The National tribune., 1885-10-29
SUNDAY MEDITATION.
Practical Duties Taught IL Study OF the Inter
national Sunday kchoA Lesson Appointed 70

Nov. S.-J0nah, SI-lsss
study the paragraph irtdn the Holy Scriptures as
indicated above.
Elijah and Elisha are dead. but the Kingdom
OF Israel is not left long without an active,
earnest Prophet. In. t4e schools for theologc
training established by Elijah and his success
sor, many young men Were prepared to become
religious teachers. EAmspg them was probably
one, Jonah. He wds.soGpf Amittai, aud 50 son
of Prophet born in Gathhepher tribe of Zab-
uIon, in Lower GaHleeJ sf2 XII, IA: 25) Quite
4 number of rabbits Believe he was son of the
widow of Sarepta, the. youth whom Elijah
brought to life; others, that he was the son OF
the Shunamite widow restored from death by
Elisha. These suggestions seem anachrO-
nlsmS.
Jonah prophecied through the reign mainly
of Jeroboam IL. He lived, hence, in day when
idoatry had large play in his land. q XII,
14:2i) He prOphesed the King of Israel
should regain the original boundaries of his
territory.
But our lesson calls us to the consideration in
special of Jonahs mission to warn the people of
Nineveh of their impending doom. In the
time of Jonah the city became exceedingly de-
PRAYED A commission was sent to him order
ing him to proceed at once to Nineveh and to
declaim against the sins of the people. That
was indeed great undertaking for humble
Galilcan-to leave the obscure village of Gath
hcphcr and go into the streets of city grand
rich, naughty, wicked-tO go for the very pur-
pose of bringing the inhabitants to account for
| their sins. Jonah was not q match for the
emergency. He tried the experiment of run
ming away from God. He imagined he could
escape if he could only put himself at the other
end of the Mediterranean Sea- He went to his
nearest seaport, Joppa, and found ship bound
for Tartessus, in Spain, not far from Gibraltar
He thought himself lucky, seeing chance to
reach the most Western point of the then
known world. He called at the Captains office,
paid his fare, and was registered for the Allan
tic coast.
We do not know how far the ship had sailed,
but after a time a fearful gale overlook her.
Even the crew became frightened. People then
believed each country had its own god The
mariners were probably from different lands
SO in alarm each appealed to his own object of
worship. But the seamen were philosophic
enough to know prayer alone is insufficient
They must also exert themselves. To lessen
danger they cast overheard their lading.
Strange that through all this commotion
Jonah was asleep. He was completely exhaust
ed. Sorrow, remOrse, dread, are found often to
lead to drowsiness. Remember the Disciples in
the Garden of Gethscmane. Most condemned
murderers sleep heavily on the night before
execution.
All the gods of those aboard had been plead
ed with except the God of Jonah, and still
the storm ragged. So the mariners wake the
Prophet and beg him to address petitions to
his God. But a man in the very act of trying
to get away from the presence of Deity was not
in fiji frame of mind to pray to him.
The storm keeps raging, though the lading
has gone below and the cries of the seamen
above. The crew believe someone aboard must
have offended his object of worship, and that
all are suffering the vengeance due one. They
decide to find out the guilty man. This they
do by lot. 1t was their belief that Providence
spoke through such channel. The lot fell on
Jonah. He admits his guilt and its desert.
The conduct of Jonah was admirable. He
owned up frankly and fully He was loyal to
the true God. He claimed for his Deity what,
if true, would exclude the possibility OF any
other god existent If Jehovah created heaven,
sea and dry land, away 40 all local gods. His
confession was manly and noble. He felt he
was really the cause Of trouble to the whole
crew, and was willing to be thrown overheard
for their safety. Notice, it was his own sugges-
ton he be east into the sea. And the seameu
were worthy our admiration. They could not
bear the thought Of hu Ring Jonah to the mer-
ciless sea crowded with hungry whales and
sharks. They tried to rescue themselves and
to save Jonah. They "rowed hard" At
length they gave up--the storm beat tempestu-
Ously. All must perish or one. Better one
than all. The crew were innocent. Jonah
was the guilty man. They believed the lot not
only determined the cnlprit but also warranted
his punishment. And yet they pause-gfand
| mariners! They first beg God-notice they
address Jehovah, Jonahs GOd-they beg God
to forgive them. if what they about to do be a
sin. Jonah made no resistance. He would not
leap in of his own accord, and so add to his sin
| that of committing suicide. Jonah overheard,
and the sea is appeased; stops raging. mir
racle, indeed! The beholders were forced to
acknowledge the Jehovah. Then followed
| worship of Him in the form of a sacrifice,
seemingly offered an altar improvised on
deck, and also in the form OF prayers and vows.
But what Of Jonah? God had prepared for
him. He did not reach point out of sight of
Jehovah. And it was well he failed. A huge
fish swan up just as Jonah fell into the sea,
swallowed him whole, and became his abode for
three daysand three nights, long enough for the
fish to swim from the ship to land. The ship
was bound west and should sail Oh, not having
to return with Jonah. She had already suffered
loss of ladng, much time and all with fearful
distress. J0nah's destined place was east of
JOppa. He must therefore return and set out
in the opposite direction. The fish, hence,
probably swan for Joppa, and there landed
Jonah.
The original word for whale is simply fish.
We do not know the kind of fish. The shark
would answer the conditions of the account
better than the whale, since the latter has not
mouth sufficiently large Bochard thought
1T was dog fish. Men, entire, and sometimes
panoplied, have been found in the stomach of
the dog, or tamia. 1t is noticeable, God pre-
parcels tish-possiblyi it was one for the occasion,
and unique in form and size No one can ques-
ton the ability of God to do so. Where is the
man who can deny he did? AS to living within
a fish for several days, we say, our God is AL
mighty. Who shall limit his power? True,
there was 10 air, perhaps no food allowable;
but what then? The condition of Jonah is
surely more than matched universally in the
embryonic state. And yet men say Jonah
could not live in fish-he would be suffocated.
Men with a limited God cannot have very
great ideas of his capacities.
Practical deductions:
l. We should chide sinners for their wicked
| ness and warn them against it. ". p
z. Never try to escape from duty. DO not go
west when God says east. (N. 81
3. God is everywhere PraJ in times of dan
ger. Prayers in storms at sea are fitting and
generally plentiful. ". g.
A. Part with the less III the interest of the
great Sacrifice ladimg for life. Give one life
for many. (Vs. 5, - ~
>. Confess sin. Acknowledge fault.
q. As to casting lots, see l Sa Ia Al; NJ,
26 50, So; Acts, 20 CHI, "a: 8; PSI % Is.
Also Ps., 16: D, Pro. is SO.
Z. Treat the errng considerately. (Vs. ID, 14.)
5. Fear God. (Vs. 9,I16) Do not be afraid
of God. Fear him in the sense of reverence.
Fear to violate his laws and commandments.
9. Sacrifice. (V. l16D Religious worship is
duty, and should be pleasure. And worship
should always be accompanied by offerings In
rnh art ha crit flee N al