Jonah 3:4 And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. Sardanapalus puts off his jewelled array, and puts on mourning, and the whole city goes down on its knees, and street cries to street, and temple to temple. A black covering is thrown over the horses, and the sheep, and the cattle. Forage and water are kept from the dumb brutes so that their distressed bellowings may make a dolorous accompaniment to the lamentation of six hundred thousands souls. God heard that cry. He turned aside from the affairs of eternal state, and listened. He said, "Stop! I must go down and save that city. It is repenting, and cries for help)." I. THE PRECISION AND PUNCTUALITY OF THE DIVINE ARRANGEMENT. God knew exactly the day when Nineveh's lease of mercy should end. He has determined the length of endurance of our sin. II. RELIGIOUS WARNING MAY SEEM PREPOSTEROUS. To many still it is more a joke than anything else. Men boast of their health, but I have noticed that it is the invalids who live long. "In such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh." III. GOD GIVES EVERY MAN A FAIR CHANCE FOR HIS LIFE. The iniquity of Nineveh was accumulating. Why did not God unsheath some sword of lightning from the scabbard of a storm-cloud and slay it? It was because He wanted to give the city a fair chance. And God is giving us a fair chance for safety, a better chance than He gave to Nineveh. IV. WHEN THE PEOPLE REPENT, GOD LETS THEM OFF. While Nineveh was on its knees, God reversed the judgment. When a sinner repents (in one sense) God repents (in another). Then repent, give up your sin and turn to God, and you will be saved. (T. De Witt Talmage, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. |
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