After Manasseh humbled himself greatly before the Lord, the Lord brought him back to Jerusalem. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God. This was no mere change of thought in Manasseh’s life. The reality of his deep humiliation and of a true repentance are quickly manifested: “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death” (2 Cor. 7:10).

Regret is not repentance according to God. Judas Iscariot had regrets, but what a terrible end was his. On the other hand, we read that Peter had deep sorrow after denying the Lord three times, but it produced true repentance, leading to salvation.

We can clearly see the result of Manasseh’s true repentance:

—he removed the foreign gods and the idol from the house of the Lord, and all the altars that he had built;

—he restored the altar of the Lord and offered sacrifices of prosperity and thanksgiving on it;

—he commanded Judah to serve the Lord God of Israel.

Manasseh was not characterized by any of these things in his former ways. But afterwards, he did what is good and right and true.

The takeaway for us is that we must walk as children of light. There was a clear change in Manasseh’s life; it was not just words. For us too, our walk as Christians should naturally contrast with the unfruitful works of darkness. We read that “the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth” (Eph. 5:9 jnd). For the glory of our blessed Lord Jesus Christ, may our walk today—and every day—be characterized by this threefold fruit of the light!