The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1905-07-27
MANASSEH'S SIN
and REPENTANCE
Sunday School Lesson Tor July 80. 1905
Specially Prepared for This PspoA

AOlbEN lEN 4 - hikhA'"N'NN'H -
aiteth nation, but sin is a reproach ~
any people. Prov. 1884
TIME -Manasseh became king Il. {. sse.
Anon came TO the throne Ii. {, ~ anu
rcigned two years.
PLACE-Judsh and Babylon.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES. Manas-
seh's mother. Kings ~ lisa GA Man
asschs early environments lisa. Ribs,
2g.lf-i6. SOL. e-4. Read Chron. 30 %, ana
compare II with Deut iS:9-lA References
TO idolatry In Kings q Sam. y. Eek =.
Zoph ! and 3, Jer ). 7. and 10. Compare
them with the Tictuo Ia Chron - Gods
promises regarding the Temple. sam.
7iO-is. S-a. Kings So; s.3-s. Psa. laai
~ a. Compare Msnasroh's conversion
with Pauls; Acts si-ao; 22i-2i. sa-9
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
V. /. Twelve years, began
70 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 I'VE 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 punlshments which can
be received In this life We can re-
! joice that a patient heavenly Father
allowed him time that he might repent.
V.2. That which was evil" sci
phrase. meaning that this king did not
properly support jehovah worship. IL
Is also undoubtedly true that, In per
sonal and national life. he was guilty
OF gross wickedness. "AbomiRation:
A strong word. but not too strong for
the debasing and licentious orgies
with which heather worship was con
Quoted. Heather. cast out.
| The Canaanites. whom Jehovah bad
driven from the land In establishing
Ills own people there.
v. D. Built again" Rebuilt. High
places. broken down" IL was
base Indeed for she young man 10 undo
his fathers good work The most
popular places Of worship were the
shrincs set up In every village, com
monty in an elevated position ldola-
trous rites soon came to be- pracuced
there "Baalim:" The plural for Baai.
the name OF various deltios OF the
Canaanites Groves" Revised Yer
sion "Asheroth." Wooden posts or
D HNAANHN" NANANAANhNNA WIN NHA' WI "NANN ~
tho Phoeniclan female deity. IAN the
host % heaven" the sun moon AND
stars TAis was a new form OF idola-
tfous worship. % bad been introduced
first BY King Ahaz he probably
brought 90 from Ninevoh or Babylon
vs. 4. O. Built affairs in the house
OF the Lord" Set up affairs for tho
worship OF various false gods In the
courts OF Jehovah's temple a. Jeru-
salem.
v. 6. "He" Manassoh himself led
his people In the rites OF idolatroua
worship. Ills children" His sons.
ITO pass through fire." In the wOr-
ship OF the Ammonite god. Molech.
children were placed in the arms OF
great image Of the god. which was
heated red hot The place for Molech-
worship seems 10 have been In tho
valley OF Iiinnom."
v. Z. a caryen 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 Sam. 7:i0-i3: Kings
s.2s: Ps. 1878. u.
V. g. Neither OF the
| land" II 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;
b. ohedient to Gods commandments In
order to maintain the position lie had
assigned them.
vs. Made. err" Led and
encouraged them in the idolatrous
practices above mentioned. Worse
than the heathen:" II was far worse
for Israelites 10 do these things than
for the heather nations OF whom they
learned them. for the Israelites sinned
against light and knowledge.
v 10. 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 p 1918. II 10 thought that
most OF the prophecies OF Micah were
messages TO Manasseh. They would
not hearken:" They would not heed
the messages. but slew them.
V. IL. The Lord brought upon
them" God permitted His people 10
suffer this result ~ their sin. king
OF Assyria:" Probably EsarhAddon.
See Persons. Among the thorns:"
Better. "In chains"
v. ~. "In affliction =. he be-
sought the Lord" The bitterness OF
the fruit OF sin made Manosseh sick
OF IT,
V. 10. Prayed unto HIM" The
Apocryphal book. THE Prayer OF
Manasseh" Is a model confession OF
sin. expression OF penltence. and APP
probation OF the forgivlng character
| OF God.
Practical Points.
V. 2. Let us set for the measure
ment OF our deeds no lower standard