Jonah 1:3 But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish… Sleep is one of the great essentials to human existence. Sleep in itself is right, but there is "a time to sleep." Jonah's sleep was sinful, it was at the wrong time and in the wrong place. Look at this religious deserter asleep. I. IT IS A VERY EASY THING TO NEGLECT CHRISTIAN DUTY. All that Jonah did was easily done. So are neglect of prayer, Bible study, services, work, etc., easy now. II. NEGLECT OF CHRISTIAN DUTY IS A MOST DANGEROUS PRACTICE. Jonah went to Tarshish at the peril of his temporal and spiritual life. Every Christian who allows himself to be led away into bypaths of spiritual indolence, lethargy, and neglect, will suffer great loss, will imperil his soul. III. IT IS NOT FOR US TO CHOOSE OUR FIELD OF CHRISTIAN WORK. God sent Jonah to preach a short soul-stirring sermon to the Ninevites. How much more would be done if all Christians would just take the field God assigns them, and work with all their hearts for God and Souls. IV. THE INFINITE FOLLY OF ATTEMPTING TO GET AWAY FROM THE PRESENCE OF GOD. "Whither shall I go from Thy presence?" The monarch who threw chains into the sea to bind it; the boys who undertook to count the stars; these were wise adventures compared with the folly of attempting to get away from God. Then "let us not sleep, as do others, but let us who are of the day be sober." (W. Rodwell.) Parallel Verses KJV: But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. |
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