Matthew Henry Commentary Jonah 1
Matthew Henry Commentary
Jonah 1
Matthew Henry Commentary
Jonah 1
"Now the word of Jehovah came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of Jehovah; and he went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of Jehovah." — Jonah 1:1-3 (ASV)
It is sad to think how much sin is committed in great cities. Their wickedness, like that of Nineveh, is a bold and open affront to God. Jonah must go at once to Nineveh and there, on the spot, cry against its wickedness.
Jonah would not go. Probably there are few among us who would not have tried to decline such a mission. Providence seemed to give him an opportunity to escape; we may be out of the way of duty and yet meet with a favorable gale. The ready way is not always the right way.
See what the best of people are when God leaves them to themselves, and how much we need, when the word of the Lord comes to us, the Spirit of the Lord to bring every thought within us into obedience.
"But Jehovah sent out a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken. Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god; and they cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it unto them. But Jonah was gone down into the innermost parts of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep. So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not. And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah." — Jonah 1:4-7 (ASV)
God sent a pursuer after Jonah, namely, a mighty tempest. Sin brings storms and tempests into the soul, into the family, into churches, and nations; it is a disquieting, disturbing thing. Having called upon their gods for help, the sailors did what they could to help themselves. Oh, that people would be so wise for their souls, and would be willing to part with that wealth, pleasure, and honor, which they cannot keep without making shipwreck of faith and a good conscience, and ruining their souls forever!
Jonah was fast asleep. Sin is stupefying, and we are to be careful that our hearts are not at any time hardened by its deceitfulness. What do people mean by continuing to sleep in sin, when the word of God and the convictions of their own consciences warn them to arise and call on the Lord, if they are to escape everlasting misery? Should we not warn each other to awake, to arise, to call upon our God, if perhaps He will deliver us?
The sailors concluded the storm was a messenger of Divine justice sent to someone in that ship. Whatever evil is upon us at any time, there is a cause for it; and each must pray, Lord, show me why You contend with me. The lot fell upon Jonah. God has many ways of bringing to light hidden sins and sinners, and revealing that folly which was thought to be hidden from the eyes of all living.
"Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; what is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou? And he said unto them, I am a Hebrew; and I fear Jehovah, the God of heaven, who hath made the sea and the dry land. Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, What is this that thou hast done? For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of Jehovah, because he had told them. Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea grew more and more tempestuous. And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you." — Jonah 1:8-12 (ASV)
Jonah gave an account of his religion, for that was his duty. We may hope that he told it with sorrow and shame, justifying God, condemning himself, and explaining to the mariners what a great God Jehovah is. They said to him, "Why have you done this? If you fear the God that made the sea and the dry land, why were you such a fool as to think you could flee from His presence?"
If professors of religion do wrong, they will hear of it from those who make no such profession. When sin has raised a storm and laid us under the signs of God's displeasure, we must consider what must be done about the sin that raised the storm. Jonah uses the language of true penitents, who desire that no one but themselves may suffer more because of their sins and follies.
Jonah sees this to be the punishment for his iniquity; he accepts it and justifies God in it. When conscience is awakened and a storm is raised, nothing will turn it into a calm except parting with the sin that caused the disturbance. Parting with our money will not pacify the conscience; the Jonah must be thrown overboard.
"Nevertheless the men rowed hard to get them back to the land; but they could not: for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them. Wherefore they cried unto Jehovah, and said, We beseech thee, O Jehovah, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man`s life, and lay not upon us innocent blood; for thou, O Jehovah, hast done as it pleased thee. So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea; and the sea ceased from its raging. Then the men feared Jehovah exceedingly; and they offered a sacrifice unto Jehovah, and made vows. And Jehovah prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah; and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights." — Jonah 1:13-17 (ASV)
The mariners rowed against wind and tide, the wind of God's displeasure, the tide of His counsel; but it is in vain to think of saving ourselves any other way than by destroying our sins. Even natural conscience cannot but dread blood-guiltiness. And when we are led by Providence, God does what He pleases, and we ought to be satisfied, though it may not please us.
Throwing Jonah into the sea put an end to the storm. God will not afflict forever; He will only contend until we submit and turn from our sins. Surely these heathen mariners will rise up in judgment against many called Christians, who neither offer prayers when in distress, nor thanksgiving for notable deliverances. The Lord commands all creatures and can make any of them serve His designs of mercy to His people.
Let us see this salvation of the Lord, and admire His power, that He could thus save a drowning man, and His pity, that He would thus save one who was running from Him and had offended Him. It was by the Lord's mercies that Jonah was not consumed. Jonah was alive in the fish three days and nights: to nature this was impossible, but to the God of nature all things are possible.
Jonah, by this miraculous preservation, was made a type of Christ, as our blessed Lord Himself declared (Matthew 12:40).
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