The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-08-04


The reign Of Manasseh was the long
est Of any Of the kings of Judah. 1t is
strange that a 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 a state that their idolatrous
corruption needed to go to Its fullest
development. It seems to be neres'
sary in a world Of free beings, that
their actions must go to a certain
stage of development. 1t was so with
the inhabitants Of Canaan before THAI
land was possessed by Israel. Israel
was kept In Egypt until the lnlquity
Of that nation was full. In this case
doubtless the Lord permitted this to
20 on until the idolatrous practices
would become extremely obnoxious
I. Manasseh's sin wv. 1.9). Though
he had the example Of a 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; good father may have
a bad son. It 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.
lie restored the high places which
had been destroyed by his father
VS.. 1t is thus seen that he sought
to undo the good work done by his
father.
2. he erected affairs to Baal ". 81.
The idols worshIped on these affairs
seem to have been images Of licen'
tiouS appearance, PROVOKING the indul'
Rence Of the human passion. There
fore, with this worship was coupled
the rossest liz 2ntiousncss.
8, He introduced the star worship
pf the Chaldeans and Assyria@ ". 81,
BE even erected these affairs in the
house of Re Lord, placing them on
level with God himself.
4. He set up Moloch in the Vale OF
Hlnnon ". g.. He not only encour'
aged this worship on the part Of 9TH
ers, but he even caused his own chill
hreu to pass through the fire.
she practlced magic, wltchcraft,
and dealt with 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
He rejected the Lords testimony
". 10). Doubtless the prophets had
again and again admonished him, but
be gems to have turned entirely aside
from such remonstrances.
u. Manasseh's Chastisement wv. IL
49,. The Lord in grace used the AS
BY ms to chastlse ManasSeh, so as to
bring him to see his evil ways. He
was captured, perhaps while hiding
Rmong the thicket of thorns ". .11),
bound in chains and carried to Baby
lon. This was most humlliating. His
hands were manacled, his ankles fas'
tened together with rings and bar.
Ill., Manassch's Repentance. wv. y.
49,. Fortunately, the chastsement
had Its desired effect. Manasseh was
brought to his senses and turned from
his evil ways. The steps in his re-
pentance are as follows:
!. Affection ". 12). This WIS most
severe. Bound with c aims and dragged
30 Babylon. While this was severe, 1t
was light in comparison with the sins
which provoked 1t.
2. supplication ". 12). Manasseh
had the good sense to cry out to God
In this condition, 1t is the mmistak-
able evidence that Gods chastlsement
Is accomplishing its purpose. We are
Instructed in James 5 :1S in time Of af-
fiction 60 pray.
8. Humility ", 12). This is a COM
mon Characteristic Of penitent souls.
Those who come under the hand Of
God always recognize 1t in their hum
bic walk.
4. Forgiveness ". 49,. As soon as
God sees the signs Of penltence, he
turns in mercy to the penltent and
grants absolution for sin. No one
needs to wait long to receive his for
giveness.
8. His kingdom restored ". 13).
Manasseh not only was forgiven, but
he was actually restored to his king
dom. Those who truly repent, God
will not only forgive, but he will re-
store (Psa. 80 1867.
g. Apprehension of God ". 49,.
Through this experience Manasseh
came to know God.
". Manasseh's Reformation wv.
1920. Manasseh was not content
with merely receiving Gods forgive
ness and restoration to his kingdom,
but he sought SO far as possible to
undo the mischief which he had done.
L he strengthened the fortlhcations
Of Jerusalem, 80 as to make his peo-
pie safe from the attack Of foreign
foe ". 14).
q He removed the idols from the
House Of the Lord ". 15). Through
bitter experience he had come to know
that an idol is nothing, that 1t could