Exposition of Jonah, Chapter 1 · Verse 7
Ver. 7.
And they ſaid every one to his Fellow, Come and let us caſt lots, that we may know for whoſe cauſe this evil is come upon us; So they caſt lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.
Parts.Hereof are two parts. 1. The Mariners enquire of the cauſe of this great Tempeſt; let us caſt lots, and they did caſt lots. 2. The ſucceſs of their Conſultation, the lot fell upon Jonah.
Search out the cauſe of afflictions.For the former, we learn of the Mariners, in every great affliction to ſearch and find out the cauſe, that ſo we may be humbled and reformed, and the evil may ceaſe; we may be ſure that ſin is the cauſe, and ſo ſhould fall foul upon that. And if there be a ſpecial token of Gods displeaſure, we ſhould pray with Job, Shew me for what thou contendeſt with me. The Tribes in their quarrel with filthy Benjamin never thrived, till they faſted and mourned before the Lord, nor ſhall we in like caſes.
For the lots which theſe Mariners uſed to find the cauſe of their diſtreſſe and danger, thus Auguſtine ſaith;What a lot is. A lot is ſuch a thing as in the doubts of men doth ſhew the will of God: Or, A lot is an Ordinance of God, whereby we put that unto God which men could not decide. It is commonly by Divines referred to the third Commandement, as part of Gods Name which muſt not be taken in vain. We know a man by his Name, and by a lot we come to know the mind and will of God in a matter which we cannot know by our ſelves, nor by others.
Of a lot I deliver theſe particulars,Particulars. that the nature of the Ordinance may be the more manifeſt.
1. The matter of caſting lots muſt be a weighty and grave matter; which is well worth the finding, and well becomes the Majeſty of the great God to be employed about, not in every triflle, as in drawing of Cuts; So here, a great tempeſt was upon the Mariners, and thereby great danger; a great offence had cauſed it; they knew not what the offence was; they deſired deliverance; life and all was in queſtion, and now they go to caſting of lots; not as knowing it to be an Ordinance of God, but only led by the dim Light of Nature, which ſuggſted this might be a way to find out the truth, as in the event it proved. So in an Oath, which is the end of Controverſies.
2. This weighty matter muſt be ſuch as none but God doth know and can determine; and herein differs from an Oath, that he who ſwears, knows the thing he affirms or denies to be a very truth, and calls God to witneſs of it; but in a lot none knows but God alone, as here, who among them ſhould be the cauſe of this tempeſt; the Mariners knew nothing of it till the lot fell upon Jonah; and Jonah muſt tell what he had done. So in other inſtances of Scripture, v. c. about Achan and Jonathan.
3. We read how all the determination of lots is from God, Prov. 26.33. The lot is caſt into the lap, but the whole diſpoſing thereof is of the Lord. God is not wanting to his own Ordinance; but when he is ſought by his people, he will be found of them; this alſo appears by the ſame inſtances, and other of the like nature.
4. We read what is the end of caſting lots; to wit, quietly to determine buſineſſes which could not be otherwiſe decided without ſtrife of ſeveral parties. Prov. 18.18. The lot cauſeth contentions to ceaſe, and parteth between the mighty; as if it be in deliberation, which of theſe Nobles ſhall be ſent Ambaſſadour to ſuch a Prince? which of theſe Warriors ſhall be put upon ſuch a sk…rmiſh, to lead on the men? ſundry would have the honour to do the ſervice; therefore now comes the lot and quiets all parties.
5. There are three ſorts of lots, according to the threefold uſe of them; two of them lawful, the third unlawful, wicked, diveliſh. Take heed, and eaſt lots as Chriſtians.
1. Sortes Diviſionis; when Houſes, or Lands, or other Goods are to be divided between man and man, about which otherwiſe contention would ariſe; ſo Joſhua by lot divided the Land of Canaan among the Tribes of Iſrael; ſo Merchants ſometimes divide their parcels of Wares, and Neighbours divide their Acres of Ground; Lot-Acres, as Salomon ſaid, The lot cauſeth contentions to ceaſe.
2. Sortes Conſultationis; when we adviſe together what is fit to be done, but in Concluſion cannot agree becauſe things ſtand in the Equality of Reaſon: Here it is referred to God by lot, and ſo all parties are contented. So the Church of Jeruſalem by lot choſe Matthias to be an Apoſtle, Act. 1.26. So theſe Mariners by lot would know who brought this great Tempeſt upon them in their Voyage. Though there might be ſuperſtition in their, doing it, yet the thing for ſubſtance was good and lawful.
3. Sortes Divinationis; when wicked men inquire into fortunate and infortunate dayes for a journey that is to be taken, or a buſineſs that is to be done; if they draw a white lot it will be lucky; if black, unlucky;Eſt. 3.7. ſo Haman caſt lots for the deſtruction of the Jews, and, how croſs the lucky dayes fell out to him, appears by the Feaſt of Purim; even the blackeſt dayes that ever Haman and his Complices met withall.
A ſinful abuſe of Gods Ordinance;Abuſe. as it is alſo to turn lots into ſports, or to fore-tell things for gain, as do the Gipſies; and thoſe that aſcribe the iſſue of lots to Fortune, The Goddeſs of Fools; Te facimas fortuna deam, coeloque locamus.whereas indeed the whole diſpoſition of it is of the Lord; and theſe three caſes evidently ſhew the truth of the things ſo ordered; Jonathan, Achan, and Jonah.
Application of this Doctrine take thus.
1. Note and admire the Providence of God, who ordereth Uſe 1 theſe moſt fortuitous and contingent things to the right, both for truth and equity. Oh what a wonderful and glorious Lord God do we ſerve! how ought we to adore his Omnipreſence, Wiſdom, and over-ruling Providence! how ſhould we come before him in fear, and walk humbly with him in all our courſe! both for dependance and obedience!
2. If it be ſo, then in caſting lots the parties intereſſed Uſe 2 ſhould lift up a prayer, and intreat the Lord in mercy to manifeſt his good pleaſure toward them. In no point may the Name of God be taken in vain, ſo not in this. And as every creature muſt be ſanctified by the word and prayer, ſo muſt this. Remember, and fear the judgment of God upon them that take his Name in vain. If any object that the occaſion and Company will not bear prayer; I anſwer, at leaſt let there be an Ejaculation.
3. If it be ſo, be thankful for any good that is received by lot; looking up to the hand of God who hath caſt it upon thee, and not upon another. The whole diſpoſing of it was of the Lord; therefore let him have all the glory. It was not Luck and Fortune, but God muſt be acknowledged; Eſpecially when the Lord himſelf is the lot and portion of thy ſoul, as David ſaid, Thou art the lot of mine inheritance, remember much and often to bleſs the Lord, as he did, Pſal. 16.5, 6, 7, 8.
Uſe 4 4 When lots croſs a man, let him learn to be as Jonah, patient and contented. Say, it is the Lord that hath thus diſpoſed of the buſineſs;1 Sam. 3.18. it is the Lord, let him do what ſeemeth him good; ſhould I deſire any thing which the Lord ſees not good for me? or, when he hath declared his mind, ſhould I wriggle, or murmure, or carry my ſelf otherwiſe then becomes the Child of God? I will not do it.
Come and let us caſt Lots, that we may know for whoſe cauſe this evil is come upon us.
Note. In great affl… ctions we look at great ſins.It is the Nature of man to think there is ſome great ſin where they ſee a great judgment of God. Who did ſin, this man or his Parents, that he was born blind? And thoſe that ſuffered thoſe great Evils, were accounted greater ſinners then all the Galileans, or all that were in Jeruſalem, Luke 13.1, 2, 4. Where Chriſt aſſures us of the contrary, I tell you nay, …ohn 9.2.but except ye repent, ye ſhall all likewiſe periſh, v. 5. And if theſe Mariners had been asked, whether each of them had not deſerved this horrible Tempeſt to die by it, they would have ſhrunk at it, and not have confeſſed. And, every one would ſave one; therefore they put off the danger to others: Otherwiſe there needed no lots to be caſt, but every one confeſs his guiltineſs, be humbled, reformed, and give ſatisfaction to his god who was offended.
Uſe. 1 Take heed of this ſpice of Nature, and of the Phariſees. Talk not of great ſinners and little ſinners, nor cenſure them that ſuffer great Evils as if they were the greateſt Offenders. Poſſibly they may be great Offenders, but what is that to thee? Thy rule is, not to judge, that thou be not judged; and, judge nothing before the time; and,Mat. 7.1. 1 Cor. 4 5. Rom. 14.4. who art thou that judgeſt another mans ſervant? and, The greater ſinner the man is, the more he needs thy pity and prayers, not thy cenſure and diſdain.
2. In a common danger let every one recount his own Uſe. 2 guiltineſs, and do what lies upon him to do for delivering his own ſoul. Remember who ſaid, Except ye repent, Luke 13.3.ye ſhall all periſh; whether ye eſcape the danger, or no; ye may eſcape temporally, and periſh eternally. Theſe Mariners did all eſcape the temporal evil, better then Jonah: but without hearty and fruitful repentance they eſcaped not the eternal vengeance of their ſins. Jonah upon his humiliation and amendment might eſcape better then they all.
3. This Example tells us, that the ſin of a godly man Uſe. 3 may become grievous and provoking, more then the ſins of many others; as Jonah, to hazard the caſting away of many that were in the ſhip. What? the Child of God do ſo and ſo? what, one that hath received ſo much light, ſo many Teachings of the Spirit, ſo many checks of Conſcience, ſo many opportunities of glorifying God, and of giving good example to others? he to flee from God, and caſt off duty? Take heed, ye that fear God, and keep even reckonings with him. Be humbled for what is paſt, and watch better hereafter.
And the Lot fell upon Jonah.
Wicked men ſometimes in this life are diſcovered, Note. and brought to their deſerved puniſhment. God hath means and ways enough to it; ſometimes by lot, as here to Jonah; ſometimes by the Birds of heaven, Eccleſ▪ 10.20.as the Cranes revealed the murderers of the Poet …icus; ſometimes by the Confeſſion and horror of the guilty perſons; ſometimes by blood …ſſuing afreſh out of a ſlain body; ſometimes a Friend hath blabbed forth a bloody buſineſs before he was aware; ſometime a Confederate hath turned Enemy, and told all the truth. Divers ways the Lord hath to bring to light the hidden things of darkneſs; at fartheſt, in the day of judgment Eccleſ. 12.14. 1 Cor. 4.5.
Reaſon. 1 The Reaſon is. 1. God is Omnipreſent and Omniſcient, and is able to diſcover the greateſt ſecrets; as here, in ordering theſe lots, he obſerved every motion of Jonah, to Joppa, and to the ſhip; yea, the very firſt motion of his heart in departing from the living God: All is naked to Reaſon. 2 the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 2. God makes theſe diſcoveries for his own glory, and for bringing about his own moſt holy ends; as here, he meant to have his work done by Jonah, in the meſſage that was to be delivered at Nineve. And he was glorified in the eyes of theſe Mariners by this diſcovery of Jonah, ver. 10. Jonah made the Lord known to them, and ver. 14▪ they ſaid, Thou Lord haſt done as it pleaſed thee; and ver. 16. The men feared the Lord exceedingly; and poſſibly, ſome of them were truly Converted.
Queſt. But are lots a lawful way to diſcover Malefactors, when they are to be puniſhed with Death for Felony or Treaſon?
Anſw. Anſ. It were very dangerous (without Gods command) in this caſe to put any to the caſting of lots for his life, except it be certain that divers well deſerve to die; but the Prince of his grace intends to ſpare ſome, by decimating the Army, or others that have made a Mutiny.
Uſe 1 But if the point in hand ſtand true, it appears vain to ſin in hope of ſecrecy; This induceth ſome to horrible wickedneſſes. The Thief and the Adulterer and other wicked ones hate the light as Death it ſelf, and chuſe Darkneſs for acting their Villanies; but all in vain as to God, whoſe eyes are in every place, Prov. 15 3.beholding the evil and the good. Yea, the Hypocriſie of idle Profeſſors is fully diſcerned by him; and in this life ſometimes they are uncaſed for Hypocrites as they ever were, falling into ſome ſcandalous courſe, or from the main truths of the Goſpel. But at the laſt day all ſecrets will be fully diſcovered and puniſhed; Though they dig deep into Hell to hide their counſels and eſcape the hand of man, yet the hand of God they ſhall not eſcape.
Be wiſe then, and never go about to cover ſin in an undue Uſe 2 way and manner. Mark two things.Away to hide ſin. Eſa 30.1. 1. Wo to them that cover with a covering, but not of my Spirit, that they may adde ſin to ſin; namely, by denying what they have done, by excuſing, defending, or putting it off to others; or by cloſe conveyance; ſo did Adam in the Thicket, and with his Fig-leaves: A deteſtable ſin, as Job 31.33. If I covered my tranſgreſſion as Adam, by hiding my iniquity in my boſome. 2. Bleſſed is the man whoſe ſin is covered, Pſal. 32.1.namely by juſtification, under the mantle of Chriſts Righteouſneſs, when a ſoul takes warning and flees unto him for ſhelter, and ſo the evil paſſeth away; So the godly is ſaid to hide himſelf from the Plague he fore-ſees, namely under the wings of the Almighty, not from God, but with God; Pſal. 91.1. and Prov. 22.3.