PRAYER OF MANASSEH

This short prayer, ascribed to King Manasseh of Judah, is often regarded as the finest composition in the entire English Apocrypha. During the Reformation, Protestants highly valued its piety. However, neither Protestants, Roman Catholics, nor the Eastern Orthodox regard it as Scripture. The older title, The Prayer of Manasses King of Judah When He was Holden [Held] Captive in Babylon (KJV, ERV), is more helpful than the one commonly used today (RSV, NEB) or the Latin one, Oration Manassae. The older title alerts the reader to the supposed connection between this prayer and King Manasseh (696–642 BC), who was taken captive to Babylon, where “at last he came to his senses and cried out humbly to God for help. And the Lord listened and answered his plea by returning him to Jerusalem and to his kingdom!” --- (2 Chronicles 33:12-13; --- on the historicity of this account, see Manasseh #3). The writer of 2 Chronicles indicates that this prayer was available to him from national archives and from another work --- (2 Chronicles 33:18-19). --- The prayer was composed by an anonymous author, though the date is uncertain. On internal evidence it has been dated between 250 BC and AD 50. The oldest surviving Greek biblical manuscript containing it is Codex Alexandrinus (fifth century AD), but the earliest evidence for its existence is its inclusion in a Syriac manual of church procedures known as Didascalia (third century AD), which, in a revised and expanded form, also appeared as a part of the Apostolic Constitutions (AD 380). Most scholars believe that the prayer was originally composed in Greek, but for such a short book --- about 400 words in English --- the problem of determining the original language is difficult. Because the Prayer of Manasseh survives both in Greek and in Syriac, Latin (two forms), Ethiopic, Armenian and Old Slavonic translation, it was clearly popular in the first three Christian centuries, among both Jews and Christians. The Prayer of Manasseh is the prayer of a self- confessed sinner to a merciful God. The RSV (which is quoted below unless otherwise noted) and NEB divide the Prayer of Manasseh into 15 verses. KJV and ERV do not indicate verses and a rarer system divides the prayer into 19 verses. The prayer uses several descriptions of God drawn from the Old Testament. It begins by identifying God as “Lord Almighty” --- (Prayer of Manasseh 1:1; cf. 2 Corinthians 6:18) --- and “God of our fathers” --- (Prayer of Manasseh 1:1, cf. 2 Chronicles 20:6; 33:12) --- and of their righteous descendants. God is the Creator --- glorious and powerful, wrathful yet merciful (Prayer of Manasseh 1:2-7a). He “made heaven and earth” (verse 2; cf. Exodus 20:11; Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 146:6) “in their manifold array” (Prayer of Manasseh 1:2, NEB). He “shackled the sea” and “confined the deep” (verse 3; cf. Job 38:8-11). No one can endure His glorious Majesty (Prayer of Manasseh 1:5a; contrast 2 Peter 1:16-17). His power makes every creature “shudder and tremble” (Prayer of Manasseh 1:4), but His goodness is demonstrated in mercy and in salvation (verses 7, 14; cf. Isaiah 63:7 and Romans 2:4), for He is Compassionate, Patiently Long-Suffering (forbearing) and very merciful (Prayer of Manasseh 1:7; cf. Psalm 86:5, 15). God is “the Lord Most High” (Prayer of Manasseh 1:7; cf. Psalm 7:17; 47:2). Even so, Manasseh confesses that “none can endure thy menacing wrath against sinners” (Prayer of Manasseh 1:5b, NEB). He recognizes that his idolatry has been evil in God’s eyes all along, even though he has just become aware that he has been “piling sin upon sin” (verse 10). He also knows now that he finds himself in irons and rejected by God because his idolatry has provoked God’s wrath (verse 10; cf. 2 Chronicles 33:6 and Psalm 107:10). God’s mercy is his only hope. It is unmeasurable and unfathomable (Prayer of Manasseh 1:6), boundless (verse 7, NEB) and great (verse 14). God’s mercy is also available, because the Lord Himself has “appointed repentance for sinners, that they may be saved” (verse 7; cf. Acts 5:31), and for him in particular (verse 8). The heart of the prayer (verses 9-13a), in which he confesses his sin and appeals for forgiveness, contains three memorable lines: “My transgressions abound, O Lord, my transgressions abound. . . . Forgive me, O Lord, forgive me!” The turning point in the prayer comes in verse 11, after his confession of sin. The RSV preserves the figure of speech: “And now I bend the knee of my heart, beseeching Thee for Thy kindness.” Despite his unworthiness (verses 9, 14), he pleads with God not to destroy him, nor be eternally angry with him, nor condemn him to the grave, because the Lord is “the God of those who repent” (verse 13). Manasseh becomes confident that God, in His goodness and mercy, will save him (verse 14), and he shows the appropriate response of a forgiven sinner when he says, “I will praise thee continually all the days of my life” (verse 15). A brief doxology about God’s praise and eternal glory concludes the prayer. Despite its admirable parts, this prayer differs from Christian teaching in one significant way. The author erroneously assumes that there are two categories of people --- those who are basically good (the righteous) and those who are basically bad (sinners). The prayer presents Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as righteous men who did not sin and did not need to repent. This is not true, but it shows Jewish thinking prior to Christian preaching (cf. Matthew 9:13). Paul made it quite plain that no person is righteous on his own merit, because every person has sinned (Romans 3:10-12, 21-26). Abraham’s righteousness was not inherent; it came by faith (Romans 4:3; cf. Philippians 3:8-9).

A SNIPPET OUT OF THE OLD DAYS

PRAYER IS THE SOUL’S SINCERE DESIRE

James Montgomery (1771–1854) When the Reverend Edward Bickersteth had written his Treatise on Prayer, he turned to newspaper editor James Montgomery to write a hymn about prayer that he could use in his book. Today Rev. Bickersteth’s volume has been long forgotten, but the newspaperman’s hymn is still being sung. This hymn is a theological definition in poetic form. What is prayer? Bickersteth may have said it more completely, but Montgomery defined it simply. (Montgomery later said he received more praise for this hymn than anything else he had written.) Many years after he retired, Montgomery continued to conduct family prayer meetings in his home. After he closed one such meeting of prayer, he walked quietly to his room. The next day he was found unconscious on the floor and later died. As he had written in this hymn, prayer is the Christian’s “watchword at the gates of death; he enters heaven with prayer.” This is what he wrote:

Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire,
Unuttered or expressed,
The motion of a hidden fire
That trembles in the breast.
Prayer is the burden of a sigh,
The falling of a tear,
The upward glancing of an eye,
When none but God is near.
Prayer is the simplest form of speech
That infant lips can try;
Prayer the sublimest strains that reach
The Majesty on high.
Prayer is the contrite sinner’s voice,
Returning from his ways,
While angels in their songs rejoice
And cry, “Behold, he prays!”
Prayer is the Christian’s vital breath,
The Christian’s native air,
His watchword at the gates of death;
He enters heaven with prayer.
O Thou, by whom we come to God,
The Life, the Truth, the Way;
The path of prayer Thyself hast trod:
Lord, teach us how to pray!

#readmethebiblegarth now includes Matthew 1-15 in Greek with translation, and in the Lawful Literal Version, here: https://youtube.com/playlist?l....ist=PLvpqSEOjm625MyT

The Matthew 7 Greek recording has a special message at the end for those who say to themselves that, "Jesus is my rock, so I shall never be moved." Be ye careful how ye hear.

The Matthew 13 LLV123 recording has a special exposition for those who've not realised the need to discern between those of the world and those of the Body of Yeshua.

Thought for today: Shabbat September 11: Live Victoriously

Without a struggle there can be no victory; the best helmsman is known in the storm; the soldier proves himself in the war.

This is what the Lord says: Maintain justice and do what is right, for My Salvation is close at hand and My Righteousness will soon be revealed --- Is. 56:1

O Holy Spirit, fill me with wisdom and knowledge because in You I find strength to live victoriously for Christ. For this I will forever praise and thank You, amein

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Good Sabbath Everyone

Happy Preparation Day! Blessings!

Today's Poem

Not Yet

Sometimes I ask the question,
"My Lord, is this Your will?"
It's then I hear You answer me,
"My Precious Child... be still."

Sometimes I feel frustrated,
'Cause I think I know what's best.
It's then I hear You say to me,
"My Busy Child... just rest."

Sometimes I feel so lonely
And I think I'd like a mate.
Your still small voice gets
Oh so clear and says,
"My Child...please wait."

"I know the plans I have for you,
The wondrous things you'll see;
If you can just be patient, Child,
And put your trust in Me.

I've plans to draw you closer.
I've plans to help you grow.
There's much I do you cannot see
And much you do not know.

But know this, Child...
I LOVE YOU.
You are precious unto Me.
Before I formed you in the womb,
I planned your destiny.

I've something very special
I hope for you to learn.
The gifts I wish to give to you
Are gifts you cannot earn.

They come without a price tag,
But not without a cost;
At Calvary, I gave My son,
So You would not be lost.

Rest Child, and do not weary
Of doing what is good.
I promise I'll come back for you
Just like I said I would.

Your name is written on My palm,
I never could forget;
Therefore, do not be discouraged
When My answer is...NOT YET."