Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1917-08-01
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson W.-Third Quarter, For
Aug. 5, 1917.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

Text, isa. ", 7-cemmsntary Prspar-
cd by Rev. D. N. Stsarns
There are SO many things In the at
fairs Of this world which We cannot
understand that we can only find rest
In remembering that the Lord Dveth.
and He is not discouraged, and He
shall finally subdue all things unto
Himself. 1t therefore becomes Us to
rest In the Lord and wait patiently for
Him lisa. XIII. 1; Rev. xviii IA; Ps
xxxvil. :: Phil. III. 10, 21). That Ahaz
should be such a wicked king. Heze-
kiah. his son. such good king and
Manasseh. his son. such a nonstrosity
OF iniquity Is surely q strange sequence
Of events. which l certainly do not
profess to begin to understand, but !
rest In Him who foresees and over
rules all things There Is something
worthy OF prayerful consideration In
the fact that Hezekiah had fifteen
years added to his life after his serious
illness Qsa. xxxviii. 81. but did not rem
der to God for this extension OF time
as he should have done Gil Chron.
xxi, 25).
Manasseh must have been born about
three years after that Illness. as be
was twelve years old when he began
reign (xxxifi. u. and the question pre-
seuts itself. Was II a real blessing TO
Hezekiah to have his life thus pro
longed? When we are determined to
Cs,A In
dulges us. even though He knows II Is
not the best thing for us. as when He
gave Israel their request, but sent lean
ness into their soul FPS. cix, 80. A
mother once told me that when her
two boys were very young they were
sick unto death. but she would not give
them up. and God let them live. But
they grew up TO give her broken
heart Whole hearted submission to
the perfect will OF God Is the better
way Contrast the Lord Jesus at the
age of twelve about His Fathers husi.
ness and returning to the lowly home
at Nazareth, there TO he subject to
Mary for The next eighteen years Luke
II. 42-52i.
Nanasseh's reign was the longest OF
any Of the kings OF Judah, fifty-five
years, and part OF ii was the very
worst, according to the record In lesson
verses $40 He wrought much evil In
the sight Of the Lord and caused Ju-
dab and Jerusalem TO err and to do
worse than the heather whom the Lord
had destroyed before the children Of
Israel. and. though the Lord spake to
him and to his people, they would not
hearken tverses 2. q. o. 10l. He was
surely controlled by the devil during
that part of his reign.
The Lord permitted the kings OF As.
syria TO take him and bind him and
carry him to Babylon. and there In his
affliction he humbled himself greatly
before God and prayed unto Him. and
God heard BIN and brought him again
to Jerusalem and 10 his kingdom. Then
1i-l3, In the Apocrypha there is
prayer recorded AS his. part Of which
ia: Thou. @ Lord. according to Thy
great goodness, hast promised repent.
ance and forgiveness to them that
have sinned against Thee - !
have sinned above the number of the
sands Of the sea; have set up
denominations and have multiplied Of
lenses. q Lord. l have sinned. and
acknowledge mine iniquities. where
fore. | hnmbly beseech Thee. forgive
me. q Lord. forgive me. and destroy
me not with mine iniquities."
Whatever his actual prayer was.
God. who reads the heart. saw that he
was sincere and abundantly parioned
him. according to lisa. lv, 7. Whatever
encouragement there is in this and in
the conversion of Saul Of Tarsns and
OF the penifent thief for any and every
sinner. however great. to turn to the
Lord. for He came to save sinners.
and His word ever stands. Him that
cometh to me will in nowise rast
ont" (JohA vi 81 He is not willing
that any should perish and has no
pleasure In the death OF the wicked
III Pet iii. o; Eek. xxxiiL III His
cry to sinners Is. Look unto me and be
saved; incline your ear and come unto
me. hear and your soul shall live. And
to His own who have wandered He
cries: o that they were wise. that they
would consider their latter end, @
that my people had hearkened unto me
and Israel had walked In my ways,
lisa. XIV %: ". 8; Deut xxi. %
Ps. Xxi. 13l. When restored to Jeru
salem and Il, his kingdom he endeavor
ed to right some OF the wrongs be had
done and to bring forth fruits meet
for repentance. He offered peace offer
ings and thank offerings unto the Lord
and commanded judah to serve the
Lord God OF Israel verses 14l0.
Such change In such a man must
have impressed many and turned
many to the Lord. but we shall see as
we 60 on In our lessons that the turn
Ing Of the people away from God was
very desperate. and It was not long
until Judah was carried into captivity
for her sins. The turning away from