Jonah 4:3 Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech you, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live. ? —Jonah's mission, though in some respects strange and terrible, was one of mercy, to lead the Ninevites to repentance; and Jonah knew this from the first. The Lord could have found another messenger, but He had chosen this man for His purpose; so He brought him back, and commanded him for the second time to go to Nineveh, and "cry the cry that I bid thee." The mercy shown to Nineveh displeased Jonah exceedingly, and made him very angry. It was not merely that he seemed to be discredited by the issue, and made a fool of, but he was vexed and chagrined at what took place, and boded no good from it. He would have let the doom fall without a warning. As Jonah sat in his booth there is still some lingering hope in his mind that the threatened overthrow may yet take place. He shows no sign of brotherly-kindness; he does not sympathise with the Divine philanthropy that has no pleasure in the death of the wicked. And so, when mercy rejoiceth against judgment, he thinks it well to be angry, even unto death. He counts that for him "it is better to die than to live." It is the fretting of a wounded and disappointed spirit. His words bring up a question that has been asked again and again — Is life worth living? The question is a vague one, and really covers a wide diversity both of meanings and mental moods. Life is very different to different men. The problem of life will be viewed differently by men according to their different standing-point. We must find some standing-point which does not shift with the century, or with the changing conditions under which we pass. Such is furnished us by the revelation of God's purpose of grace in Christ Jesus. What we see in Christ is the very life which is the gift of God for man's possession. If we would only cease trying to fit theological notions into a perfect system, and set ourselves to view this revelation of God's gracious purpose, the problem of life would be wonderfully cleared and simplified. (J. Culros, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Therefore 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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