The Pulpit Commentary — Jonah — Section 11

IIOMILETICS. Ver. 2.-.A city's sin. Dy its very nature sin is individual, personnl; for it is the estrangement of the spiritual being and life from God. Yet, as men live in communi- ties, and as these communities possess moral qualities and habits determined by the character of the component units, there is such a thing as the sin of a tribe, of a city, of a nation. This is more obvious when it is remembered the.t states are personified in their rulers and representatives, whose words and actions must be taken as those of the community at large. Tbe Scriptures, from the record of the Tower of Babel down- wards, exhibit national responsibility as connected with natione.l error and unfaithful- ness. Among the lessons of this Book of Jonah, this lesson regarding a nation's moral life and accountability is not the least valuable. . I. A CITY'S SIN IS COMPATIBLE WITH ITS POLITICAL GREATNESS. Nineveh was "that great city." It was situated upon the noble river Tigris; it boasted a splendid and ancient history; it was of enormous extent, being, according to the historians, eighteen leagues in circumference; it had a population reckoned by hundreds of thousands; in short, it was one of the greatest and most famous of the cities of the ancient East, and was the capital of one of the most powerful of kingdoms. Recent discoveries have familiarized us with the civic life of the population of the city of Nineveh. Yet the wickedness of Nineveh was great. Magnitude, population, wealth, luxury, splendour, power,-all are, e.las l consistent with forgetfulness of God, and with rebellion against his authority who is King of kings and Lord of all the nations upon earth. How signally was this the case with pagan Rome l And are there not cities in professedly Christian lands, the abodes of power and of pleasure, whose sin cries aloud unto God? II. A CJTIT's SIN 1B OFTEN DIBBEGABDED BY HUMAN OBSERVERS, AND EVEN' BY RULERS, The citizens take pride in their "gorgeous palaces," their "solemn temples," in magnificent public works, in stately ceremonies, in all the complicated apparatus of civilization, luxury, refinement, and enjoyment. The men in authority are content if outward order is observed, if regulations of police are respected, if the reports of health are satisfactory, if trade flourishes. But it is often forgotten that beneath this outward show of prosperity there may exist moral corruption and religious indifference, or even defiant infidelity. God may not be glorified; he may be hated and disobeyed. And yet no concern may be awakened, no contrition felt. ill A CITY'S sm IB OBSERVED BY THE ALL-SEEING Gov. What graphic language is this, "Their wickc-0..ness is come up before me" l Under this old Hebrew idiom a great religious truth is discernible. Nothing escapes the notice of him who searcheth the hearts of the children of men. Not only so. God looks upon the sins of the citizens, not as a statistician or a politician might look. He is grieved with men's irreligion; he is "angry," i.e., "with the wicked every day." We must not attribute to the Deity any emotions which would be unworthy of a human ruler. But it is not derogatory to God, it is honouring him, to think of him as distressed and dissatisfied with human rebellion, and to remember that his regard is that of a wise and righteous Ruler, who is concerned for the spiritual state of those whom he rules for their own good and for his glory. IV. A CITY'S BIN MUST -BE MET BY A BIGIITEOUB TESTIMONY, REBUKE, AND WARNING. It must not be forgotten that men's sins are often attributable to evil example, to common custom, to the force of habit, to forgetfulness and carelessness. For this reason is it neerlful that the preacber of righteousness should exhibit a just and lofty standard of national and individual virtue; that he should faithfully expose and d~nounce prevailing errors, follies, and injustice; and that he should remind men of OIi, r. 1-17.] THE BOOK OF JONAil. 'i