Manasseh Humbling Himself Before the Lord
The sermon explores how Manasseh's genuine humility before God led to his restoration and highlights the transformative power of grace in the midst of affliction.
Bob Hoekstra preaches on the remarkable story of Manasseh, a prideful rebel who engaged in abominable practices but experienced phenomenal spiritual recovery through genuine humility and repentance before the Lord. Despite Manasseh's extensive rebellion, when he humbled himself greatly, prayed, and implored the Lord, God poured out His grace, heard his supplication, and restored him to his kingdom, leading Manasseh to acknowledge the Lord as God.
Text
Now when he was in affliction, he implored the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, and prayed to Him; and He received his entreaty, heard his supplication, and brought him back to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God. (2 Chronicles 33:12-13)
Manasseh's prideful rebellion against the Lord was astoundingly extensive. He was deeply engaged in abominable practices. He "caused his sons to pass through the fire in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom; he practiced soothsaying, used witchcraft and sorcery, and consulted mediums and spiritists" (2 Chronicles 33:6). Nevertheless, when he humbled himself before the Lord, God poured out grace upon him.
In the place of humility, phenomenal spiritual recovery can be experienced. The abominations that Manasseh perpetrated would seem to leave him no path for restoration. Yet, the scriptures are replete with declarations and testimonies of God's gracious response to those who humbly cry out to Him. The Lord invites such entreaties in the midst of great need. "Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me" (Psalm 50:15). Even when the trouble would be captivity that resulted from rebellion, the Lord promised to hear and to deliver. "Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive" (Jeremiah 29:12-14).
This is the gracious heart of our God toward genuine humility. No wonder that the Lord would pour out grace even upon a prideful rebel like Manasseh. "Now when he was in affliction, he implored the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, and prayed to Him; and He received his entreaty, heard his supplication, and brought him back to Jerusalem into his kingdom." This was no casual entreaty. In the midst of his shameful agonies, he was overtaken with humility. He begged the Lord to rescue him. The Lord restored him. The wonderful result of this gracious work of God was the spiritual reality it planted in the heart of this former rebel. "Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God."
O gracious Lord, I am so encouraged to see Your heart toward true humility. Too often, I have thought that I was beyond Your work of recovery in my life. Lord, there are areas in my life that need Your restoring touch. I humble myself before You now, entreating You to pour out Your grace in new measure and new power, Amen.
Sermon Outline
- I points: - Introduction to Manasseh's rebellion - Description of his abominable practices - The significance of humility in his restoration
- II points: - God's response to humility - Scriptural examples of grace in affliction - The invitation to call upon the Lord
- III points: - The transformation of Manasseh - The importance of recognizing God's sovereignty - The impact of God's grace on a prideful heart
- IV points: - Encouragement for personal humility - The ongoing need for God's restoring touch - Conclusion and prayer for grace
Key Quotes
“Now when he was in affliction, he implored the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.” — Bob Hoekstra
“The abominations that Manasseh perpetrated would seem to leave him no path for restoration.” — Bob Hoekstra
“Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God.” — Bob Hoekstra
Application Points
- Recognize the importance of humility in your relationship with God.
- Seek God's grace in areas of your life that need restoration.
- Remember that no one is beyond the reach of God's transformative power.