August 2, 2015: SOAP #2068:

Scripture: 2Chronicles (NIV) 33:19 His (Manasseh’s) prayer and how God was moved by his entreaty, as well as all his sins and unfaithfulness, and the sites where he built high places and set up Asherah poles and idols before he humbled himself—all are written in the records of the seers.

Observation: Manasseh was such a wicked king. He led Judah in terrible sin, even greater than the surrounding nations that did not know God. He filled Jerusalem with innocent blood. (2Kings 21:16) Judgment came and Manasseh was captured. (2Chronicles 33:11) In captivity, Manasseh repented and the amazing grace of God gave forgiveness and restoration. The King repented and did what he could to change things. Judgment was postponed but later God brought judgment on the nation because of Manasseh’s sins. (2Kings 24:3) What grace that God would forgive Manasseh. Yet what a holy God that required judgment.

Application: The videos that have been recently shown in the news about the abortion providers selling body parts—those videos make it hard to deny that abortion is the shedding of innocent human blood. In looking at the body parts assembled to check the parts, one clinic worker is heard saying, “it’s a boy.” We have filled our streets with innocent blood.

Prayer: Lord, teach America to pray as Manasseh prayed! It was a prayer of a great sinner. It was a prayer of the most sinful king of Judah. It was a prayer of a king who led his people in to greater sins than the nations surrounding them, nations whom God had disposed because of their sin. It was the prayer of a king whom God had sent into captivity. Most amazingly, it was a prayer that reached your heart, oh God!!! Lord, help America to pray like Manasseh! Amen