The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1917-08-03
INTERNATIONAL
SUNlGSCnOOL
LESSON
(By REV. P. B. FITZWATER, D. d..
Teacher of English Bible in the Moody
Bible Institute of Chicago.)
LESSON FOR AUGUST 5.
MANASSEH'S SIN AND REPENT
ANCE.

GOLDEN TExT-Let the wicked fol
sake his way, and the unrighteous ma
his thoughts: and let him return unto tn
Lord, and he will have mercy upon him
and to our God, for he will abundant
pardon.-Isafah 65:7.
The reign of Manasseh was the long
est of any of the kings of Judah. 1t Il
strange that a wicked king shoult
have the distinction Of the longes
reign. This can be accounted for, per
haps, by the fact that the nation wa:
In such a state that their idOlatrOus
corruption needed to go to its fulles
development. 1t seems to be neces
sary in a world of free beings, thai
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
go on until the idOlatrous practices
would become extremely obnoxious.
|. 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 it
| 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 counterfeit 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.
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 Righteousness.
8. 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.
81, 4. He set up Moloch in the Vale of
Hinnon ". 81. 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 familiar spirit w. 81.
So gross We're 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
". 10Y. Doubtless the prophets had
again and again admonished him, but
he seems to have turned entirely aside
from such remonstrances.
II. Manasseh's Chsstisement wv. H.
13). The Lord in grace used the AS
syrians to chastise Manasseh. so as to
bring him to see his evil ways. He
was captured, perhaps while hiding |
the thicket of thorns ". 11), |
bound in chains and carried to Baby !
Ion. This was most humiliating. His |
hands were manacled, his ankles fas- |
tened together with rings and bar.
III. Manasseh's Repentance. wv. 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 are as follows:
/. Affection ". 12). This was most
severe. Bound with chains and dragged
to Babylon. While this was severe, 1T
was light in comparison with the sims
which provoked it.
2. Supplication ". 12). Manasseh
had the good sense to cry out to God
in this condition. 1t is the unmistak-
able evidence that Gods chastisement
IS accomplishing it's purpose. We are
instructed in James 8 :13 in time of af-
Fiction to pray.
3. Humility ". 12). This is COM
mon characteristic of penitent souls.
Those who come. under the hand Of
God always recognize it in their hum
Die walk.
4. Forgiveness ". 13). AS soon as
Sod sees the signs of penitence, he
,urns in mercy to the penitent and
81 anus dOSOlutlOu lOl OH. AtO OhC
needs to wait long to receive his for
,iveness.
5. His kingdom restored w. 13).
Manasseh not only was forgiven, but
lie was actually restored to his king
lom. Those who truly repent. God
will not only forgive, but he will re-
'tore (Psa. 80 $50.
6. Apprehension of God ". 13).
Through this experience Manasseh
,ame to know God.
w. Manasseh's Reformation wv.
4-20). Manasseh was not content ,
With merely receiving Gods forgive
less and restoration to his kingdom, ,
tut he sought so far as possible to 5
Indo the mischief which he had done. 1
1. He strengthened the Notifications
# Jerusalem, so as to make his peo
lie safe from the attack of foreign
oe ". 14).
2. He removed the idols from the I
louise Of the Lord ". 49,. Through /
tier experience he had come to know
at an idol is nothing, that 1t coul' /
all him nothing In time of deepes
a6 ] =.