The Pulpit Commentary — Jonah — Section 61

Ver. 2.-The value of aiftiction (as seen in Jonah's prayer). It: 1. Brings the man to himself. 'l'o soul-consciousness, to God-consciousness. When "in the shadow off\ great affiiclion, the soul sits dumb." Chastened, he feels his need of chastisement, and knows from whom it comes. " Thy waves;" "thy billows." 2. Brings the consola- tion of Scripture to the man. From various psalms of sorrow (now remembered) Jonah quotes. By sorrow he enters into the sorrows of others. Affliction "opens np the mine of Scripture, before seen only on the surface." 3. Brings the man to God. He "cries" to him, Ho comes to him. He feels that "sorrow's crown of sorrow" is in being "cast out of God's eight." 4. Brings the Msurance of salvation to the man. Thus, divinely blest, affliction is good. The soul, then, triumphant over trouble, can exclaim, "Salvation ie of the Lord;"" 0 Lord my God."-G. T. C. Ver. 8.-" Lying vanities," 1. Vanities. Ve.nities are vain things-things that deceive. Such are idols. All things are idols that men trust out of God. Jonah had his idol- it was his false love for his country. How many idols !-ambition, pride, strength, wee.Ith, influence, self, self-will. And men observe them as gods. But they are all "lying." They deceive, Their promises fail. One only is "faithful who has promised" us happiness. 2. 'l'he consequence of observing these lying vanities. Men who observe them "forsake their own mercy." How much they leave! Mercy I It is to all; but not to e.11 alike. "Their own." In turning to any idol, men forsake God, "whose property is always to have mercy."-G. T. C. Ver. 9.-Thankfulness. "Thankfulness opens the door of mercy, sets God's goodness free to be good to us, prepares us to receive blessin~." It should be cultivated. It should be expressed. "The voice of thanksgiving." Jonah was thankful. He had strong reason indeed to be. He paid the vows he had made. " Be ye thankful" Every mercy is an incentive to thankfulness. And God's mercies, "new every morn- ing e.nd repeated every evening," and pa.useless in their coming, "cannot be reckoned up." And all crowned by the gift of Christ. "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable Gift." "Thanksgiving is the.nksliving." "Let never de.y nor night unhe.llow'd pe.ss, But still remember what the Lord he.th done.'' O.T.C. Ver. 7.-Theprophet's prayer. The contrast which Jonah depicts between his own conduct and that of the bee.then with whom he came in contact is very unfaTourable to himself. He appears as a coward fleeing from his duty, and cruel enough to prefer that the Ninevites should be destroyed rather than that his accuracy should be impugned. But the idolatrous sailors ,prayed in the storm as best they could, and they were humane enough to try to save him, even after they had been told to cast him overboard (eh. i. 13). It is not only noteworthy that Jonah wrote thus, but also that a book which compared a Jew so disadvantageously with the heathen should have been preserved by the Jewish people, who were notoriously proud and bigoted. Describe the event narrated in the preceding chapter. Point out the use our Lord made of it to typify his own death and resurrection. Pass on to apply the prophet's experience to what is represented by it among ourselves. ' I. THE NEGLECT OF APPOINTED SERVICE IS A SIN. The command given to Jonah was plain enough, but he wilfully disobeyed it. Some of the excuses he may have made to conscience may be profitably suggested. 1. "I have already done my share of service; let another undertake this." He had faithfully conveyed his message to King Amaziah, and had doubtless proved his fidelity on other occasions, but he shrauk from this new summons from God. Pe.st service does not relieve us of present responsibilities. The indolence or the failure of others will not justify us in ignoring duty. 2. "It is useless to preach to the Ninevites; they would laugh me to scorn." Ignorant of the truo God as they were, it certainly was hardly to be expected_ the.~ they_ would hurnblti themselves before him at the bidding of a stranger preaching m their streets. Yet often those we deem to be the most hopeless are the most ready to listen. Even if they were not, it is at our peril that we refuse to obey a God-given impulse to speak to 68 THE BOOK OF JONAH. (oH, 111, 1-10.