The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1905-07-25
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR JULY 80.

Subject; Manassehss Sin and Repentance,
IA Chron. xxxiii., 1-13--Gs3den Text,
Prov. xiv, 3A-Memory Verses, 1913
-Commentary ON the Days Lesson.
l. Manasseh's excessive idolatrles
Tvs. 1-9}. + Manassebs The thir-
teenth King Of Judah Got counting
Athaliah, the usurper), stxl Of Heze
kiah and Hephzibah, who was tradi-
tionally the daughter of Isaiah.
Twelve years old" He was born
three years after Hezekiali was mirac-
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 hadt
light and knew about the true God. 3.
Baalim.n The plural form for Baal
Made grooves" Made Ashcroft.
r. v. Ashcroft is one Of the plural
forms of Ashrah, a beathen goddess
4 Baal was q male and Asherab female
divinity, An Asherah was probably a
wooden pole which was planted be-
side an altar as a symbol OF deity.
Host of heaven The sun, moon and
stars. 4. Affairs in the house" He
/ placed the heather affairs even in the
temple. Shall my name ne" See
1 chapteP Z: To.
5. In the two courts Professor
Lumby thinks this verse explains the
1 preceding verse, and that the idola-
! trous affairs were erected in the courts
| of the temple and not in the holy place.
| 6. Through the fire" There is rca-
| son to believe that in certain circun-
stances the children offered 10 Molocb
were actually burnt to death or were
first slain and then burnt See Pisa.
| 1906: 38; Jer. z: 81; 2 Kings IT. 81
"Valley-0f Hinnom." This was d raS
vine on the south and west Of Jerusa-
lem, the southeast extremity Of which
| had the name of Tophet observed
times" See r. " "Practiced divina- +
! ton by the clouds" "Epchantments.'
He used incantations and charms Pa
miliar spirit" See Sam 2S: s. He
had in his service those who pretended
to raise the spirits. Wizards. Wise
! or knowing ones who claimed to reyea
( secrets. Many of these impostors came
from Chaldea to pursue their occupa-
tons and practice their receptions, and
Manasseh was their liberal patron
Much evil" The heather rites and
ceremonies which Manasseh observed
were often of the foulest character. Z.
"Set-image." The setting up the Ash
erah within the sacred precincts is
dwelt upon as the most aggravated
outrage Of this wicked king. s.
Neither viii l." etc. God had prom
ised that this land should be theirs
forever q Sam. z: 1Ol IF only CIR
W All Of Gods promises are condi-
tional. This condition was expressed
at the very first Had they obeyed
God they would never have gone into
captivity, but would still have been in
possession Of the promised land =.
10 do worse. !" Through the peril
cious influence of Manasseh they were
led into worse forms of sin than were
even practiced by the original Canaan
ties. Tradition says that under Man
asseh Isaiah was saWD asunder
II. Manasseh's punishment Tvs. 10,
11) TO- ''The Lord spakev We can
imagine the bitter grief and burning
indignation of those who loved the
God of Israel. And they were not 81.
lent In 2 Kings 81: 1915 @VeSsee un-
named prophets denouncing the ap0s,~
tasy and threatening judgment in most
striking language.
H. King of Assyria'' Assyria was
at that time under Esarhaddon.
Among the thornsn I'm chains X.
". The sharp, thornlike nook by
which prisoners were caught and held
like fish. "Fetters" Probably mana
cles for the hands and letters for the
feet. ITO Babylon" With this event
Judah was added to the Assyrian En-
pire.
III. Manasseh's repentance ". 12l
IL. ''Besought the Lord In the soIi
tude of exile and Imprisonment Man
asseh had leisure for reflection. She
calamities forced on him a review of
his past life, convincing him that the
miseries of his reinforcement and cap
tivity were owing to his awful and un.
precedented apostasy from the God Of
his fathers. sHumbled himself great
ly.' Affections are our best friends!
we should never from upon them. ID
their midst we see our nothingDess. II
~ Manasseh's restoration ". 13).
I3, He was entreated" 1t is impos.
sible that any sinner who desires to
forsake sin and turn to God viii be re
fused mercy, after the record of par.
don from God to q man like Manassehe
| 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 personified by such charac-
ters. and grace personified in Jesus
Christ to meet their need7 Heard"
Though affection drives us to God He
will not therefore reject us If we sin.
cerely seek Him. for Affections are sent
to bring us to Him Brought bim-tq
|. Jerusalem" When Manasseh is brought
1 back to God and his duty he shall soon
be brought back TO his Kingdom See
how readily God is to accept and well
come returning sinners, and bow swift
70 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, "Manasseh
knew-God.' No precepts of his faith
er; no teaching Of priests and LIevites:
no act of ceremonial circumcision nor
engaging in forms Of religion; no list
ening to sermons nor reading the
| Scriptures brought him this knowl-
edge He had to be brought to Il posi-
tion where nothing but the almighty
power Of God could deliver him. We
will bless God through all eternity for
| the days of trouble that lead us 10
obey Psa. so: 15), But how much bet
ter il is to obey at once, thus making
such Affections unnecessary.
Pigs May learn 10 Bark.
Farmers around Pleasant Grove, ~
j.. are are asking each other if two
y PIGS Mt the houla IF Inhn Hmm near