Manasseh's Prayer

MANASSEH’S PRAYER
Hezekiah’s son Manasseh did not follow in his father’s footsteps. He did evil and led the people to worship other gods. He was twelve years old when he began to reign and was king for 55 years in Jerusalem.

"For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.” (II Chronicles 33:3) “And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD”. (II Chronicles 33:5)

Manasseh also observed times, used enchantments and witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit and wizards. (Verse 6) The Lord then allowed him to be captured by the king of Babylon. The entire prayer of Manasseh is not given, but in verse 12 and 13 it states, “And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers and prayed unto him."

This should be encouraging to all of us. A person couldn't fall much lower then Manasseh, and yet when he was at the bottom he humbled himself and prayed and was forgiven. We learn from this that God our Father appreciates humility and hates pride. When Manasseh prayed, the Lord answered and gave him back his kingship.

God's Answer to Manasseh

"and he was entreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom.” (II Chronicles 33:13)

The successful outcome of this is given at the end of verse thirteen. “Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God”.

As with Manasseh, a big "shake up" in our life is sometimes what it takes to wake us up.

For more reading, in the Apocrypha, there is a book called, The Prayer of Manasseh, which is believed to be same Manasseh.