Jonah 1:17

John 1:17

We have no external history of the days spent by the prophet in his living grave. Neither he nor anyone else can tell how far he travelled, how long he rested, what were the aspects of the scenery, how many "small and great beasts" were met on the journey that strange but fruitful journey "through the paths of the seas." But we have a very intense and clear history of his inwardlife.

I. There was evidently a great and sudden quickening of consciousness. The man who speaks in this holy psalm hardly seems the same person whom we have seen in flight dark, moody, silent, despairing. Now, and all at once, he seems to leap again into life clear, fervent, passionate life. The burial of his body is the resurrection of his soul.

II. Rapidly this new consciousness became distressful. His soul fills itself fuller than the sea, with affliction. The reserved sorrow of long sinning comes all at once. He feels "cast out of God's sight," and shivers in the utter loneliness.

III. Then he began to "look" upwards to earth, eastwards to the Temple where he knew that the lost Presence was richly manifested. "Ah, if I could but go there! If I might see but once again the priest, the altar, and the mercy-seat! I could then be content to die. But at any rate I will look. If I die looking, still I shall look till I die."

IV. The look soon became a cry: "I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord."

V. He began to be grateful. There was daybreak in the land of the shadow of death. The sweet bloom of the morning smote down into the rayless depths, and revealed there the strangest sight those depths have ever disclosed a living oratory and a thankful worshipper.

VI. Then, apparently, his soul passed into the more active state of renewed personal consecration to God.

VII. The final state of his mind is a state of entire dependence, involving a quiet and trustful surrender of the whole case to God. "Salvation is of the Lord."

A. Raleigh, The Story of Jonah,p. 145.

References: 1:17-2:10. J. Menzies, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xi., p. 94.Jonah 1 Parker, City Temple,vol. iii., p. 457. Jonah 1-4 J. Foster, Lectures,2nd series, p. 1 John 2:1. W. G. Blaikie, Homiletic Magazine,vol. vi., p. 247. John 2:2. Ibid.,p. 248.