The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1905-07-27
MANASSEH'S SIN
and REPENTANCE
Sunday schesi Lssssa iss Jsly -. iSea
Specially Prepared sos This rspss

LESSON TExT.-z enron. SS:l-lS. Mem-
ory verses 1918. Read all the chapter.
GOLDEN TEXT. xT.-"Righteousnes ex-
altetb a nation; but sin is a reproach to
any people. Prov. 14:4.
TIME.-Manasseh became king B. c. ese.
Anon came to the -throne b. G. 64l and |
reigned two years.
PLACE.--Judah and Babylon.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCEs.-Man
seh's mother: 2 Kings 2i:1; lisa. 62a. Man
asseh's early environment: lisa. 22:15-19;
29.14-16: 3O:1. Ola. Read Chron. 1928, and |
compare It with Deut. 1894 References
to idolatry In 2 Kings %; Sam. rs: Ezek. \; |
Zeph. and 3; Jer. o. 7. and 10. Compare
them with the picture In Chron. 81. coos
promises regarding the Temple: sam.
7.10-13; 25-29 1 Kings S.29; S.3-9: Psa 1872:
13. H. Compare Manasseh's conversion
with Paul's: Acts 9:1-sO; 22:i-I: 26:4-23.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
v. 1. Twelve years, began
to reign" In Judah young man was
not of age until he reached IS
years; during the young kings minor
ity regents held the reins of power.
"Fifty-fve years.: His was 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 can re-
joice that q patient heavenly Father
allowed him time that he might repent
VI. THAT which was evil:" A set
phrase, meaning that this king did not
properly support Jehovah worship. 1t
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 for
the debasing and licentious orgies
with which heather worship was con-
Quoted. "Heathen. cast OUT"
The Canaanites, whom Jehovah had
driven from the land In establishing
His own people there.
VS.. Built again" Rebuilt. High
places, broken down." 1t was
base indeed for the young man 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 deities of the
Canaanites. "Groves:" Revised Yer
sion, "Asheroth:" Wooden posts or
images connected with the worship Of
the Phoenioian female deity. "All the
host Of heaven" the sun. moon and
stars. This was new form Of idola-
trous worship. It had been introduced
first by King Ahaz. He probably
brought 1t from Nineveh or Babylon.
VS.. 4. s. 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 ehildren:" His sons
ITO pass through fire." In the wor-
ship of the Ammonite god, Molech,
children were placed in the arms of a
great image Of the god, which was
heated red hot. The place for Molech-
worship seems to have been in "thc
valley Of Hlnnom."
" "A carven image" The most
obnoxious of all these groves" was
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; Kings
S:2s; Ps. 1878, IA.
v. 8. 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 so that
they will take heed" Israelites mus
be obedient to Gods commandments IL
order to maintain the position He hat
assigned them.
vs.. Made, err" Led ant
encouraged them in the idolstrou
practices above mentioned. "Wors'
than the heathen:" It was far wors'
for Israelites to do these things thai
for the heather nations Of whom the.
learned them, for the Israelites sinne,
against light and knowledge.
v. 10. "The Lord spaks:" H
spoke by the voice Of couscisncs, ~
ALDO sent prophets To warn then an
Aenouncs their wicked ways. Ths sub
stance Of these warnings u stated h
3 Kings 3l:lo-tS. II y thought tia
most u the prophecies Of Micah wsv
messages to Aanasseh. "Thsy woul.
not hSarksh:" They would NOT bee
the messages, but slew them. ~
v. II. "The Lord brought Hpo'
them" God permitted His people :
suffer this result OF their sin. kin
Of Assyria:" Probably Esarhaddsr
See Persons. Among The thorns:
Better. "In chains"
v. II. "In amiction he bs
sought the Lord" The bitterness q
the fruit Of sin made Maaesseh sic
Of II. E;
v. Is. Prayed unto Him." RI
Apocryphal book. "The Prayer q
Manasseh." Is Q model confession q
sin, expression Of penitence, and al
probation of the forgiving characte
Of God.
: Practical Points.
va. Let US set for the measur,
ment of our deeds no lower standar
than how they appear In the sight {
God.-1 Sam. 1877.
". g. Where the light of true r.
!, ligion fails to penetrate. we may .,
pect grossest exhibitions Of cruelty
Ps. 74:20.
We. God. Who In love, cannot loo
!, with complacency upon sin which
destroying His children.-Rom. lis.
v. Z. We must take heed that q
idols Of the heart usurp tho place tn,
10 due to God alone.-t John 6:2l