The Sea-Monster Releases Jonah

BY THEODORE BERNARD, A GERMAN ARTIST OF THE

EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.

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“And the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land."-Jonah, 2, 10.

OW, the Lord had prepared a huge sea-monster

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to punish Jonah. Neither the Hebrew nor the English version of the Bible calls this monster a whale. It swallowed Jonah, and for three days he remained in darkness, imprisoned within the body of the “great fish.”

Doubtless, when cast overboard, Jonah had expected death. The strange respite granted him, the fact that he was still alive, constituted a deep religious experience. A revolution occurred within his mind; he recognized and worshipped the full power of God. The prayer which the repentant prophet uttered amid the darkness and terror of his hideous prison, was not of lamentation, but of thanks. He describes what his awful position had been in the sea, "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 for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O Lord my God.” So Jonah praised God, and promised submission and obedience. Then, at once, "the Lord spake

unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah
upon the dry land.”

ISAIAH LXI-OF THE PRIESTHOOD

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former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.

5 And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.

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6 But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.

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7¶ For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.

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8 For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.

9 And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the LORD hath blessed.

10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

11 For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the

nations.

Chapter 62

1 The fervent desire of the prophet to confirm the church in God's promises. 5 The office of the ministers (unto which they are incited) in preaching the gospel, 10 and preparing the people thereto.

OR Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. 2 And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name.

3 Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.

4 Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzi-bah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.

5¶ For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.

6 I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,

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ISAIAH LXIII- -CHRIST COMETH

7 And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.

8 The LORD hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies; and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast laboured:

9 But they that have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the LORD; and they that have brought it together shall drink it in the courts of my holiness.

10 ¶ Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people.

11 Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.

12 And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.

Chapter 63

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1 Christ sheweth who he is, 2 what his victory over his enemies, 7 and what his mercy toward his church. his just wrath he remembereth his free mercy. 15 The church in their prayer, 17 and complaint, profess their faith.

HO is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.

2 Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?

3 I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.

4 For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.

5 And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me.

6 And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth. 7 ¶ I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.

8 For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour.