The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-11-18
MANAssEH's SIN.
Sunday school Lesson in the Interna-
tionak Lesson Series for November
20, 1852 Chronicles s3.9-1S.

BIASED upon Peloubet's Select Notesl
acknowledgements Sin and Repent
anee.
GOLDEN TEXT.--If we confess our sins,
He is faithful and just to forgive us our
bins and to cleanse us from all unright-
cousin ss-1 John 1-9
THE SECTION includes the reign Of
Manasseh and his son Anon e Chron. SS1-
20, a period of religious and political de-
cline Read also Kings 21:1-26.
TIME.-Manasseh reigned S. years, from
LESSON COMMENT.
A half century of moral and religious
decline, with earnest and but partial
" successful efforts at reformation,
row passes before us. Manasseh, the
fourteenth ruler of Judah, began, to
reign at 10 years of age. He was one
of the worst of kings in the first part
of his reign, suffered captivity, re-
pented, and tried to undo the evil he
had done. His kingdom was rot en-
iirely Independent of Assyria; al
though it was distinct kingdom, it was
a tributary. Manasseh reigned So
years.
l. Manasseh's Crimes Against God
and His Native Land.-Vs 9, 10. 9.
Made judah to err" He led
them in the evils they delighted to
commit. and drew many into sin who
under good influences would have been
at least outwardly moral. "To do
worse than the heathen:" The nation
emancipated itself from the moral law
as with shout of relief, and plunged
into superstition and RIGHTEOUSNESS.
10. "The Lord spake:" The prophets
denounced Manasseh, and declared
that, in consequence of his crimes, God
would bring upon Jerusalem such evil
as would "cause both the ears of him
that heard it to tingle," that he would
wipe out Jerusalem "as a man wipeth
a dish, wiping and turning it upside
down." e Kings 21:12, 49, The apos-
tastes of the king and the denuncia-
ton of the prophets thus came into
fierce collision, and led naturally to
persecution and bloodshed.
II. The Punishment-V ii. 1.-THE
Lord brought upon them AS
SYRIA" Doubtless through some
natural result of his impiety; perhaps
some foolish revolt. 'The king of AS
syria" was Esarhaddon OF his son, As
shurbanipal. "Took Manasseh among
the thorns:" Most critics regard the
word thorns as meaning "hooks or
rings" The same which were put
through the jaws of fish when placed
back in the water, that by means of
cord attached they might bring him up
again. Bound him with fetters:"
Probably manacles for the hands, and
.fetters for the feet. Carried him to
Babylon:" 1t is curious confirma-
ton of the history that just at this
time the captive was taken to Babylon,
instead of Nineyeh, the Assyrian cap
.ital. For Esarhaddon twas the only
king of Assyria who, from time to time,
held his court at Babylon
III. Repentance and Restorat TONY.
u, 10. 10. "When he was in affection,
he besought the Lord" That he should
do this was one purpose of his afflic-
ton. "And humbled himself greatly"
His after conduct shows that he was
truly penitent in his inmost heart.
10. He was entreated, of him:" God
Loves to hear and answer prayer. He
does 1t always in the best way for the
one who prays; sometimes by making
the sorrow complete its good work,
sometimes by delivering from the sor-
row. "And brought him again to Jeru-
salem;" We do not know that he in
fuenced the king to restore him. Such
pardon from a king of Assyria was
rare, but not unparalleled.
~. Fruits of Repentance.-Vs 1916.
First. He made patriotic defense of
his country. IA. "He built a wall:"
Rather, "he built the outer wall of the
city of David on the west of Gihon-in-
the-yalley." "And comprised about
Ophel:" Ophel, the southern part Of
the temple hill. Fenced cities:" De-
Tending the surrounding country.
Second. IS. HE took away the
strange gods and cast them
out of the city," He destroyed the
means of idolatry, which he had intro
duced in former years.
Third. 16. "He repaired the altar of
the Lord" etc. He restored the serv-
ices of true religion.
Fourth. He enforced the reforms by
command as well as example.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
II lie almost f4o1,fleeiIa hin 10 undo he