Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-08-03
LESSON FOR AUGUST 5.
MANAsSEH'S SIN AND REPENT
ANCE.

tlOuRntS.
Lord, and he will have mercy upon him;
and to our God. for he will abundantly
pardon.-Isaiah 55:7.
The reign of Mannsseh was the long
est of any of the kings of Judah. 1t Is
strange that q 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 q world of free beings, that
their actions must go 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 iniqulty
of that nation was full. In this case
doubtless the Lord permitted this to
go on until the idolatrous practices
would become extremely obnoxious.
Another reason why this is done is to
show Gods long forbearance. He is
not willing that any should perish, but
that all should come to repentance
(II Peter 3 :9). And finally, we can
account for it on the ground that God
permits these things to go on long in
order to vindicate his justice when ne
judges. He does not strike in judg-
ment until all hope of repentance is
past.
!. 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; a good father may have
q 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.
1. 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.
2. He erected affairs to Baal ". 81.
The idols worshiped on these affairs
seem to have been images of hcen-
tious appearance, provoking the indul-
gence of the human, passion. There
fore, with this worship was coupled
the grossest licentiousness.
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 a
level with God himself.
A. He set up Moloch in the Vale OF
Hinnon ". g.. He not only encour-
aged this worship on the part of 9TH
ers, but he even caused his own chill.
dren to pass through the fire.
5. He practiced magic, witchcraft
and dealt with a familiar spirit ". g.
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
1t seems to be true always that wher
, those who profess to worship God turI
away from him, they indulge in siI
, in excess of the unbelievers.
6. He rejected the Lords testimon!
|
again and again admonished him, bu
he seems to have turned entirely asid'
from such remOnstrances.
II. Manasseh's Chastisement wv. IL
13). The Lord in grace used the AS
syrians to chastise Manasseh, so as t,
bring him to see his evil ways. H
was captured, perhaps while hidini
among the thicket of thorns ". ~
bound in chains and carried to Baby
lon. This was most humiliating. Hi
d. hands were manacled, his ankles fas
: tened together with rings and a bal
TT. Manasseh's Repentance. wv. l.
>. 13). Fortunately, the chastisemen
!, had it's desired effect. Manasseh wa
: brought to his senses and turned froI
:, his evil ways. The steps in his ne
pentance are as follows:
1. Affliction ". 12). This was mos
: severe. Bound with chains and dragge
!. to Babylon. While this was severe,
was light in comparison with the sin
~ which provoked it. Many today ar
a groaning under the weight of God
a ehastisement who have not yet com
to realize that the weight is light con
II pared with the Offense. Aff1iction
"a Gods love token (Heb. 1850. Its pr
J. mary design is to bring men back I
:, God
n .. Supplication (v. I2). Manasse
had the good sense to cry out to Go
in this condition. 1t is the unmistal
I able evidence that Gods ehastisemer
is accomplishing its purpose. We al
instructed in James 5 .I3 in time of a
Fiction to pray.
| 3. Humility ". 12). This is a con
mon characteristic of penitent soul
Those who come under the hand
God always recognize it in their hur
BILE walk.
4. Forgiveness ". 13). As soon
God sees the signs of penitence, |
turns In mercy to the penitent ar
grants absolutiOn for sin. No OF
needs to wait long to receive his fo
giveness.
5. His kingdom restored ". 13
Manasseh not only was forgiven, b
B he was actually restored to his kin
I'll dom. Those who truly repent, G,
will not only forgive, but he will I
store (Psa. 80 :3-5).
6. Apprehension of God ". Il
Through this experience Manass
came to know God. He not only car
to know God as the jealous God, t
One who will not tolerate a rival, b
rI he came to know him as a God
Ml mercy. He came to know him in
n new way. Happy are those who ST
WI NIT to the chastisement of God, w
III! opens their hearts TO receive the n,
.Al revelation of himself, even though
be through the hand of chastisement
~. Manasseh's Reformation {
~ 14-20). Manasseh was not conte
,,s with merely receiving Gods forgi'
IN, ness and restoration to his kingdo
~ but he sought so far as possible
,n undo the mischief which he had do
or. 1. He strengthened the fOrtificatiC
he of Jerusalem, so as to make his p
| yn1o co 70 Of