The Tupelo journal., 1905-07-28
MANASSEH'S SIN
and REPENTANCE
Sunday School Lesson Tor July 80. 1905
Specially Prepared TO. This Papen


LESSON TEXT Chron. 33:1-13. Mem
DRY verses 1913. Read all the chapter.
GOLDEN TEXT.-"Righteousncss II
alteth a nation; but sin is a reproach to
any people."-Prov. 14:34.
TIME.-Manasseh became king 3. c. COG.
Amor came to the throne b. c.. GAL and
reigned two years.
PLACE.-Judah and Babylon.
SCRIPTURE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
seh's mother: 2 Kings 21:1; lisa. 62:4. Man
asseh's early environment: lisa. "22:l5-l9;
~29:14-16; 301, 9-14. Read 2 Chron. 1888, and
| compare 1t with Deut. 1894. References
to idolatry in 2 Kings %: l Sam. %; Eek. 8;
Zeph. l and 3; Jer. 5, Z. and 10. Compare
them with the picture in 2 Chron. SO. Gods
promises regarding the Temple: 2 Sam.
7:10-13; 25-29; l Kings S:29; 9:3-9; Pisa. 1872
10, IA. Compare Manasseh's conversion
with Pauls: Acts 91-30: 22:1-21; 26:4-2S.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
to reign" In judah a young mar was
not OF age until he reached is
years; during the young kings minor
ity regents held the reins of power.
"~Fifty-five years." His vas the long
est reign in Judah. The facts of his
continued life and large measure OF
prosperity were very perplexing to the
good people of his day, who knew only
of rewards and punishments which can
be received in this life. We car re-
joice that a patient heavenly Father
allowed him time that he might repent
v. 2. That which was evil:" A sci
phrase, meaning that this king did moi
properly support Jehovah-worship. II
is also undoubtedly true that, in per
sonal and national life, he was guilty
of gross ~wickedness. "Abomination:
A strong word, but not too strong fol
the debasing and licentious orgies
with which heather worship was con-
Quoted. Heather, cast OUT
The Canaanites, whom Jehovah had
driven from the land in establishing
His own people there.
V. 3. Built again" Rebuilt. High
| places, broken down" 1t was
base indeed for the young lar to undo
his fathers good work. The most
popular places of worship were the
| shrines set up in every village. COM
monty in an elevated position. Idola-
trous rites soon came to be practiced
there. "Baalim:" The plural for Baal,
the name of various deifies of the
Canaanites. Groves" Revised Yer
sion, Ashcroft" Wooden posts or
images connected with the worship of
| the Phoenician female deity. "All the
host of heaven" the sun, moon and
| stars. This was a new form of idola-
trous worship. 1t had been introduced
first by King Ahaz. He probably
brought it from Nineveh or Babylon.
VS.. t, 5. Built affairs in the house
of the Lord" Set up affairs for the
worship of various false gods in the
courts of Jehovah's temple at Jeru-
salem.
V. 6. "He:" Manasseh himself led
his people in the rites of idolatrous
worship. His children" His sons.
ITO pass through Are" In the wor-
ship Of the Ammonite god, Molech,
children were placed in the arms of q
great image of the god, which was
heated red hot. The place for Molech-
worship seems to have been in "the
valley of Hinnom."
v. Z. "a carven image" The most
the carved image of the goddess which
Manasseh set up in the temple court
God had said to David, Solo
mon" See 2 Sam. 7:10-13; l Kings
1929; Ps. 1928, IA.
V. s.. Neither. of the
land" 1t was Gods purpose to estab-
lish the people of Israel permanently
in the land of Canaan. but His covenant
with them was conditional. $50 that
they will take heed" Israelites must
be obedient to Gods commandments in
order to maintain the position He had
assigned them.
v. 8. made, err" Led and
encouraged them in the idolatrous
practices above mentioned. Worse
than the heathen:" 1t was far worse
for Israelites to do these things than
for the heather nations of whom they
learned them, for the Israelites sinned
against light and knowledge.
v. 10. 1.-THE Lord spake:" He
spoke by the voice of conscience, and
also sent prophets to warn them and
denounce their wicked ways. The sub
stance of these warnings is stated in
2 Kings 21:10-15. 1t is thought that
most of the prophecies of Micah were
messages to Manasseh. They would
not hearllen:" They would not heed
the messages, but slew them.
V. II. THE Lord brought upon
them" God permitted His people to
suffer this result of their sin. King
Of Assyria:" Probably Esarhaddon.
See Persons. Among the thorns:"
Better, tIn chains
v. II. I'm affection he be-
sought the Lord" The bitterness of
the fruit OF sin made Manosseh sick
Of it.
v. 13. prayed unto Him." The
Apocryphal book, "The Prayer of
Manasseh," is a model confession of
sin, expression of penitence, and ap-
probation of the forgiving character
Of God.
Practical Points.
v. 2. Let us set for the measure
ment of our deeds no lower standard
than how they appear in the sight Of
Cod Sam. 1877.
v. 6. Where the light of true re-
ligion fails to penetrate, we may ex-
pect grossest exhibitions of cruelty
Ps. 4:20.