The God of Those Who Repent (The Prayer of Manasseh 13)

 


Thursday, August 29, 2024


Psalm 145

The Prayer Of Manasseh

Romans 15:22-33


Observance: Beheading of John the Baptist


The God of Those Who Repent (The Prayer of Manasseh 13)


This morning we have a passage from a book that is not inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Prayer of Manasseh is included in what the church calls the “apocrypha”, which is a set of written works that sit alongside the Bible. We read them for example of life and instruction of manners, but do not apply them to establish any doctrine, according to the sixth Article of Religion at the back of our prayer book.


Nonetheless, we did just yesterday read about King Manasseh and his wild ride of a life journey. It must have been quite a change of character he went through: first he rebelled both against his father and God, replacing true worship with devil worship. Then he was captured by the Assyrians in a most undignified manner, in chains and with a hook through his nose. During this time he recognised that he was being humbled by the Lord, and so prayed for forgiveness, which he was given. As a result, the end of his reign was the opposite of his beginning, building great defensive works and eventually being buried in his palace.


And so today we get what is called “The Prayer Of Manasseh”, a piece of writing that was probably very similar to what he prayed when he had a hook through his nose in a Babylonian prison. The people of God have recognised, through the ages, that while it is not inspired by the Holy Spirit in the same way that the rest of the Bible is, it still is of great value to faithful believers.


Two things we can take from this prayer. The first is the pattern. Manasseh begins and ends with praise to God. He explicitly confesses that God is supreme, with all things under his control. In the same way he ends the prayer, praising God personally, then ascribing praise from all the host of heaven to God as well. When we bracket any prayer like this, we are doing well: consider how the Lord’s prayer opens and closes with praise, too.


The other aspect of this prayer we can take is that Manasseh directly links God’s creative and controlling power with God’s mercy and forgiveness. It is certainly a display of great power to punish wickedness. But it takes even greater power to forgive. This is the great and ultimate power of God Jesus displayed when he rose from the dead: that he has the greater power to forgive.


We want to build a great kingdom, the kingdom of heaven on earth. This kingdom has greater power than any other kingdom. Are we wielding this greater power of resurrection and forgiveness?


O Lord, you are the God of those who repent, and in us you will manifest your goodness; for, unworthy as we are, you will save us according to your great mercy, and we will praise you continually all the days of our lives.

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