The Pulpit Commentary — Jonah — Section 30

by me1ms of a sword, David through a parable, Peter by a look, the Philippian jailor by an earthquake, Jonah by a storm. .All nature is at his command. "'l'he whole world full of invisible couriers, robed and ready for their service," I. THE STORM SENT OUT BY Gon. Connection between the physical and moral world is so adjusted that the former accomplishes purposes of moral government. Storms In a sense are results of fixed law, yet instruments of Divine will-"stormy wind fulfilling his word" (Ps. cx\viii. 8)-fitted to show men their helplessness and dependence-to reprove them for rebelling against him whose their breath is, and whose are all their ways. Many things else have same purpose-illness, frustration of plans, etc. "In the day of adversity, consider." Sin often causes storms-"in one's heart, in families, in Churches, in towns, and in nations (Jas. iv. 1)" (Jones). The storm was adjusted so as to answer precisely the purpose of God. The ship was not actually broken, but like to be broken-literally, "thought to be broken "-vivid image, as if creaks and groans were those of a living thing, as if the ship itself dreaded destruction. II. CoNDUCT OF THE MARINERS. "Then the mariners were afraid." Mariners usually an intrepid race-" a stiffer kind of men than most are "-are now afraid. Fear drives to prayer. In a storm the forces against man are overwhelming; in such a case fear becomes inevitable, and prayer an instinct. "No man," it has been said, "was ever an atheist in a shipwreck." Herein is testimony to the existence of God-man in conscious helplessness invokes a higher Power. The mariners took a double course- they both prayed and used the means available for the safety of the ship. 1. They cried every man to his god. Ignorance and superstition may mingle with more genuine feelings. "I think we have no ground for uttering one word of reproach or blame against these men. They would contrast but too favourably with many a ship's crew that sails out of London or Liverpool. These poor heathen men prayed to their gods. Many a British sailor only swears and curses by his. They did what they could. 'l'bey were true to the best instincts of the human mind" (Raleigh). The prayer of fear is not necessarily the prayer of faith; fear may be the beginning of a godly life, but is not its essence; love is the essence of true religion and of true communion with God; "per- fect love:casteth out fear." If fear sets us at first to pray for ourselves, our families, our Church, our couotry, it must advance to something higher. 2. "They cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them." How worthless are all earthly possessions in comparison of life I "Skin for skin, yea, all that e. man bath, he will give for his life;" "What shall it profit a man, if he gsin the whole world, and lose his own life?" There are moments when utter worthlessness of all earthly things irresistibly flashes even on the worldly mind. Would that men thought oftener of this I Contrast the security of the Christian treasure-immovability of the Christian hope. IIL Coi.'DUCT OF JoNAlL "But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep." Apparently he avoided prayer when the mariners took to it-he could not pray. "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me ; " "Your sins have separated between you and your God." A guilty conscience makes prayer impossible, till a break-down takes place, and contrition bursts out. Note the misery of Jonah-he cannot bear to see the men praying while he himself cannot pray-be goes down to the sides of the ship. "The most wretched man in the world is the man who is a.fflicted,and cannot pray," He was fast asleep. This was not unnatural -he had been under a great strain; now comes a recoil. Sisera slept in the tent of Jael-the disciples in the garden of Gethsemane. Jonah's sleep was not a sign of insensibility, but a proof of the terrible constraint under which he had been acting, He had utterly exhausted himself in bis struggle with God, and the very storm cannot keep him awake. Yet surely this was a strange sight-the heathen mariners praying, and the servant of God sleeping. This, indeed, was typical of the purpose for which God had sent him to Nineveh, viz. that the repentance of Nineveh might he a reproof lo Israel; so the prayers of these heathen were a reproof to Jonah-he was provoked lo jealousy by them that were not God's people. Sometimes the Church is rebuked l,y the world; at least a contrast to the crooked ways, cross temper, and ungracious talk of professing Christians is sometimes found in the integrity, gentleness, and charity ,,f some who make no profession. Earnestness of heathen in their religious observances 1s often a reproof to Christians, "Why should the Church allow the world to bear 11.way the J?&lm in reference to any one element of excellence whatsoever-candour, dlt. t. 1-17.] 'l'HE BOOtt OF JONAH. 27