2 Chronicles 33
Manasseh rebuilt what his father had torn down and then tore it down again so he could rebuild. (Compare Gen. 26:18.) He did not learn from the past or listen to the prophets, so he had to live with the punishment God sent him. Some people only learn the hard way.
How gracious of God to see Manasseh’s repentance, hear his prayer, and restore him to Jerusalem. But even God’s forgiveness could not automatically nullify the king’s bad example or undo the terrible damage he had done in the land. Sin has consequences long after sinners are forgiven (2 Kings 23:26;
God is ready and willing to forgive, and we should seek that forgiveness early. The longer we wait, the more damage we do; the more damage we do, the more we and others will suffer because of our sins.