Manasseh: How Judgment Leads to Mercy Then and Now

“Therefore the Lord brought upon them the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria, who captured Manasseh with hooks and bound him with chains of bronze and brought him to Babylon. And when he was in distress, he entreated the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. He prayed to him, and God was moved by his entreaty and heard his plea and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God

. . . And he [Amon] did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done. Amon sacrificed to all the images that Manasseh his father had made, and served them.  And he did not humble himself before the Lord, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself, but this Amon incurred guilt more and more.  And his servants conspired against him and put him to death in his house 2 Chronicles 33: 11-13, 22-24.

The book of 2nd Chronicles in the Old Testament records or “chronicles” the history of the kings of Judah. It covers the period from King Solomon’s reign to the exile of Judah.

Judgment and Repentance

Manasseh was one of the many wicked kings of Judah. But he eventually repented because of God’s judgment upon him.

It’s interesting that initially both Manasseh and his son “did what was evil in the sight of the Lord”. “Amon sacrificed to all the images that Manasseh his father had made, and served them.  And he did not humble himself before the Lord, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself” (vs’s 22, 23).

To read the entire chronicle of King Manasseh and his son Amon, click here.

Not Being Corrected Is No Blessing

Why did Manasseh ultimately humble himself while his son Amon never did? We don’t know for sure. But could it be the judgment that God brought upon Manasseh that Amon appears to have escaped?

There’s no mention of the Assyrian army, or any army coming against Amon. It seems that Amon’s reign was one of peace and security. This puts the judgment of God in a different light. We think of it as an unwelcome, undesirable product of God’s wrath.

But we see with Manasseh the mercy and redemption that came with it. God’s punishment produced repentance which resulted in mercy and restoration. Amon, on the other hand, was apparently not punished, but neither did he experience the repentance and mercy it often produces.

And is, in fact sent to produce.

Amon incurred guilt more and more (vs. 24) and was ultimately assassinated by his own officials.

Manasseh: Judgment, Mercy and Redemption

This account clearly shows us the redemptive nature of God’s correction. He doesn’t bring it because He’s vindictive or power hungry or cruel. He brings it in an attempt to get us to turn from our sin and live.

Judgment then, is actually a greater expression of God’s mercy and grace than apparent peace and safety.

To read another post related to Manasseh: How Judgment Leads to Mercy Then and Now, see Take the Narrow Path to Freedom.