OT Characters: Manasseh

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas' website.Hebrew words:Menashsheh – Manasseh (“Who makes me forget”)About 25x in the OT.Further study:Passages covered in this podcast2 Chronicles 33:1-222 Kings 21:16Mentioned in passing: Ezekiel 34, Daniel 4, Romans 5,Further:Parallel account in 2 Kings 21Apocryphal: The Prayer of Manasseh 1-15. The complete text follows.O Lord Almighty, God of our ancestors, of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and of their righteous offspring;  2 you who made heaven and earth with all their order;  3 who shackled the sea by your word of command, who confined the deep and sealed it with your terrible and glorious name;  4 at whom all things shudder, and tremble before your power, 5 for your glorious splendour cannot be borne, and the wrath of your threat to sinners is unendurable;  6 yet immeasurable and unsearchable is your promised mercy, 7 for you are the Lord Most High, of great compassion, long-suffering, and very merciful, and you relent at human suffering.O Lord, according to your great goodness you have promised repentance and forgiveness to those who have sinned against you, and in the multitude of your mercies you have appointed repentance for sinners, so that they may be saved. 8Therefore you, O Lord, God of the righteous, have not appointed repentance for the righteous, for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who did not sin against you, but you have appointed repentance for me, who am a sinner. 9 For the sins I have committed are more in number than the sand of the sea; my transgressions are multiplied, O Lord, they are multiplied! I am not worthy to look up and see the height of heaven because of the multitude of my iniquities. 10 I am weighted down with many an  iron fetter, so that I am rejected because of my sins, and I have no relief; for I have provoked your wrath and have done what is evil in  your sight, setting up abominations and multiplying offences.11 And now I bend the knee of my heart, imploring you for your kindness. 12 I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, and I acknowledge my transgressions. 13 I earnestly implore you, forgive me, O Lord, forgive me! Do not destroy me with my transgressions! Do not be angry with me for ever or store up evil for me; do not condemn me to the depths of the earth. For you, O Lord, are the God of those who repent, 14 and in me you will manifest your goodness; for, unworthy as I am, you will save me according to your great mercy, 15 and I will praise you continually all the days of my life. For all the host of heaven sings your praise, and yours is the glory for ever. AmenSome things we learn about God:He is angered by sin.He gives us opportunities to repent.He will pardon even the most hardened sinner, provided there is repentance.Even so, a change of heart does not erase the consequences of wrongs done. God may bless us, but he does not rewrite history.The Lord is willing to give us a fresh start.For kids:Read the story. Good Kings, Bad Kings.Color in the figures (younger children).Questions:Even though we may have been honest and admitted what our wrong, there may still be consequences. For example, if you steal something and turn yourself in, you should still give back what you stole, and apologize for your wrongdoing. Also, you may not be trusted for a while.If God will forgive so freely, how should we feel and behave when we are hurt by our brother or sister? a mother or father? someone at school?Key verses:2 Chronicles 33:1 – Manasseh begins to reign at age 12.2 Chronicles 33:9-10 – He abused his power, leading the people of God astray, and refusing to heed spiritual correction.2 Chronicles 33:11 – God chastens Manasseh severely.2 Chronicles 12-13 – Manasseh turns to God, and God responds.2 Chronicles 33:18 – His prayer was recorded. (Does it survive today in the apocryphal Prayer of Manasseh ?)Next lesson: Josiah