The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-19
THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL LESSON


The ffty-year reign of Msnasseh makes the
dark age of Judean history 1t might have been
the golden age instead The young king was the
son of one of the noblest sovereigns. He in
herited thoroughly reformed kingdom. But the
blood of .JezebeI-was in his veins well that
of Hezekiah. Evil dominated. He undid his
fathers work. He introduced the grossest idol
airy was not content to lead the people but drove
them into it. He polluted even the sacred pre-
cincts of the temple with an idol-image. He
burned his own children alive to MoIoch. He slew
the prophets who protested and would not
hearken to the Lord.
Retribution was long delayed, but when at
length it came it fearful. Esarhaddon the
Assyrian, in his military movements apparently
so independent and selfish, was the unconscious
instrument Of a woodworking and Christening
Providence. The recaIcitrant Manasseh found
and carried captive to far-away Babylon.
The story Of Manasseh's repentance is told
the Lord, and humbled himself and prayed.
The long suffering mercy of God is conspicuous in
this instance. He is entreated of the penitent.
He hears his supplication, brings him to Jerusa-
lem and restores him to sovereignty.
The king his return from exile tried to repair
the evil he had done. He gathered up the idols
and their affairs and cast them upon the city
the long-omitted sacrifices: To the people he had
driven to idolatry, he now issued royal
edict commanding them to serve the God of
MOSAIC FROM COMMENTARIES.
Manasseh: The seventh from Athaliah daugh-
ter of Jezebe; there burst out in him the fierce
wickedness and hatred of God that characterized
that woman.-Whittle
Worse than heather: For they snned against
light and knowledge.-Cam. Bib.
King Of Assyria: Esarhaddon, who mentions
Manasseh among his tributaries and who was the
Babylon.-Spk Com.
Carried him to Babylon: When God forsakes
His people evils come rushing in as by a sluice.
Trap.
In afiiction: In the solitude of exile Manasseh
had leisure for refection.-Jameson.
Humbled himself: Our hearts should be hum
bled under humbing providences-Henry.
Heard his supplication: He will not reject us,
for Affections are sent to bring to him.-Ibid.
Repaired the altar of the Lord: Neither doth
penitent Manasseh build God a new altar but he
repairs the old which by long disuse lay waste.
Hall.
Peace and thanks: Peace offerings to implore
Gods favor and thank offerings to praise Him for
deliverances.-Henry.
THE TEACHERS LANTERN.
First-The Israelites went into the very sin
idolairy-for which they must have known the
Canaanites had been expelled from their lands.
Second-There is incidental evidence of the ac-
curacy of the Bible. Critics have thought that
the writer named Babylon by mistake for
Nineveh. 1t develops that Esarhaddon made his
court in the former city for a season
Thrd-There is historical parallel to the
dark reign of Manasseh in that of the English
Queen commonly known as Bloody Mary.
Fourth-In the Doges' palace in Venice black
curtain hangs the place in the long line of
Doges portraits which would have been occupied
by the portrait OF one of the Doges who proved a
traitor Manasseh's portrait deserves to be yelled.
Fifth--lt has been said that there is one death
bed repentance-the dying thief-n the Bible, that
we may not despair; only one that we may not
presume. There is no encouragement TO sin in the
fact of Manasseh's ultimate restoration.