Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1898-11-17
MANAssEH's SIN.
tionaI Lesson series for November
20. Is9s-2 Chronicles 33:9-I6.

BIASED upon Peloubet's Select Notesl
UBJECT.-Manasseh Sin ard Repent
ance.
GOLDEN TEXT-If We confess our sins,
He is faithful and just 10 forgive US our
Sins and 10 cleanse US from all unright-
eousne Ss.--1 John 3.
THE SECTION includes the reign OF
Manasseh ard his son Anon q Chron. $751;
-. a period OF religious and political de-
cline. Read also Kings 2l:A26.
TIME.-Manasseh reigned IS years, from
3. c. 697 10 So.
LESSON COMMENT.
A half century OF moral and religious
decline. with earnest and but partial
y successful efforts at reformation,
now passes before us. Manasseh, the
fourteenth ruler of Judah. began to
reign at L. years of age. lie 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
lad done. His kingdom was rot en-
tirely independent Of Assyria; al
though it was q; stinct kingdom, It was
a tributary. larasseh reigLed 50
years.
l. Manasseh's Crimes Against God
and His Native Land-Ns 9, 10. o.
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 licentiousness.
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 10 Jingle" that he would
wipe out Jerusalem ''as a man wipeth
dish, wiping and turning it upside
down." e Kings 21:12, 49, The apos-
tastes of the king and the denuncia-
tion of the prophets thus came into
fierce collision, and led naturally to
persecution and bloodshed.
IL. The Punishment.-V. IL. 1.-The
Lord brought upon them AS
SYRIA" Doubtless through some
natural result of his impiety; perhaps
some foolish revolt. 1.-THE king of As
syria was Esarhaddon or his sen. AS
shurbanipal. "Took Manasseh among
the thorns:" Most critics regard the
word thorns as meaning books or
rings" The same which We're put
through the jaws of fish when placed
back in the water, that by means of a
cord attached they might bring him mp
again. Bound him with fetters:"
Probably manacles for the hands, and
fetters for the feet. Carried him to
Babylon:" 1t is a curious confrma-
ton of the history that just at this
time the captive was taken to Babylon,
instead of Nineveh, the Assyrian cap
itai. For Esarhaddon was the only
king of Assyria who, from time to time,
held his court at Babylon.
III. Repentance and Restoration.-V
-, 10. 10. when he was in affection,
he besought the Lord" That he should
do this was che 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
etONo ~ al " q > AL Ailt BCSb way ICI 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-
SALIENT" We do not know that he in
huenced the king to restore him. Such
pardon from a king of Assyria was
rare, but not unparalleled.
~. Fruits of Repentance.-ys 1916.
First. He made patriotic defense of
his country. IA. "He built WALL"
Rather. The built the outer wall OF the
city of David on the west of Gihon-in-
the-valley." "And compassed 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. lie restored the serv-
ices of true religion.
Fourth. He enforced the reforms by
command as well as example