The Confession and its Sequel
J. O. Keen, D. D. Jonah 1:9 And he said to them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, which has made the sea and the dry land. Here is Jonah at the bar of inquiry. Conscience brings every man there. There is a present judgment-seat as well as a future. Observe — 1. The interrogators. Heathen sailors. 2. The prisoner at the bar. A prophet of Israel. A degrading position to be in. 3. The investigation. It was kind, considerate, circumstantial.The verse 9 sets forth the elicited confession., Confession is a relief, a necessity, and a Divine condition of forgiveness: Here it was ingenious, contrite, humiliating, God-honouring. Verse 10 suggests that God's terribleness, as seen in His judgments on sin, inspires the greatest terror. This prompts to earnest inquiry. Verses 11-15 set forth the humanity of the jeopardised heathen crew and the self-sentencing of Jonah. Their conduct shows great caution, tenderness, sympathy, moral change. There was earnest prayer; reluctance to touch God's anointed; recognition of the Divine Sovereignty. The self-sentencing of Jonah was the result of conscious demerit. Learn — 1. That no sinner visited with Divine judgments is justified in taking his own life. 2. When God intends to execute judgments. 3. That in executing sentence against transgressors we should be certified it is in harmony with the will of God. Verse 16 indicates the moral effects of the whole phenomena on the sailors. They feared, sacrificed, vowed.Verse 17 sets forth justice attempered by mercy through miracle. Learn that — 1. Irrational creatures, as well as inanimate creation, are subject to Divine control. 2. That we may alight on the mercy of God at the most unexpected hour and in the most unlikely place. 3. That partial deliverance is Divinely intended to exercise and develop faith. 4. That salvation shall be wrought for the penitent if it necessitate a departure from the ordinary course of things. (J. O. Keen, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land. WEB: He said to them, "I am a Hebrew, and I fear Yahweh, the God of heaven, who has made the sea and the dry land."