THE LORD IS GOD (2Chr.33:10-13)
The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention. So the Lord brought against them the army commanders of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh prisoner, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon. In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God.
In Psalms 75:6, 7 the bible says that “For exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the Judge: He puts down one, and exalts another.” There is no one who God cannot handle no matter how strong he/she may be to people around. Even in worldly positions, God is still in control. He alone can install and remove at will. He will sustain the humble and remove the proud just as we have seen in our text this morning. God spoke, probably through His prophets to both the king and his people but they refused to listen. King Manasseh apparently displeased the king of Assyria in some way and God made the officers of the Assyrian king to come and capture the king of Judah who could not keep the God’s commandments. It was not a polite way of taking someone into custody, it was an embarrassing situation. He was captured a prisoner and a hook was in his nose, he was bound with bronze shackles and being led like a prisoner to Babylon, what a way to humiliate a king? A king who was treated like a steer being led to the slaughter, though he deserved it since he could not obey God who put him in the position, where was his glory? The whole experience was one of great humiliation for this wicked king, but the Lord used it to chasten him, break his pride, and bring him to his knees. He prayed to the Lord for forgiveness and the Lord kept His promise and forgave him. Even more, the Lord moved the Assyrians to set him free and allow him to return to Jerusalem to rule over the people. What a trophy of the grace of God! Manasseh humbled himself (33:12), but the Lord first humbled him (33:19). True repentance is a work of God in the heart and a willing response of the heart to the Lord.
You need to understand that some people will not be promoted or supported in life because of their pride. There was a widow some years ago that a group of people wanted to help with food items. When they got there, she was the first to break the silence as she started expressing that she had just returned from market where she bought assorted food stuffs. So the people could no longer talk of helping her and her children with food again. In the real sense, there was no food for them to eat but for pride they could not receive help from those that God had sent to them. Is your case like that? Is it pride that kept you in your own prison? Or is it another sin that has held you bound in one place? All that you need do is to repent and humble yourself before the King of kings and be promoted this our season of promotion. Understand that the Lord is God; He is the only one who can hire and fire, be in His good book so that you can be promoted. Remain blessed in the Lord.
PRAYER POINTS FOR THE WEEK
Monday: - Father in heaven, please speak to me that I may do you will always IJN
Tuesday: - Surround me o Lord with people who are obedient to your commands IJN
Wednesday: - Forgive me o Lord, and do not send me to prison IJN
Thursday: - Father, give me your favor today and set me free from my captors IJN
Friday: - Lord, set Seed of Life free now from those who held us captive IJN
Saturday: - Lord, send peace to Nigeria IJN
The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention. So the Lord brought against them the army commanders of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh prisoner, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon. In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God.
In Psalms 75:6, 7 the bible says that “For exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the Judge: He puts down one, and exalts another.” There is no one who God cannot handle no matter how strong he/she may be to people around. Even in worldly positions, God is still in control. He alone can install and remove at will. He will sustain the humble and remove the proud just as we have seen in our text this morning. God spoke, probably through His prophets to both the king and his people but they refused to listen. King Manasseh apparently displeased the king of Assyria in some way and God made the officers of the Assyrian king to come and capture the king of Judah who could not keep the God’s commandments. It was not a polite way of taking someone into custody, it was an embarrassing situation. He was captured a prisoner and a hook was in his nose, he was bound with bronze shackles and being led like a prisoner to Babylon, what a way to humiliate a king? A king who was treated like a steer being led to the slaughter, though he deserved it since he could not obey God who put him in the position, where was his glory? The whole experience was one of great humiliation for this wicked king, but the Lord used it to chasten him, break his pride, and bring him to his knees. He prayed to the Lord for forgiveness and the Lord kept His promise and forgave him. Even more, the Lord moved the Assyrians to set him free and allow him to return to Jerusalem to rule over the people. What a trophy of the grace of God! Manasseh humbled himself (33:12), but the Lord first humbled him (33:19). True repentance is a work of God in the heart and a willing response of the heart to the Lord.
You need to understand that some people will not be promoted or supported in life because of their pride. There was a widow some years ago that a group of people wanted to help with food items. When they got there, she was the first to break the silence as she started expressing that she had just returned from market where she bought assorted food stuffs. So the people could no longer talk of helping her and her children with food again. In the real sense, there was no food for them to eat but for pride they could not receive help from those that God had sent to them. Is your case like that? Is it pride that kept you in your own prison? Or is it another sin that has held you bound in one place? All that you need do is to repent and humble yourself before the King of kings and be promoted this our season of promotion. Understand that the Lord is God; He is the only one who can hire and fire, be in His good book so that you can be promoted. Remain blessed in the Lord.
PRAYER POINTS FOR THE WEEK
Monday: - Father in heaven, please speak to me that I may do you will always IJN
Tuesday: - Surround me o Lord with people who are obedient to your commands IJN
Wednesday: - Forgive me o Lord, and do not send me to prison IJN
Thursday: - Father, give me your favor today and set me free from my captors IJN
Friday: - Lord, set Seed of Life free now from those who held us captive IJN
Saturday: - Lord, send peace to Nigeria IJN
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