The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-01
READING FOR THE DAY.


Eunday-School Lesson for November 8, 1886.
THE STORY OF JoNAH-JoNAH I, xvii
golden TExT.-Arise, go to Nineveh. that great
city, and cry against it-Jonah, i, z.
The story of Jonah, more than any one in the
Bible, has been the subject of ridicule and of
doubt. 1t has been so often used for jesting and
laughter that it makes it the more difficult to use
il for argument and instruction. Butt is really
q most magnificent gem that we have allowed to
fall from our hands and to roll in the mud; and
there is no portion of the history more worthy of
effort to restore to the position in our minds
that God has given to it in the Book, and to put
the story of Jonah in the thinking of the church,
In the high place that God put it in the unfolding
of prophecy. Curious and speculative minds
may use all the hour over the imaginary difficult
ties but the earnest and believing teacher will
ind In the story of Jonah so much of clear, d.
rect, positive helpful truth that he will not allow
the time to be wasted in the fogs of uncertainty.
The little book the short prophecy OF Jonah,
has been linked to the other books of the Bible
by divine authority 1t was evidently accepted
as literal history by the oldest writers. The
worship of Dagon and legendary stories like that
of Hercules and Perseus were built on the com
mon belief of the existence OF very great hshes
The description is most simple, clrcumstantlal
and natural All the incidents, manners, Gus
TOMS geography, ETC.. in perfect keeping
with the times; and, beyond everything else,
Jesus gave to the story of Jonah his
authority, and gave the world its real
key, its symbolic purpose as illustrating
the three days he was TO spend In
the grave. And Jonah, cast into the deep, al
layed the storm that ragged in the air and on the
sea, so the death of Christ His disappear
ance for three days in the depths of the grave,
allayed that more fearful storm of the divine
anger that had gathered for the destruction of
humanity. HE died for us" HE bore our
sins" "by His stripes we are healed" The
story also illustrates His own resurrection from
the dead, after spending three days in the dark
ness sof hades. See Matt xii, 39-4l xvi, IA;
Luke XII 1922 There is nothing more unnatural
or improbable in this miracle than in scores OF
others. 1t was easy for the Lord to prepare
great fish to swallow Jonah, and the purpose
was worthy the working of the miracle
APPLICATION.
V. 8. From the presence of the Lord-How
vain our attempts to flee from duty. We may
stay away from the house of God, we may hide
in business. we may go to every worldly Tarsh-
ish, but 10, He is there" How ready men are
with excuses why they should not be sent to
Ninevah. But Gods presence will follow US
everywhere, and the thought of neglected duty
will make the sorrow of hell itself. You may
excuse Yourself to me- but the Lord searches
the heart.
W 5. He lay, and was fast asleep-What
strange thing for a Christian to be spiritually
asleep in the church. when souls are in danger.
Woe to those who are at ease in Zion! The
friends of Christians who are yet unconverted
notice and comment on the neglect and indiffer-
ence OF professors of religion. And such Christ
ians are not happy in the church or in the
world. 1t is good thing to wake up these
sleeping professors with sharp words.
V. g. Call upon thy God that we perish not
How absurd Christians creed if souls be not in
danger. Prayer, of all things, is the appropri-
ate language to God in behalf of those who
in danger of losing their souls. What confes
sion that we cannot and dare not try to pray for
them, since we ourselves are living in the neglect
of duty.
V. H. Now the Lord had prepared great
fish. 1.-The Lord saw in the heart of Jonah, as he
saw in Peter. an element of genuine repentance
and love, and so He provided way of escape. The
waters, the winds, the great fish, are all and al
ways ready TO obey Gods will. The story of
Jonah pervaded all the literature of the East and
while it taught the lessons of Gods provi-
dence, and that the things we fear are the very
things that will carry us most safely through
some great trouble yet the whole story made the
Jews familiar with incident that illustrated
Christ's resurrection. and that was the only sign
given to that generation.