The Pulpit Commentary — Jonah — Section 28

Vers. 1-3.~onah's call and flight. "Now the word of the Lord came \lllto Jonah the son or Amittai, saying," etc. I. THE Mill. Jonah is introduced without a word of explanation, except(implicitly) that he was a prophet of the Lord. So also Elijah (1 Kings xvii. 1). 'l'heir previous history is assumed. God's servants are treated as all waiting on him to receive his orders, so that "he says to this one, Go, and he goeth, and to another, Come, and he cometh." This is the true idea of servants ; they "look unto his hand" (Pe. cxxiii. 2) ; "stand in his house" (Ps. cuxiv. 1); " stand before him" (Jer. xv. 1). We have a little more information about Jonah (see 2 Kings xiv. 25). In the New Testament we have a twofold view of Jonah-a sign to the Ninevites (Luke xi. 30, 32), and a type of Christ (Matt. xii. 40). This book is short, but of remarkable interest. "It is long and it is short; short if we respect the smallness of the volume, but long if we respect the copious variety of excellent observations that are therein to be found: as the horribleness of sin, which was able within forty days to pluck down an utter desolation on so famous a city as Nineveh was; God's love in forewarning them that dwelt in that place that they might be spared; the prophet's foul fall, and his strange punishment for it; his offwardness from God, and God's favourable incli- nation evermore to him; the regard which the King of Nineveh and his people did bear to God's jndgments when they were denounced; the free pardon of the Lord and his remitting of their sin upon their repentance" (Archbishop Abbot). II. THE CALL. 1. Its source. Directly and clearly from God-the only source of spiritual authority-an authority not to be gainsaid or tiifled with. Unlike any other authority, to it implicit obedience is due. "Theirs not to make reply; Theirs not to reoaon why." 2. Its rousing note. Arise I Implies summons to \lllusual exertion-the commission that follows needs great energy-it is not to be executed in a listless frame-" where- fore gird up the loins of your mind." Some duties are of such a kind that unusual self- excitation is needed for them (see Heb, xii. 1). "The very first word he. hears is' Arise.' It is a word used before another verb as a term of excitement. Arise I I know you have difficulties, in yourself, in your people, in the mission to Nineveh; arise, there- fore, gird up your loins, stir up thy strength and go I " (Rev. A. Raleigh, D.D.). How differently has the command to arise been dealt with by different men I Moses hesitates, pleads off, at last agrees (Exod. iv.). Jeremiah urges his youth (i. 6). Paul confers not with flesh and blood (Ga.I. i. 16). Our Lord sets his face steadfastly to go up to Jerusalem (Luke ix.. 51). 3. Its sphere. ·" Go to Nineveh, that great city." The prophet is sent outside the boundaries of Israel; he is a foreign missionary -the first foreign missionary after Elijah, who was sent among the Phmnicians. The field is Nineveh, probably the greatest and richest city of the world at that time. As missionary to Nineveh, Jonah occupies a remarkable position-through him God is to assert his claim as the God, not only of the Jews, but of the whole earth. He is to declare himself Lord of Nineveh and of all countries, and summon its inhabitants to their allegiance to him. "Suddenly, without note or warning, without preface, without explanation, assuming sovereign state as God Most High over all the earth; Jehovah, rernauifesting, if not reassuming his universal supremacy, conducts, on the scale of most amazing miracle, a movement of his ceaseless government, as it extends over all nations; aod tbat it may not fail to compel the attention of all succeeding ages, he adorns that 1.uovernent with ~he most marvellous and romantic incident, with one of the most striking if not pE!f'plexing developments of human character, especially as occurring in a man of God, and with the symbolic death and resurrection of the agent under whosa Land that movement is conducted-a death and resurrection on the very type of Messiah's; for Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale's belly, even as the en, 1. 1-17.] 'l'HE nooK OF JO»AII.