The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-11-05
SUNDAY MEDITATION.
Practical Duties Taught by a Study of the Inter.
national Sunday School Lessen Appointed for
Nov. I5.-yOnsh 3:I-lO

nov. i0-JOHaH. q t-IU.
Zone reading these notes should first CAREFUL,
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures a
indicated abovel
, Another chance is given to Jonah. The ist
, landed him in Joppa. He was then not fa
, from Gath -hepher, his home. We do not reat
that he even spent any time in visiting hi
3 native place. It would however lie in hi.
, route, since from Joppa he would go probably
to Damascus, and SO OH TO Nineveh. He resem
bled the man who declared he would not go
. but, repeuting went. (Mt, 81 :29.) He wa:
in contrast with his Nation as TO fidelity IL
religious duty. The Israelites professedly sait
they would 90, and vet would not do so
) (Mt, 21: 3O) No wonder after a time, they
were carried of captives to Assyria, the capital
OF which was Nineveh. After his own expert.
ence ot Gods Judgment against him, he is the
better prepared to declare the divine threaten.
ings against Assyriss grandest city. Then, the
Nineyites would be more kindly disposed to
| listen TO Jonah when they learned how reluc-
tant he had been TO denounce them. And
hearing of the Prophets severe punishment
they would be more apprehensive of his threat
enings being realized We can conceive how
Jonah stood in the streets of Nneveh, telling
OF Gods command to him to go at once and
declare IN the Assyrian capital its downfall /;
how he heSltated; how he at length decided to
go in just the opposite direction; how he went
to Joppa, secured ticket, and set out for Spain;
! now the storm arose; how alarmed the sailors
became; how the lot was cast and he thrown
into the sea, and how he was swallowed by a
fish and borne to land. What story to tell
1t could but attract attention and secure in
terest. 1t would impress hearers with conf
dence in his mission. They would realize God
was back of his words and able to accomplish
| his threats. While Jonahs experience struck
fear it also inspired hope. The Prophet had
been severely reprimanded, but he had not been
! blotted out of existence. God was merciful.
% ynnId fnr,
avert the divine threatening. Jonah in the
whale was sign of Gods displeasure; Jonah's
| forgiveness pledge of heavenly mercy
| Our lesson calls us TO consider in special the
mission of Jonah as Prophet to Nineveh.
The antiquity of that city is actually bewil-
derng. Its size was Titanic The stories of
| lis real greatness vie in extravaganza with
oriental tales. 1t was the capital of Assyria;
| indeed, 1t was founded by the son of Shem.
Asshur. (Gen. 10 III The name of the city
was derived from Minus, who 1890 B. c. be-
came sort of second founder by reason of the
! great additions he made, rendering it the
| grandeSt city of the world, and securing for il
| the title Mistress of the East" 1t was con-
structed all along the eastern bank of the river
reaching out to the hills in breadth, being OBJ
/ long. 1t was 21 miles long, wide, and 30 in
| circumference. Its wall was 100 feet high,
broad enough for driving three chariots abreast,
! and with l,500 towers, each 200 feet high.
]
Babylonians at length destroyed it. The mod
ern little village, Nunia marks its site, and
even suggests its name.
Jonah goes to Nineveh to preach whatever
message God shall give. ". p Chap, l, V. 2,
gives hint part of the message is stated
IN V. A. The Prophet enters the city and pro-
ceeds at once to announce the word of God.
See the effect. The people believed the mes
sage of Jonah was from God. They were certain
their city would be destroyed at the end of 40
days From Jonah's experience of Gods mercy
as probably learned from him, also from a
general idea of the divine mercy as gainable
from natural religion, they inferred or hoped
the doom might be averted. At any rate, the
interests involved were so great as to warrant
every possible expedient.
SO they proclaimed a fast fast so thorough
that even the dumb creatures could not escape
1t was universal-from King TO humblest sub
Ject. The people laid aside linen, which is
comfortable to the flesh, and put on sackcloth
raiment. The King DOTTED the purple robe for
the penitents habit lefE his royal chair. and sat
IN ashes. Orientalists speak much through
symbolic acts. There is fitness in things. 1t
would not seem congruent for persons in dis
tress OF mind and undergoing fast to be deco
rated gorgeously. Then sackcloth and ashes
would deepen those feelings of humiliation
which they believed they deserved on account
OF their wckedness and which it was their
purpose to develop.
The brute creation was forced to ioin in
the fast. Neither beast, nor herd, nor flock
could either feed or drink. And the brute
animals were made also to look mournful
SackclOth was cast over them. Even to-day
horses attached TO hearses are not fitted out
with gay trappings. The Ninevites outdd
Jewish tasting. The most severe among Israel
ties was one time when even infants were forced
to fast. Joel, 2: 49, Homer tells us that
when any great character died, the people
nhlf fernd flnh h..~-. s.f% . r.
time, and portions of the hair were cut OFF. And
we do not forget the story told about the sheep
and goats of the Canares and Peru, which dur
ing a drought were shut up in pens and de-
prived of fodder and water, so that their bleat-
ings might reach Heaven and attract attention
OF Deity. Virgil, too, carried this idea into |
del. and into En. XI. He assures us, the |
sorrow felt at the death of Cesar so affected
the cattle, they could neither eat nor drink |
Dryden renders
The sVyains forgot their sheep, near the brink
vi running waters brought their herds to drink. |
The thirsty cattle of themselves abstained
From water, and their grassy fare disdain'd"
The assertion is made by Rollin, the his |
toran, that when tidings reached Athens a |
great conGueror from Asia was approaching, the !
dogs set up howls of lamentation. We have |
many similar instances in history. In the cases |
of dogs and possibly horses, there may be |
genuine mourning. They are knowing enough |
to realize their master is dead. But the account |
also states the animals wore emblems of mourn
ing IN Ninevch. Pallas was slain by Turnus |
The name of the horse of the deceased was
Ethou. We read in Traps translation
strip of his trappings. and his head declined, |
11Ithon, bis generous war-horse. behind
Moves with a solemn slow, majestic pace
And the big tears come rolling down his face"
But, further, the people "cried nightly to |
God" They stopped their evil ways. They
repaired any injuries they had iniicted-re-
turned any property wrOngfully gained.
When men fast and pray, and repent (stop
sinning) and make restitution, God is well |
pleased If against them before he now takes
their part.
The attitude Of God toward the good will al
ways be kind toward the evil forever punitive.
Now, suppose the evil become good. the un-
changeable God will be mild and forgiving.
Who change? Not God. Who repent? Not God.
True the position of Deity toward these per-
sons is different when they stop evil. 1t is only
IN an accommodated sense, therefore that we
ever speak of God repenting, or changing.
Notice the following suggestions:
/. See how God bears with us. He gave
Jonah a second chance. If you fail once do not
give up. (V H. God gives time-waits (V.4D
2. Preach in earnest. Cry out. (V4) Preach
what God commands. ". 2.) Do not refuse
a call 70 preach. ". 81
3. Have faith. Believe God. (V. 81 Believe
his preachers. DO not doubt his threats.
4. Fast. ". 81
B. Ii is right 10 threaten If il q r,nrcv II