormity. (3) They were productive of more than ordinary evil to others. (4) They were in defiance of the expostulations of the prophets (ver. 10). II. THE REPENTANCE WHICH HE EXERCISED. 1. Its cause. (1) Its more remote cause was probably his religious education. The case of Manasseh is not discouraging to training children in the way they should go. (2) The immediate cause was affliction. 2. Its nature. (1) Deep conviction of sin. (2) Deep contrition. (3) Earnest prayer. (4) Reformation of life. III. THE MERCIES WHICH MANASSEH RECEIVED. 1. Temporal nature. 2. Spiritual He was brought to the spiritual knowledge of the God of his salvation. "Then Manasseh knew that the Lord He was God." This knowledge led him to fear, trust, love, and obey. This obedience was accompanied by the deepest self-renunciation and abasement to the end of his life. Lessons. 1. To those who are insensible of their sinfulness. 2. To those who are ready to sink into despair under the weight of their sinfulness. 3. To those who are disposed to presume on the mercy of God. Manasseh's son Amon was quickly cut off in the midst of his sins (vers. 21-28). He seems to be a beacon set up close by the side of his penitent and accepted father, to warn all persons against presuming on the mercy manifested to Manasseh. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, |
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