Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow. How beautiful snow is when it freshly falls, glistening white with no discoloration. We so love that verse when it comes to our own sin; but what about others? Are we so quick to accept them in? We tend to believe some people are too evil to ever be forgiven. However, in that case is it that we see to little the blackness in our own heart? Or we do not see the absolute righteousness of God, bringing us to our knees. As we come to look at this king of Judah, King Manasseh, a part of us bristles at the thought of his being saved in the end. He truly is one absolutely Marvelous Example of God’s Mercy and Justice in Life. We could easily compare his life to Paul the apostle who stood by and watched, perhaps even ordered, the stoning of Stephen.
How could it be God would save such a man as Saul to be renamed Paul? Ah but you see, we cannot see the heart of God. Nor do we truly see the heart of others, as God sees them. And yet, let us consider. Perhaps it is true that my own judgmental, prideful heart is even worse than Paul’s worse day. Could it be that I am so quick to see the speck in my brother’s eye while never seeing the boulder in my own? I daresay, too often it is precisely the case.
The more I learn of the Marvelous Example of God’s Glory, the more I recognize my own unworthiness before a Holy God. Yet, He saved me. Why would I not want that for another whose eyes had been blinded and now they see?
Marvelous Example: From the depths of evil
Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned for fifty-five years in Jerusalem. 2 He did evil in the sight of the Lord according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord dispossessed before the sons of Israel. 3 For he rebuilt the high places which his father Hezekiah had torn down; he also set up altars for the Baals and made Asherim, and he worshiped all the heavenly lights and served them. 2 Chronicles 33
He was a very spiritual man as some would say today, “I am spiritual”. He worshipped astrology, the stars, the moon, and the sun. In addition he sought after many idols and the gods of the world. Perhaps searching for peace, but never finding.
4 He built altars in the house of the Lord of which the Lord had said, “My name shall be in Jerusalem forever.” 5 He built altars for all the heavenly lights in the two courtyards of the house of the Lord. 6 He also made his sons pass through the fire in the Valley of Ben-hinnom; and he practiced witchcraft, used divination, practiced sorcery, and dealt with mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking Him to anger. 2 Chronicles 33
Boldness of An Evil Heart
Furthermore, he was bold. He even placed the idols inside the house of God. Oh, wait, but don’t we do the same today? Have I not at times in my life been guilty of the same? Placing other desires above God and never even considering what I was doing.
7 Then he put the carved image of the idol which he had made in the house of God, of which God had said to David and his son Solomon, “In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen from all the tribes of Israel, I will put My name forever; 8 and I will not remove the foot of Israel again from the land which I have appointed for your fathers, if only they will take care to do everything that I have commanded them according to all the Law, the statutes, and the ordinances given through Moses.” 9 So Manasseh encouraged Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to do more evil than the nations whom the Lord destroyed before the sons of Israel. 2 Chronicles 33 NASB
The Darkest Recesses of Evil in Nation 2 Kings 21
10 Now the Lord spoke through His servants the prophets, saying, 11 “Since Manasseh king of Judah has committed these abominations, having done more evil than all that the Amorites did who were before him, and has also misled Judah into sin with his idols, 12 therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: ‘Behold, I am bringing such a disaster on Jerusalem and Judah that whoever hears about it, both of his ears will ring.
13 I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria and the plummet of the house of Ahab, and I will wipe Jerusalem clean just as one wipes a bowl, wiping it and turning it upside down. 14 And I will abandon the remnant of My inheritance and hand them over to their enemies, and they will become as plunder and spoils to all their enemies, 15 because they have done evil in My sight, and have been provoking Me to anger since the day their fathers came from Egypt, even to this day.’”
And King Manasseh
16 Furthermore, Manasseh shed very much innocent blood until he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another, besides his sin into which he misled Judah, in doing evil in the sight of the Lord.
Although, not recorded in the Bible, there are some historical books that suggest perhaps King Manasseh was responsible for Isaiah’s death. There is one such recording that suggests Isaiah was placed in a sack inside a tree and sawed in half. Hebrews 11 does refer to someone of faith being sawed in half. Perhaps it was Isaiah. But all combined, King Manasseh was of all men most evil until he humbly repented of his sins before God.
Marvelous Example of God’s Grace
0 So the Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention. 11 Therefore the Lord brought the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria against them, and they captured Manasseh with hooks, bound him with bronze chains, and led him to Babylon. 12 When he was in distress, he appeased the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. 13 When he prayed to Him, He was moved by him and heard his pleading, and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord alone is God.
And so King Manasseh joined the long list of sinners saved by grace alone. Sinners just like me. God reached down from His Throne to see me. He sent His son to die to pay the price for my sin. My heart so often filled with flickering embers of bitterness. How quickly I jumped to anger and frustration last week over trivial things. I say it is because I am overworked, overwhelmed, and stretched too far; but is it that? Do I ever stop to remember that I am at times so critical of others? Oh, “woe is me” must be my cry like that of Isaiah.
Isaiah 6: Marvelous Example of God’s Mercy and Justice
In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. 2 Seraphim were standing above Him, each having six wings: with two each covered his face, and with two each covered his feet, and with two each flew. 3 And one called out to another and said,
“Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of armies.
The whole earth is full of His glory.”
4 And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke. 5 Then I said,
“Woe to me, for I am ruined!
Because I am a man of unclean lips,
And I live among a people of unclean lips;
For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of armies.”
6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs. 7 He touched my mouth with it and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your guilt is taken away and atonement is made for your sin.”
Another Marvelous Example of God’s Grace and Justice—Jonah
Jonah thought the Ninevites were too evil to be saved. Yet, God told Him, otherwise. And through their salvation the destruction of Israel was delayed for a time. Yet, the depth of evil in the heart of the Israelites were compounded by their pride and arrogance. Believing God would always choose them as though it was because they were superior in their character. Truth is: Yes, He chose them. But that was an act of grace alone. Justice would burn up the lot of us all, were it not for grace. Justice demands it; but Jesus paid the price. Oh what Marvelous Example of Grace has been shown me, a sinner.
How quickly I must be reminded that my only hope is Jesus. One day I will look like Him, but until that day I must bow before the cross daily. I only display Him to the world when I come to the end of me so that His light might shine through an emptied vessel overflowing with His love, grace, and His righteousness.
So let us rejoice in Him, proclaiming His Magnificent Glory to a world in need of a Savior. Then let us sing praise to the Marvelous Example of His Grace whenever anyone comes to repent and accept Him as Lord and Savior.
WHEN I CAME TO THE END OF ME
So many times I strayed so far from you
And wondered what was I to do
I tried so hard, my might, to do your will
I could not see I should stand still
What could I do? Bring You a gift?
The harder I try, the farther I drift
I reached that point, reality
I’d broke your heart, you still loved me
CHORUS: When I don’t have the strength
You make me strong
When my heart fills with tears
You are my song
You are the love,
My hope from above
My fountain of life
To overcome strife
When I don’t have a hope
At the end of life’s rope
And I can’t find my way
You save this lost stray
Oh, help me see the new me
Bought by your blood my penalty
And through my life someone might see
A glimpse of you, your majesty
When I come to the end of me
Only there can I truly see
The depth of Your love for me
And all that you bought eternally
Effie Darlene Barba
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.
Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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DISCLOSURES
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2023Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Credits
New King James Version (NKJV)Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New Living Translation (NLT)Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
English Standard Version (ESV)The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New American Standard Bible (NASB)New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
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