prophets and kings-第41节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
The lesson is for all in positions of trust。 When God opens the way for the accomplishment of a certain work and gives assurance of success； the chosen instrumentality must do all in his power to bring about the promised result。 In proportion to the enthusiasm and perseverance with which the work is carried forward will be the success given。 God can work miracles for His people only as they act their part with untiring energy。 He calls for men of devotion to His work； men of moral courage； with ardent love for souls； and with a zeal that never flags。 Such workers will find no task too arduous； no prospect too hopeless； they will labor on； undaunted； until apparent defeat is turned into glorious victory。 Not even prison walls nor the martyr's stake beyond； will cause them to swerve from their purpose of laboring together with God for the upbuilding of His kingdom。
With the counsel and encouragement given Joash； the work of Elisha closed。 He upon whom had fallen in full measure the spirit resting upon Elijah； had proved faithful to the end。 Never had he wavered。 Never had he lost his trust in the power of Omnipotence。 Always； when the way before him seemed utterly closed； he had still advanced by faith； and God had honored his confidence and opened the way before him。
It was not given Elisha to follow his master in a fiery chariot。 Upon him the Lord permitted to come a lingering illness。 During the long hours of human weakness and
264
suffering his faith laid fast hold on the promises of God； and he beheld ever about him heavenly messengers of comfort and peace。 As on the heights of Dothan he had seen the encircling hosts of heaven； the fiery chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof； so now he was conscious of the presence of sympathizing angels； and he was sustained。 Throughout his life he had exercised strong faith； and as he had advanced in a knowledge of God's providences and of His merciful kindness； faith had ripened into an abiding trust in his God； and when death called him he was ready to rest from his labors。
〃Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints。〃 Psalm 116：15。 〃The righteous hath hope in his death。〃 Proverbs 14：32。 With the psalmist； Elisha could say in all confidence； 〃God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave： for He shall receive me。〃 Psalm 49…15。 And with rejoicing he could testify； 〃I know that my Redeemer liveth； and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth。〃 Job 19：25。 〃As for me； I will behold Thy face in righteousness： I shall be satisfied； when I awake； with Thy likeness。〃 Psalm 17：15。
（265）
Chapter 22
B〃Nineveh； That Great City〃
Among the cities of the ancient world in the days of divided Israel one of the greatest was Nineveh； the capital of the Assyrian realm。 Founded on the fertile bank of the Tigris； soon after the dispersion from the tower of Babel； it had flourished through the centuries until it had become 〃an exceeding great city of three days' journey。〃 Jonah 3：3。
In the time of its temporal prosperity Nineveh was a center of crime and wickedness。 Inspiration has characterized it as 〃the bloody city； 。 。 。 full of lies and robbery。〃 In figurative language the prophet Nahum compared the Ninevites to a cruel； ravenous lion。 〃Upon whom；〃 he inquired； 〃hath not thy wickedness passed continually？〃 Nahum 3：1； 19。
Yet Nineveh； wicked though it had become； was not wholly given over to evil。 He who 〃beholdeth all the sons of men〃 （Psalm 33：13） and 〃seeth every precious thing〃 （Job 28：10） perceived in that city many who were reaching
266
out after something better and higher； and who； if granted opportunity to learn of the living God； would put away their evil deeds and worship Him。 And so in His wisdom God revealed Himself to them in an unmistakable manner； to lead them； if possible； to repentance。
The instrument chosen for this work was the prophet Jonah； the son of Amittai。 To him came the word of the Lord； 〃Arise； go to Nineveh； that great city； and cry against it； for their wickedness is come up before Me。〃 Jonah 1：1；2。
As the prophet thought of the difficulties and seeming impossibilities of this commission； he was tempted to question the wisdom of the call。 From a human viewpoint it seemed as if nothing could be gained by proclaiming such a message in that proud city。 He forgot for the moment that the God whom he served was all…wise and all…powerful。 While he hesitated； still doubting； Satan overwhelmed him with discouragement。 The prophet was seized with a great dread； and he 〃rose up to flee unto Tarshish。〃 Going to Joppa； and finding there a ship ready to sail； 〃he paid the fare thereof and went down into it； to go with them。〃 Verse 3。
In the charge given him； Jonah had been entrusted with a heavy responsibility； yet He who had bidden him go was able to sustain His servant and grant him success。 Had the prophet obeyed unquestioningly； he would have been spared many bitter experiences； and would have been blessed abundantly。 Yet in the hour of Jonah's despair the Lord did not desert him。 Through a series of trials and strange
267
providences； the prophet's confidence in God and in His infinite power to save was to be revived。
If； when the call first came to him； Jonah had stopped to consider calmly； he might have known how foolish would be any effort on his part to escape the responsibility placed upon him。 But not for long was he permitted to go on undisturbed in his mad flight。 〃The Lord sent out a great wind into the sea； and there was a might tempest in the sea； so that the ship was like to be broken。 Then the mariners were afraid； and cried every man unto his god； and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea； to lighten it of them。 But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship； and he lay； and was fast asleep。〃 Verses 4； 5。
As the mariners were beseeching their heathen gods for help； the master of the ship； distressed beyond measure； sought out Jonah and said； 〃What meanest thou； O sleeper？ arise； call upon thy God； if so be that God will think upon us； that we perish not。〃 Verse 6。
But the prayers of the man who had turned aside from the path of duty brought no help。 The mariners； impressed with the thought that the strange violence of the storm betokened the anger of their gods； proposed as a last resort the casting of lots； 〃that we may know；〃 they said； 〃for whose cause this evil is upon us。 So they cast lots； and the lot fell upon Jonah。 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？
268
〃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。
〃Then were the men exceedingly afraid； and said unto him； Why hast thou done this？ For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the Lord； 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 wrought； and was 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。
〃Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land； but they could not： for the sea wrought； and was tempestuous against them。 Wherefore they cried unto the Lord； and said； We beseech Thee； O Lord； we beseech Thee； let us not perish for this man's life； and lay not upon us innocent blood： for Thou； O Lord； hast done as it pleased Thee。 So they took up Jonah； and cast him forth into the sea： and the sea ceased from her raging。 Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly； and offered a sacrifice unto the Lord； and made vows。
〃Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah。 And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights。
〃Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish's belly； and said：
〃I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord； And He heard me； Out of the belly of hell cried I； And Thou heardest my voice。
269
〃For Thou hadst cast me into the deep； In the midst of the seas； And the floods compassed me about： And Thy billows and Thy waves passed over me。
〃Then I said； I am cast out of Thy sight； Yet I will look again toward Thy holy temple。 The waters compassed me about； Even to the soul：
〃The depth closed me round about； The weeds were wrapped about my head。 I went down to the bottoms of the mountains； The earth with her bars was about me forever：
〃Yet hast Thou brought up my life from corruption； O Lord my God。 When my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord： And my praye
