DBG - September 24 - Jonah 1-4

Jonah was a reluctant prophet whose message to an Assyrian metropolis brought great revival there.  It is literally the greatest revival in history.  This book is probably the most attacked and criticized of all the Bible, mainly because of the account of him being swallowed by a “great fish”.  Jonah’s existence in history is verified with a mention in II Kings 14:25.  The veracity of the story is attested to by Christ Himself in Matthew 12:39-40, which He uses as a sign of His resurrection. 

A few quick facts about Jonah:

In this chapter Jonah runs from God’s call.

vs. 1-2 – God calls Jonah to go and prophesy against Ninevah.  Nineveh was a major city in the Assyrian Empire.  It is located near modern Mosul, Iraq.  The Assyrians were known as cruel people and their vile treatment of enemies and outsiders is legendary. 

vs. 3 – Jonah runs from God’s call.  He boards a ship that is headed to Tarshish, which is believed to be in modern Spain.  Why would Jonah refuse to go to Nineveh?  In his own words in Jonah 4:2, it appears he did not want them to be able to repent and to thus to suffer judgement.  Simply put, he hated the Ninevites/Assyrians as did most other peoples afflicted by them.

vs. 4-17 – Sea travel was very perilous in Bible times.  The professional sailors were afraid they would die in the storm God sent to get Jonah’s attention.  Jonah is asleep, probably not caring if he lived or died.  All hope is lost and all on the ship pray to their gods for divine deliverance.  They cast lots to determine who had angered the gods to send such a violent storm.  Jonah is indicated and confesses that is running from God.  They reluctantly agree to throw him overboard.  He probably hoped he would drown.  The storm ceases and the seas calm after he is cast overboard.  This display of God’s power made converts of the sailors.  A “great fish” swallows Jonah, and he remains in its belly for three days and three nights.  What is it?  The Hebrew words dag gadol (lit. “fish great”) and the Greek ketos (“sea monster”) do not provide much light as to what the animal is.  Today, we know of two animals in the Mediterranean that could swallow a man: the sperm whale and the great white shark.  Of course, this could be any sort of beast because God had supernaturally prepared it.

In this chapter Jonah repents

vs. 1-9 – Jonah finally repents while in the great fish’s stomach.  Jonah’s prayer has numerous connections to various psalms, which he reworks to make his own.  This prayer is a prayer of repentance.  Jonah was a dead man (figuratively or literally).  The fact that God did not end his life permanently here meant that God would still use him.  He had to be humbled completely to be used again

vs. 10 – Once Jonah had repented, God causes the great fish to regurgitate the reluctant prophet on the shore.  This is on the Mediterranean coast and he still maybe 500 miles to travel to get to Nineveh.

In this chapter Jonah preaches in Nineveh.

vs. 1-4 – We do not know how much time passes between Chapters 2 and 3.  I think he received this repeat call to go to Nineveh almost immediately after hitting dry land.  It is possible that some time passes so that the story spreads in preparation for his arrival.  He is faithful to this call and goes to Nineveh.  Its size is described as a “three days’ journey”, which is how long it would take to walk its circumference.  Archaeologists have proven the city, along with its suburbs and fields, took up a massive area.  He does not begin preaching until he is already inside the city.  The cry is that God would judge Nineveh in forty days. 

vs. 5-10 – The people of Nineveh respond to Jonah’s message.  They fast, mourn, and repent.  God sees their repentance and is removes the threat of impending judgment. 

In this chapter Jonah complains about the salvation of Nineveh.

vs. 1-3 – Jonah may have repented and followed God’s call to go to Nineveh, but his heart was still not warmed for the people there.  He would rather see the Assyrians burn in hell than find God’s mercy.  He wishes to die than see this or have the possibility of more of them being saved.

vs. 4-11 – God moves to correct the heart of Jonah.  The prophet sulks and sits outside Nineveh waiting to see it burn in judgment.  God gave him a gourd plant to provide extra shade but then removed it.  Jonah was more upset about the loss of that plant than the possibly loss of hundreds of thousands of souls.  God says there are 120,000 in the city that cannot discern from left or right.  This either means there were that many very young children or it is a description of their spiritual state.  If you research the sizes of ancient cities, the latter is most plausible.    We will revisit the story of Nineveh in the Book of Nahum.

I feel like the Book of Jonah cuts off in the middle of the story.  Did Jonah repent of his attitude?  What about those new believers in Assyria?  The sudden closure of the story adds to its power.  It challenges us to consider our own hearts toward others.

Our hymn today, written by Isaac Watts,  first appeared under the heading “The Goodness of God”.  It celebrates the goodness of God in being merciful to sinners who repent.

Sweet is the Mem'ry of thy Grace,
My GOD my heav'nly King;
Let Age to Age thy Righteousness
In Sounds of Glory sing.

GOD reigns on high, but not confines
His Goodness to the Skies;
Through the whole Earth his Bounty shines,
And ev'ry Want supplies.

With longing Eyes thy Creatures wait
On Thee for daily Food,
Thy lib'ral Hand provides them Meat,
And fills their Mouths with Good.

How kind are thy Compassions Lord!
How slow thine Anger moves!
But soon he sends his pard'ning Word
To cheer the Souls he loves.

Creatures, with all their endless Race
Thy Pow'r and Praise proclaim;
But Saints that taste thy richer Grace
Delight to bless thy Name.