The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-11-19
Sunday School Lesson for November 20.
Manasseh's Sin and Repentance.
Chronicles, XXXll. o-16.
BY j. E. GILBERT D. d., IL, D.,
Secretary of American Society OF Religious Education

over the people Of God. on departing
into heather ways might Justly be de-
prived of his throne.
pENITENCE-The capture OF Man
asseh was virtually the subiugation OF
Judah to Assyria. Babylon having been
previously taken, the dominions of
Ezarhaddan were extended over all of
western Asia. But the time for COM
pletc absorption had not yet come in
the plans of the Almighty. AS a prison.
er Manasseh reflected upon his ways
and repented. Prosperity and the fiat
terry of princes had proved his ruin, but
anliction opened his mind to wise
thoughts and his heart to holier pur-
poses. He must have understood that
his misfortuncs were due to his sins.
He may have observed the condition of
heathcnism in all of its grosser abom-
nations. 1t is probable that the Spirit
of God wrought with him to make him
know the truth and choose the right.
Manasseh humbled himself ana prayed
Vcrse 12) How often in the lives of
men have days of trouble been sancti-
fed to their spiritual good! Removal
from home and bondage in a strange
land We're the means employed to
bring the young king to himself and to
God. Uuke XIV: 14-l7D
PARDON-God heard the penitent
pleading king even in his prison among
strangers, ard his sins were pardoned
Here is another excellent illustration
Of the mode of Divine mercy. There
was no officiating priest, no imposing
is1 Il
sor. a human soul in distress cast it.
self directly upon Cod Seven hum
dYad years before the beginning of
the Christian dispensation u great sin
ner was forgiven upon the conditions
published in the gospel Il John i. 81.
| That is not 10 say that means of grace
and methods of winning and nursing
are of no value, but that all such are
merely helps. The essential and pri-
mary condition of salvation is a spirit
| of pcnitcncC PrOv. xviii 81. In any
place, at any time, any soul may be
reconciled to God. On receiving par
don Nanasseh was brought home and
restored to his kingdom VCrsc 13.
He had learned that Jehovah was God
| psalm tx, 10. learned it in the school
| Of experience as Nebuchadnezzar did
| (Dan. ". 20, ana lie could now be
trusted with kingly authority.
: DEFENSFS--HoW Nanassch was
| released from Babylon we are not in
! formed. His return tn Jcrusalcm and
| to the throne was an ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
| Of Judah's independence from Assy-
! ria, and the converted king Immediate
! ly set about Strengthening the defen-
| scs of the city, presumably to resist
| any future attack CEcrSe 1D. lie built
| a wall on the west side of Gihon, :,
| place not far distant. memorable as
| the scene of the amounting and proc
| lamatiOn Of SolumIn as king q Kings
| i. 33). That wall was continued around
| To the fish gate and CumDassed about
| Ophcl, thus connecting with fortitica-
! tiUuS established in the time of Jo-
! than g. ChrOn. xvii. -. The tower
| at that point was made very high 81
! that the watch might command a view
| Of the country about. In all the fenced
| cities Of Judah hc placed captain Of
war with men under them, Of course
| that is gariisouS. In this act he in
| thOatcd the good example OF Asa &.
! Chron. xiv. -. II is worthy of COM
| mcnt that idolatrous kings suffered
| the fOrtilications tc fall to decay, per-