The Pulpit Commentary — Jonah — Section 95

II. REASON ABSIG?s'"ED FOR IT. (Ver. 2.) God too merciful-his mercy on this occneion judged out of place. JonRh's truthfulness as a prophet seemed to be compromised; he was made to appear foolish in the eyes of men-the whole of the painful experience he bad gone through shown to be unnecessary; he would have to return home withou~ bringing word to his people of the great catastrophe by which they would have been compelled to regard God's will. Jone.h finds confirmation of the thought that had influenced him at first-God too merciful to inflict great judgmcnts; he seems to find a reason for his original rebellion, and, with irreverent honesty, vindicates himself before God. A very great aggravation of his sin, that what he disliked in God was his gracious- ness to sinners. The mood of mind which Jonah is represented as expressing openly often bas a lurking existence, not less mischievous because half concealed. Mercy of God is sometimes thought to be excessive. So thought Jews when Gentiles were to be admitted to Christian Church. Possibly this transaction was designed to foreshadow that eveat-Jonah's strong feeling a foreshadow of narrow Jewish jealousy. On a wider theatre, man's terrible selfishness is apt to prevail even over all considerations of mercy; for instance, a merchant interested in fall of price of grain is apt to be grieved for good weather and plentiful harvest-the heir of a rich man (possibly of his father) disappointed when he recovers from serious illness-the heart is apt to grieve at the good of a neighbour, especially of a rival--some one has said, "There is something even in the troubles of our friends which is not altogether displeasing to us"-a state of war is sometimes desired because of impulse to be given to certain branches of trade: in all such cases, the aspect of selfishness is simply hideous-men may well shrink from looking at such pictures of themselves-yet such feelings are by no means uncommon. What surprises in case of Jonah is that, after showing himself a very paragon of self-, sacrifice, the selfish feeling sbould have been so strong, and that he should have given 1 such open expression to it. •1 III. JoNAH's PRAYER. (Ver. 3.) He asked to be relieved of his life, wbich had become too burdensome to him. See here the sad prevalence of carnal spirit-no acknowledg;ment of higher wisdom of God, of the way in which good might be brought by him out of \Vhat seemed to Jonah to be evil See, too, the sinfulness of a despairing spirit in servant of God-not unnatural in men of world---<lomplications and miseries may arise which overwhelm-misery may be too absolute to bear, and every succeeding step may only aggravate it---dreadful condition of human spirit when absolute misery closes upon it. Buch sbould never be the condition of a servant of God while in. possession of his reason-sense of Divine providence, and assurance of protection and guidance should repel it-it is unbelieving men that ask, " Is life worth living?" Uubelief and suicide go together. Observe, in Jonah's case, effect of tolerated sin on. bis spiritual condition-he loses trust in God-does not see how God can save him even. from himself-makes no such request, but only asks him to take away hie life. Some- times it seems so impossible to do right, that we are willing to give up all in despair. "If the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness I" IV. Gov's BEll40NSTBANCE. (Ver. 4.) "Doest thou well to be angry?" Oh the gentle- ness of the Divine method 1-Jonah's thoughts are thrown in upon himself-no Divine denunciation, but Jonah made, as it were, judge in his own case, asked to sit over him- self and say if his feeling was right. Resemblance of this to the method of our Lord -his way of putting questions, compelling thought, and constraining a just decision. See his method of dealing with Simon the Phmsee (Luke vii. 42). Facility with which God may judge us, by making us judgea of ourselves. Difference of our actions as regarded by us, and as seen from God's point of view. It is from God's point of view their criminality is most clearly shown. Hence the sense of unworthiness we feel when we bend the knee, and pour out our spirit before God at night. The actions that at the time seemtd right enough assume aspect of sin when looked at, as it were, with God's eyes. In the present case no such effect was made on Jonah ; he himself comes before God in sullen, selfish spirit. Even God's question does not subdue him, Summing up the sins of Jonah's spirit in this transaction, we notice: 1. His limiting God. There was but one way, in his view, in which the right thing could be done. Nineveh must be destroyed. To that he had made up his mind, and his whole moral nature was shaken when it appeared that God had another way. 2. His refusing to believe i!:i the efficacy of Di vine forLearance. Ilou:;h methods of dealing alone are on. 1v. 1-11.] 'l'llE BOOK OF JONAU. 03