PROFOUND FORGIVENESS

PROFOUND FORGIVENESS

King Hezekiah was Manasseh’s father,

The son would wear his ring.

When Manasseh was only 12 years old,

He became Judah’s new king.

His father had been a good king,

So 15 years was added to his life.

But Manasseh went the way of Ahab,

Causing God much anger and strife.

He rebuilt the idols his father destroyed,

And altars to Baal were built.

He built a pole named after a goddess,

Toward the Lord he harbored no guilt.

He worshiped the starry hosts,

Along with his evil cohorts.

Defying the Lord, he built altars to the stars,

In the sacred temple’s two courts.

He sacrificed his own son in the fire,

Such evil one cannot comprehend,

He led Judah into sin like never before,

And filled Jerusalem with blood end to end.

Against Hebrew laws, he sought omens,

Consulted mediums and practiced divination.

He gathered advice from everyone but God,

He was a kingly abomination.

The Lord was profoundly angry at Manasseh,

So, he sent his way troubles and woes.

The King of Assyria took Manasseh prisoner,

Bound him up and put a hook in his nose,

He was taken prisoner to Babylon,

In his distress he sought favor from the Lord,

He humbled himself and prayed.

Guilt feelings from his mouth must have poured

The Lord was moved by his prayer,

And had Manasseh returned to Judah.

He then knew the God of his ancestors,

Was his one and only God too.

We may think forgiveness is one thing,

But why give him clemency?

His evil cannot be undone,

But neither can God’s grace and mercy.

Manasseh rebuilt the wall of Jerusalem.

He even made it much higher.

He tried to make amends for his sins,

But his reputation remained in the mire.

His sins remained in Judah’s kings’ journals,

Recorded no matter how ruthless.

But the evil king’s sincere repentance,

Won him profound forgiveness.

Becky Wall