prophets and kings-第47章
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〃Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish's belly； and said：
〃I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord； And He heard me； Out of the belly of hell cried I； And Thou heardest my voice。
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〃For Thou hadst cast me into the deep； In the midst of the seas； And the floods compassed me about： And Thy billows and Thy waves passed over me。
〃Then I said； I am cast out of Thy sight； Yet I will look again toward Thy holy temple。 The waters compassed me about； Even to the soul：
〃The depth closed me round about； The weeds were wrapped about my head。 I went down to the bottoms of the mountains； The earth with her bars was about me forever：
〃Yet hast Thou brought up my life from corruption； O Lord my God。 When my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord： And my prayer came in unto Thee； Into Thine holy temple。
〃They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy。 But I will sacrifice unto Thee with the voice of thanksgiving； I will pay that that I have vowed。 Salvation is of the Lord。〃 Verse 7 to 2：9。
At last Jonah had learned that 〃salvation belongeth unto the Lord。〃 Psalm 3：8。 With penitence and a recognition of the saving grace of God； came deliverance。 Jonah was released from the perils of the mighty deep and was cast upon the dry land。
Once more the servant of God was commissioned to warn Nineveh。 〃The word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second time； saying； Arise； go unto Nineveh； that great city； and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee。〃 This time he did not stop to question or doubt； but obeyed
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unhesitatingly。 He 〃arose； and went unto Nineveh； according to the word of the Lord。〃 Jonah 3：1…3。
As Jonah entered the city； he began at once to 〃cry against〃 it the message； 〃Yet forty days； and Nineveh shall be overthrown。〃 Verse 4。 From street to street he went； sounding the note of warning。
The message was not in vain。 The cry that rang through the streets of the godless city was passed from lip to lip until all the inhabitants had heard the startling announcement。 The Spirit of God pressed the message home to every heart and caused multitudes to tremble because of their sins and to repent in deep humiliation。
〃The people of Nineveh believed God； and proclaimed a fast； and put on sackcloth； from the greatest of them even to the least of them。 For word came unto the king of Nineveh； and he arose from his throne； and he laid his robe from him； and covered him with sackcloth； and sat in ashes。 And he causeth it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles； saying； Let neither man nor beast； herd nor flock； taste anything： let them not feed； nor drink water： but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth； and cry mightily unto God： yea； let them turn everyone from his evil way； and from the violence that is in their hands。 Who can tell if God will turn and repent； and turn away from His fierce anger； that we perish not？〃 Verses 5…9。
As king and nobles； with the common people； the high and the low；〃 〃repented at the preaching of Jonas〃 （Matthew 12：41） and united in crying to the God of heaven； His
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mercy was granted them。 He 〃saw their words； that they turned from their evil way； and God repented of the evil； that He had said that He would do unto them； and He did it not。〃 Jonah 3：10。 Their doom was averted； the God of Israel was exalted and honored throughout the heathen world； and His law was revered。 Not until many years later was Nineveh to fall a prey to the surrounding nations through forgetfulness of God and through boastful pride。 ＇For an account of the downfall of Assyria； see chapter 30。＇
When Jonah learned of God's purpose to spare the city that； notwithstanding its wickedness； had been led to repent in sackcloth and ashes； he should have been the first to rejoice because of God's amazing grace； but instead he allowed his mind to dwell upon the possibility of his being regarded as a false prophet。 Jealous of his reputation； he lost sight of the infinitely greater value of the souls in that wretched city。 The compassion shown by God toward the repentant Ninevites 〃displeased Jonah exceedingly； and he was very angry。〃 〃Was not this may saying；〃 he inquired of the Lord； 〃when I was yet in my country？ Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish： for I knew that Thou art a gracious God； and merciful； slow to anger； and of great kindness； and repentest Thee of the evil。〃 Jonah 4：1； 2。
Once more he yielded to his inclination to question and doubt； and once more he was overwhelmed with discouragement。 Losing sight of the interests of others； and feeling as if he would rather die than live to see the city spared； in his dissatisfaction he exclaimed； 〃Now； O Lord； take； I beseech Thee； my life from me； for it is better for me to die than to live。〃
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〃Doest thou well to be angry？〃 the Lord inquired。 〃So Jonah went out of the city； and sat on the east side of the city； and there made him a booth； and sat under it in the shadow； till he might see what would become of the city。 And the Lord God prepared a gourd； and made it to come up over Jonah； that it might be a shadow over his head； to deliver him from his grief。 So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd。〃 Verses 3…6。
Then the Lord gave Jonah an object lesson。 He 〃prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day； and it smote the gourd that it withered。 And it came to pass； when the sun did arise； that God prepared a vehement east wind； and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah； that he fainted； and wished in himself to die； and said； It is better for me to die than to live。〃
Again God spoke to His prophet； 〃Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd？〃 And he said； 〃I do well to be angry； even unto death。〃
〃Then said the Lord； Thou hast had pity on the gourd； for the which thou hast not labored； neither madest it grow； which came up in a night； and perished in a night： and should not I spare Nineveh； that great city； wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand； and also much cattle？〃 Verses 7…11。
Confused； humiliated； and unable to understand God's purpose in sparing Nineveh； Jonah nevertheless had fulfilled the commission given him to warn that great city； and though the event predicted did not come to pass； yet the
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message of warning was nonetheless from God。 And it accomplished the purpose God designed it should。 The glory of His grace was revealed among the heathen。 Those who had long been sitting 〃in darkness and in the shadow of death； being bound in affliction and iron；〃 〃cried unto the Lord in their trouble；〃 and 〃He saved them out of their distresses。 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death； and brake their bands in sunder。〃 〃He sent His word； and healed them； and delivered them from their destructions。〃 Psalm 107：10； 13； 14； 20。
Christ during His earthly ministry referred to the good wrought by the preaching of Jonah in Nineveh； and compared the inhabitants of that heathen center with the professed
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people of God in His day。 〃The men of Nineveh；〃 He declared； 〃shall rise in judgment with this generation； and shall condemn it： because they repented at the preaching of Jonas； and； behold； a greater than Jonas is here。〃 Matthew 12：40； 41。 Into the busy world； filled with the din of commerce and the altercation of trade； where men were trying to get all they could for self； Christ had come； and above the confusion His voice； like the trump of God； was heard： 〃What shall it profit a man； it he shall gain the whole world； and lose his own soul？ or what shall a man give in exchange for h
