The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-11-18
MANASSEH'S SIN.
Sunday School Lesson In the Isternas
tionai Lesson series for November
20, 1852 Chronicles 33sD-I0.

Based upon Ieloubets select NoteAl
SUBJECT. -Manssseh's Sin ard Repent.
lnce.
GOLDEN TENTH we confess our sins,
He is faithful and Just to forgive US our
sins ard to cleanse US from all unright-
eousne ss.--1 John 10
THE SECTION includes the reign Of
Manasseh and his son Anon q chron. S3l-
-. q period Of religious and political de.
cline. Read also Kings q .l-16.
TIME.-Marasseh reigned 10 years from
q. Z. 81 10 C42
LESSON COMMENT.
A half century Of moral and religious
decline. with earnest and but partial
~ successful efforts at reformation,
now passes before us. Manasseh, the
fourteenth ruler of judah, began TO
reign at IL 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
had done. His kingdom was not en-
tirely independent of Assyria; al
though it was distinct kingdom, it was
q tributary. Manasseh reigned IS
years.
/. Manassehs Crimes Against God
and His Native Land.-Ns 8, 10. 9.
made Judah to err" He led
them in the evils they delighted to
commit. and drew many into SIN who
under good infiueyces would have been
at least outwardly moral. ITO do
worse than the heathen:" The nation
emancipated itself from the moral law
as with a 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
Es would cause both the ears of him
that heard II to tingle," that he would
wipe out Jerusalem "as a man wipeth
a dish, wlping and turning it upside
down." e Kings 21:l2. 1872 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. "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 or 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:"
l. -.
letters for the feet. Carried him to
Babylon:" 1t is a curious confirma-
tion Of the history that Just at this
time the captive was taken TO Babylon,
instead Of Nineveh. the Assyrian cap
ital. For Esarhaddon twas the only
king Of Assyria who. from time to time,
held his court az Babylon.
III. Repentance and Restoration.-v.
10, 10. r. 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 inmoss heart.
ID. lie was entreated of him:" God
Loves to hear and answer prayer. He
does J, always in the best way for the
one who prays; sometimes by making
the sorrow complete lis good work,
sometimes by delivering from the sor-
row. And brought him again to Jeru-
SALIENT" We do not know that he in
fluenced the king TO restore him. Such
pardon from q king Of Assyria was
rare, but not unparalleled.
~. Fruits of Repentance.-Vs. 1916.
First. He made patriotic defense Of
his country. II. "IIe built a walt"
Rather, 'he 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. He restored the serv-
ices OF true religion.
Fourth. He enforced he reforms by
as well as example.