Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-07-27
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR JULY 80.
Subject: Manasseh's Sin and Repentance,
II. Chron. xxxiiI., 1-13-Golden Text,
Prov. xiv, 34-Memory Verses, 1918
documentary on the Days Lesson.

Subject: Manasseh's Sin and Repentance,
II. Chron. xxxiil., 1-13-Golden Text,
Prov. xiv, 34-Memory Verses, 1918
-Comfnentary on the Days Lesson.
l. Manassehs excessive idOlatries
Tvs. 1-W. ]. "Manasseh." The thir'
teenth King of Judah mot counting
Athaliah, the usurper), son of Heze.
kiah and Hephzibah, who was tradi'
tionally the daughter of Isaiah.
Twelve years old" He was born
ulously restored to health. He reigned
longer than any other King Of Judah
or Israel. 2. "Did-evil." He fol.
lowed all the abominable practices of
the nations of Canaan. but his sin was
greater than theirs because he had
light and knew about the true God 8
"Baalim." The plural form for Baal.
Made grooves" Made Ashcroft"
II. V. Ashcroft is one of the plural
forms Of Ashrah, heather goddess.
Baal was male and Asherah female
divinity. An Asherah was probably Il
wooden pole which was planted be-
side an altar as a symbol Of deity.
Host of heaven" The sun, moon and
stars. 4. "Altars in the house" He
placed the heather affairs even in the
temple. "Shall my name be-" See
chapter Z: 1G.
5. "In the two courts" Professor
Lumby thinks this verse explains the
preceding verse, and that the idola
trOus affairs We're erected in the courts
of the temple and not in the holy place.
6. "Through the fire. There is rea.
son to believe that in certain circum'
stances the children offered to Molocb
were actually burnt to death. or were
first slain and then burnt. See Psa,
JOG: 80; Jer. Z: 81; Kings II: 81.
"Valley-of Hinnom." This was IL ia.
vine on the south and west of JerusA-
lem, the southeast extremity of which
had the name of Tophet, "OhScrved
times" See X. V. "Practiced dlvina.
ton by the Clouds "Enchantments.'
He used incantations and charms. "Fa'
miliar spirit" See l Sam. IS: s. He
had In his service those who pretended
to raise the spirits. "Wizards.' Wise
or knowing ones who claimed to reveal
secrets Many of these impostors came
from Chaldca to pursu" their occupa.
tons and practice their receptions, and
NIdlIdSStH was tiltIl IlfNitI pau ''i'
"Much evil" The heather rites anL
ceremonies which ManaSsch observed
were often of the foulcst character. I.
"Set-image." The setting up the Ash
erah within the sacred precincts is
dwelt upon as the most aggravated
outrage of this wicked king. :,
Neither will l." etc. God had prom
ised that this land should be theirs
forever % Sam. I: l0D. IF only" Or,
W All of Gods promises arc condi.
tional. This condition was expressed
at the very first Had they obnycd
God they would never have gone into
captivity. but would still have been in
possession of the promised land. y.
"To do worse" Through the pnrni.
ciouS influence of Manassch they wcr'
led into worse forms of sin than were
even practiced by the original Canaan
ties. Tradition says that under Man.
asseh Isaiah was sawn asundcr
ii. Manasseh's punishment Tvs. 10,
IL. 10. THE Lord spakr' We can
imagine the bitter grief and burning
Indignation Of those who loved the
God of Israel. And they We're not 81
lent In . Kings 81: 1O-11 we see IN,
named prophets denouucug the apps.
tasy and threatening Judgment in most
striking language.
H. king Of AsSyria." ASSyria WIS
at that time under ESarhAdion
among the thorns." an chains" Il.
V. The sharp. thornlikr nook hy
which prisoners We're caught and he'd
like fish. "Fcttcrs." Probably mana
Giles for the hands and letters for the
feet "To Babylon" With this event
Judah was added to the Assyran En-
plre
III. Manassoh's repentance ". ~
II. "Besoucht the Lord In the soil
tudc Of exile and imprisonment Man
asSeh had leisure for reflection. The
calamities forced on him Il review of
his past life. convincing him that tie
miseries Of his dcthron"ment aud cap
tivity were owing to his awful and NM
precedented apostasy from the God OF
his fathers. "Humhlcd himself great.
ly" Affections are our best frier1>;
we should never from upon them In
their midst we see our nOthingn"SS
" ManaSsrh's restoration g. 10.
II. He was entrpated." 1t is impoS-
siblc that any sinner who desires To
forSakc sin and turn to God will be re-
fused mercy. after the record of par
don from God 10 man like MAnasSrh,
Does this not explain why ManasSeh
was permitted to live the life he did?
Would the Bible be the book It IS If sin
were not rGrSonitied by such charac-
terS. and grace perS0nitied in Jesus
Christ to meet their need? "Hcard.
Though aliliction drives lis to God He
will not therefore reject us if we sin
cercly eek Him. for Affections are sent
to bring us to Him. brought him-to
LeruSNlem." When Manassch is brought
back to God and his duty he shall soon
he brought back to his kingdom. See
how readily God is to accept and wei
come returning sinners, and how swift
to show mercy. Let not great sinners
despair when Manasseh himself. on re.
pentance. found favor with God: In
him God showed forth long suffering
q Tim. !: 16: lisa. !: 49,, "ManasSell
knew--God." No precepts OF his faith
er: no teaching Of priests and L1evites:
no act of ceremonial circumcision nor
engaging in forms Of religion; no list
enlng to sermons nor reading the
Scriptures brought him this knowl-
edge. He had to be brought to posi-
power of God could deliver him. We
will bless God through all eternity for
the days Of trouble that lead us to
obey psa. 80: 10. But how much bet
ter 1t is to obey at once. thus making
such Affections unnecessary.