52 Prayers from the Bible

A Prayer of Humility

¹⁰ The LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they didn't listen. ¹¹ So He brought against them the military commanders of the king of Assyria. They captured Manasseh with hooks, bound him with bronze [shackles], and took him to Babylon. ¹² When he was in distress, he sought the favor of the LORD his God and earnestly humbled himself before the God of his ancestors. ¹³ He prayed to Him, so He heard his petition and granted his request, and brought him back to Jerusalem, to his kingdom. So Manasseh came to know that the LORD is God. (2 Chronicles 33:10-13)

1. What is the national scene look like at this time?
2. What does "they didn’t listen" mean?
3. Did God punish Manasseh, the people, or both?
4. If God evaluated how we as his people today are listening, what do you think he would say to us?
5. Why did God respond to Manasseh’s prayer?
6. How can this story inform our prayers today?

Scripture courtesy of BibleGateway.com. All Scripture text is from the Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved. "52 Prayers from the Bible" is Copyright © 2009 by Kevin Binkley and Emmanuel Baptist Church of Rochester, Minnesota.