Grainger County news. (Rutledge, Tenn.) 1917-current, 1917-08-02
LESSON FOR AUGUST S.
MANAssEH's SIN AND REPENT.
s's ANcE.

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 10 our God. for he viii abundantly
pardon.--Isaiah SGT.
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 gu TO it's fullest
development. 1t seems to be neces,
sary in world of free beings, that
their actions must go to a 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 inlqulty
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 ivy. 1-9). Though
he Ind the example of a good father,
he with passionate endeavor gave him
ssif up to- the imitation Of the heather
ABOUT him. This shows that grace Is
not inherited; good father may have
d bad son. 1t also teaches us that II
Ii 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 eounteraet the downward
pull OF SIM.
II. He restored the high places which
had been destroyed by his father
". b. ! It Is thus seen that he sought
to undo the good work done by his
father.
y. He erected affairs to Baal ". 81.
1he idols worshiped on these affairs
deem to have been images of licen-
fious appearance, provoking the indul-
gence of the human passion. There
fore, with this worship was coupled
the grossest RIGHTEOUSNESS.
g. He introduced 1.-THE star worship
iSrthe Chaldeans and Assyrians ". 81.
lie, even erected these. affairs In the
house of the Lord, placing them on a
70 eel with God himself.
A He set up Moloch In the Vale Of
Hinnon ". 90. He not only encour-
dyed this worship on the part Of 9th
ers. hnt he even caused his own chill
dreh to pass through the fire. 4,
5. He practiced magic, witchcraft,
and dealt with a 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.
G. He rejected the Lords testimony
a. 10Y. Doubtless the prophets had
again and again admonished him, but
he seems to have turned entirely aside
from sneh remonstrances.
II. Manasseh's chastisement wv. IL
I'D. 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
among the thicket of thorns ". III.
bound In chains and carried to Baby
lons This was most humiliating. His
hands were manacled, his ankles fas-
teIed together with rings and bar
/ slI. Msnasseh's Repentance. wv, r.
1911 Fortunately, the chastisement
hal its desired effect. Manasseh was
brought TO his senses and turned from
his evil ways. The steps in his re-
pe1tance are as follows: 9~.a. .@'
ny Affection ". 12). This was most
sevfre. Bound with chains and dragged
to Babylon. While this was severe, 1t
was light In comparison with the sins
which provoked it.
2. Supplication ". 12). Manasseh
had the good sense to cry out to God
In tlls condition. 1t Is the unmistak-
able evidence that Gods chastisement
Is accomplishing its purpose. We are
instructed in James 8 :13 In time of aft
Fiction to pray. &-.,.,lj. -. ".
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
Bile walk. ft a..
4. Forgiveness ". 13). AS soon as
God sees the signs of penitence, he
turns in mercy to the, penitent and
grants dissolution. for, sin. No one
needs to wait long to receive his for
giveness. ~
| 5. His kingdom restored Az: 49,.
Manasseh not only was forgiven, but
he was actually restored to his king
dom. Those who truly repent, God
win not only forgive, but he will re-
store (Psa. $3.50,
9. Apprehension of God ". 49,.
Through this experience Manasseh
came to know God.
w. Manasseh's Reformation (yv.
14-20). 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.
1. He strengthened the Notifications
of Jerusalem, so as to make his peo-
pie safe from the attack Of n foreign
| foe ". 14).
2. He removed the idols from the
House of the Lord ". 15). Through
bitter experience he had come TO know
\ ktanA Al l. AhnN