Jonah 4:11 And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city… The "much cattle" in Nineveh a plea with God for the preservation of the city. And still, be animals where they may: 1. God has made them. 2. He preserves them. "His full hand supplies their need." 3. He dowers them with beauty, or swiftness, or strength, with sensibility and sagacity. 4. He makes them of varied serviceableness to man, and has given man authority over them. "Thou madest him to have dominion over all sheep and oxen; yea, and the beasts of the field." 5. "He regardeth the life of the beast;" complacently, in their "lower pleasures;" pitifully, in their "lower pains;" constantly and minutely, "not one falleth on the ground" without him. 6. He would have them preserved from cruelty and needless destruction (Exodus 9:19). 7. It is God-like to care for the lower animals. "He prayeth well who loveth well Both man, and bird, and beast. He prayeth best who loveth best All things both great and small; For the dear God, who loveth us, He made and loveth all." G.T.C. Parallel Verses KJV: And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle? |