HOW COULD THE LORD LOVE THIS MAN? - Chapel Chat

     He was the son of one of the most righteous kings of Judah. Yet, he was the most wicked of all the kings of Judah. He did evil in the sight of the Lord and raised up altars for the idol gods of the people. He helped provide worship for the sun, moon and stars of heaven. He built altars in the sacred temple for all these gods and fell down and worshipped them in front of the LORD of heaven for whom the temple was built. He made his sons pass through fire and supported witchcraft and evil spirits. He killed many innocent people and shed much blood in Jerusalem. Who was this king that made the LORD so angry that he condemned the nation to destruction? His name was Manasseh, fourteenth king of Judah. I Chronicles 33.
    The LORD brought the king of Assyria against Manasseh at Jerusalem, capturing the city, and carried Manasseh off to Babylon as a prisoner.  While in torment in prison, Manasseh repented, humbled himself before the God of his fathers and prayed to Him. The LORD heard him, had compassion on him, brought him back to Jerusalem and restored him as king.
     What a loving, kind God that would accept the repentance of one of the most wicked kings of Judah, restore him to his kingdom and then bless his changed life as king. As wicked as we might be, God, in his love, is always willing to accept the repentant, when they believe.

Lewellyn Tewksbury, July 23, 2016