The Arvada enterprise., 1917-08-02

LESSON TEXT-II Chronicles 33.1-e0
GOLDEN TEXT-Let the wicked for
sake his way. and the unrighteous man
his thoughts: and let him return unto the
Lord. and he will have mercy upon him;
and to our God. for he will abundantly
pardon.-Isaiah 65:7.
The reign Of Manasseh was the long
est of any Of the kings Of Judah. 1t is
strange that wicked king should
have the distinction Of the longest
reign. This can be accounted for, per-
haps, by the fact that the nation was
In such state that their idolatrous
corruption needed to go to Its fullest
development. 1t seems to be neces-
sary In world of free beings. that
their actions must so to certain
stage Of development. 1t was so with
the inhabitants Of Canaan before that
land was possessed by Israel. Israel
was kept in Egypt until the iniquity
Of that nation was full. In this case
doubtless the Lord permitted this to
60 on until the idolatrous practices
would become extremely obnoxious.
I. Manasseh's Sin wv. 1-9). Though
he had the example of good father,
he with passionate endeavor gave him.
self up to the imitation of the heather
about him. This shows that grace Is
not inherited; a good father may have
bad son. 1t also teaches us that 1t
Is absolutely necessary to bring the
grace of God into vital touch with our
children, for that grace is absolutely
essential to their salvation. Only his
grace can, cOunteract the downward
pull OF sin.
l. He restored the high places which
had been destroyed by his father
". 81. 1t Is thus seen that he sought
to undo the good work done by his
father.
9. He erected affairs to Baal ". 81.
The idols worshiped on these affairs
seem to have been images Of licen
tious appearance, provoking the indul
gence of the human passion. There
fore, with this worship was coupled
the grOssest Righteousness.
3. He introduced the star worship
Of the Chaldeans and Assyrians ". 81.
He even erected these affairs In the
house of the Lord, placing them on
level with God himself.
4. He set up Moloch In the Vale Of
Hinnon ". o.. He not only encour-
aged this worship on the part Of 9TH
ers, but he even caused his own chill
dfen to pass through the FIRE.
8. He practiced magic, witchcraft,
and dealt with n familiar spirit ". 81.
So gross were these practices that
they did even worse than the heather
whom God had destroyed before the
Children Of Israel came into the land.
6. He rejected the Lords testimony
". 1O). Doubtless the prophets hnd
again and ngain admonished him, but
he seems to have turned entirely aside
from such remOnstrnnces.
u. Manasseh's chastisement wv. II.
13). The Lord In grace used the As
syrinns to chastisc Mnnnssch. so us to
bring him to see his evil ways. He
was captured. perhaps while hiding
among the thicket Of thorns w. ~.
bound In chains and carried to Baby
Ion. This was most humiliating. His
hands were manacled. his ankles fas-
tened together with rings and Il bar.
III. Manasssh's Repentance. (vv. II.
13). Fortunately, the chastisement
had Its desired effect. Manasseh was
brought TO his senses and turned from
his evil ways. The steps In his re-
pentance nre as follows:
]. Affilction ". 12). This was most
severe. Bound with chains and drnggei
to Babylon. While this was severe. 1t
was light In comparison with the sins
which provoked 1t.
2. Supplicntion ". 12). Manasseh
had the good sense to cry out to God
In this condition. II is the unmistak-
able evidence that Gods chastiscment
Is accomplishing Its purpose. We are
Instructed In James 8 :13 In time OF af.
Fiction to pray.
3. Humility ". 12). This Is com
mon characteristic Of penitcnt souls.
God always recognize II In their hum
Bile walk.
4. Forgiveness ". 13). As soon ns
God secs the signs Of pcnitcncc, he
turns 10 mercy H. the pcnitcnt and
grants nbsolutlon for sin. No one
needs to whit long to receive his for
givcness.
.. His king lon restored ". 49,.
Mnnnssch not only wns forgiven. but
he was actually restored to his king.
dom. Those who truly repent, God
Will not only forgive. but he will re-
store Usn. 80 :3.5).
g. Apprehension OF God ". 49,.
Through this experience Mannssch
came to know God.
~. Manasseh's Reformation tvv.
1i-20. Mnnnssch wns not content
with merely receiving Goi's forgive.
ness and restoration to his kingdom.
but he sought 80 far ns possible to
undo the mischief which he hnd done.
!. He strengthened the f0rtihcntiOns
OF Jerusalem, No ny 10 mike his pcO-
pie snfe from the attack of u foreign
Zoe ". 14).
2. lie removed the idols from the
House NJ the Lord ". l5). Through