The Pulpit Commentary — Jonah — Section 59

See bore rm encoungement to spirit of faith-in Jonah all lights extinguished except faith-in lowest depths," let Israel hope in the Lord, for with the Lord there is mercy, and wHh him is plenteous reclempt.ion." Even when we are the authors of our own troubles, when we nre in the depths by r~"eon of sin, ni'Z desperandum I "0 Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself, but in me is thy belp."-W. G. B. Vere. 2-10.-Triumph, thanksgiving. "And said, I cried by reason of mine afflic- tkn unto the Lord, and he beard me; out of the belly of hell crie<l I, and thou heardcet my voice," etc. 'l'his is one of the most striking instances in all Scripture of the benefit of believing prayer. "Lord, what a change within us one short hour Spent in thy presence will prevail to make I What heavy burdens from our bosom take l What parched lands refresh as with a shower I We kneel, and all around us seems to lower; We rise, and all, the distant and the near, Stands forth in sunny outline, brave and clear. We kneel, how weak; we rise, how full of power! Why therefore should we do ourselves this wrong, That we are ever overborne with care? That we should ever weak or heartless be, Anxious or troubled, when with us in prayer, And joy, and strength, and courage, are with thee?,. (Trench.) Jn the brighter part of Jonab's prayer we notice his- I. GRATEFUL RECOGNITION OF l'RAYER AS ANSWERED. (Vers. 2, 7.) Happy effect of certainty as to this. There are grounds for such certainty: 1. When prayer is offered trusifully, poured as into the ear of a Father, who bas promised to hear such prayer. Answer to be expected, since God is true and never can deceive us. 2. When the evil dreaded is ~ctua.lly averted, or the benefit asked is sent. Unbelief says it would bavo been so a.t any rate; faith says," My prayer ea.me in unto thee, into thine holy temple." 3. When the heart is filled with a sense of the goodness and love of God and his trust- worthiness even before the answer comes, it may be felt that the prayer is heard. Con- fidence in God as Hearer of prayer is a most valuable Christian grace-ever associated with deep humility-infinitely removed from presumption and boa.sting. II. HUMBLE .A0KNOWLEDGMENT OF PAST GUILT .AND FOLLY. (Ver. 8.) "They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy." This is what he bad done. Homan devices contrary to will of God are "lying vanities; " empty, they bring no satisfac- tion;. lying, they promise pence and safety, but bring misery and horrible troubles. So Eve found, so Pharaoh, so Israel when they went after ways of heathen. So J ona.h himself. So all who forsake Fountain of living waters and hew out to themselves broken cisterns that can hold no water. Worldly devices to get happiness a.part from God are indeed "vanity of vanities." Soul of man cannot be satisfied with husks. For God's servants to follow them is to forsake their own mercy. It is for prodigal son to change father's house for society of rioters and harlots: " Many sorrows shall be to tho wicked : but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him a.bout" (Ps. u:xii. 10). The way of duty is ever the way of safety, peace, and comfort ; neglected duty is a sure forerunner of trouble; an evil conscience can never be the harbinger of sweet content. III. PUllLIO EXPRESSION OF THANKSGIVING .AND CONSECRATION. (Ver. 9.) Sacrifice -thanksgiving-vowa. This is to be done openly and publicly at the proper place. No concealment by Jonah of what had taken place. He would a.t once proclaim his own guilt, and declare himself a monument of God's grace. Genuine repentance carries spirit of self-abasement, conscious indebtedness to God--eageraess to be more conse- crated to him. The spring of this feeling-" salvation is of the Lord!' God's saving mercy keeps alive in redeemed hearts the sense of infinite obligation, and prompts to every suitable recognition. No other spiritual dynamic like this-all active obedi- ence, all the labour of love, all patient endurance spring from this; whatever our uiercies, we have the duty of grateful remembrance of them, and active consecration tLJ  THE BOOK OF JONAH, [err. n. 1-10.