The Pulpit Commentary — Jonah — Section 42

courage is required by those who rebuke popular sins. But an Eastern mob would be likely t.o handle very roughly any foreigner who dared to threaten their city for Ha si111,. JonRh had no fear of this, however, and so far sets a noble example of heroism. 2. The sphere was uncongenial, These Ninevites were dreaded and hated by the people of Israel. Even under the Christian dispen~ation we see frequent evidences of national jealousy and antipathy, which prevent willingness to benefit other nations; e,nd many e, man would be rebuked as unpatriotic who earnestly sought the well-being of foreigners. How much more intense was such a feeling under the former dispensa- tion! But God had room in his Fatberly heart for other peoples besides the race he had chosen for a peculiar purpose. Whenever the elect nation came into contact with others, God gave to those others some revelation of himself. He revealed himself to the E)a(yptians tbrough Joseph and Moses; to the Philistines, through the sacred ark; to the Ass)·rians, through Elisha; and to Nebuchadnezzar and Belshe.zzar, through Daniel. Those who are inspired by God's Spirit overlook the barriers of race. 'l'he apostles did so, and were glad that God bad given even to the Gentiles repentance unto life. Personal prejudices and dislikes may also sometimes hinder us in carrying on our divinely appointed work. Let us pray for willing minds and obedient hearts, that uncongenial spheres may be bravely filled. III. THE PROPHET'S DUTY. 1. Be was to denounce the wickedness of the peop'l,e. Both N ahuru and Zepha.niah refer to the sins of Nineveh. Its inhabitants were luxurious, riotous, addicted to witchcraft, cruel, and idolatrous. Sins vary in form, but not in nature. The vices of our own time we should specially denounce with unsparing courage. 2. He was to proclaim the nearness of God. They knew not the truth revealed to Jonah: "Their wickedness is come up before me." Similar was the statement made about the murder of Cain and the sin of Sodom. God sets all our sins in the light of bis countenance. 3. He was to announce a coming judgment. "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown" (eh. iii. 4). 4. Be was to be rW,<1,y to receive and convey every 'l'Tl&sage God gave him. "Preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee." Tllis Bhould be the constant attitude of all religious tee.chers.-A. R. Ver. 3.-The prophefs diso'bedi,ence. Scripture never seeks to palliate the sins of the saints, but reveals them in all their wickedness. Jonah's disobedience is exhibited in the strongest light, as being resolute and prompt, following immediately on the Divine command. He had been told to make his way to Nineveh, which lay north-east of his home, and he instantly started in the opposite direction, being determined to go as far west as he could. He " went down " from the mountain district of Zebulun, where he lived," to Joppa "-now known as Jaffa., a port on the Mediterranean. There he found a vessel on the point of e&iling for Spain, which was much larger and safer than the ordinary coasters, as we may judge, not only from the length of the voyage undertaken, but from such a verse as this : •• Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind;" the destruction of these great vessels by storm being evidently considered a special proof of Divine power. Tarsbish was an ancient city of Spain, proverbial fur its wealth, and was the exporter to Tyre, to Judl8&, and other lands, of silver, iron, tin, and lead. It was known to the Greeks and Rcmans as TartessllS. In that distaot place, mingling with the crowds which thronged its streets, occupied by the fresh atrange scenes which would surround him, Jonah hoped to escape from his duty and to drown the voice of conscience. His folly and sin are suggestive of warning to all who are tempted to disobey their God. L M.A..NY, LIKE JONAH, FLEE FROM THE WAY IN WHICH Goo WOULD HAVE THEIi[ oo. The expression, " to flee . . . from the presence of the Lord," should be rendered "to flee . . . from being before the Lord," i.e. from standing in his presence as his servant. Jonah knew perfectly well that he would never be beyond the reach of God's sigLt and power. The truths celebrated in Ps. cx.xxix. he sincerely believed_. But he resolved no longer to act as God's messenger and prophet. He felt sure that his message of warning was meant to bring Nineveh to repentance, and that then the merciful God would spare the city, which, with far-seeing prescience, the prophet perceived would bo the destroyer of his country. If the sins of its inhabitants were so great, they deserved to die; and if their growing power was shattered, he cared not how, a threatening danger would be averted from his native Ian<!. Just as some Englishmen, jealous of on, t. 1-1'7.J 'l'HE BOOK: OF' JONAB. 89