Gospel Light Christian Church Thru-The-Bible Series (28.4)

The Book of Jonah

Jonah Chapter 3:6-10, 4:1-4 - Read this Bible passage once through before referring to the notes below.

v6.  Why did the Ninevites proclaim a fast and put on sackcloth?  This verse tells us that it was the king who set the example, and who later issued the order to do so.  For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.  Now God is not concerned with what is done externally in the area of repentance, but He is more concerned with the inward action in the heart of the repentant sinner.  But, the king of Nineveh is not a believer, and thus he shows his repentance in this way. 

Notice that Jonah did not actually preach to this king, but that it was told to the king what Jonah was preaching.  Thus it was all the more remarkable that this king, who received the message of God through secondary means, became so convicted of his sins.  This surely is due to the work of the blessed Holy Spirit of God.  The king’s repentance shows the importance of each one hearing the Gospel message in turn passing it on to others. In the Great Commission we are told to teach, baptise and make disciples.  In turn, those disciples will make other disciples. Are you doing this faithfully?

v7.  Here is the king’s decree. Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water.  Some may wonder that if the fasting is made by royal decree, then how genuine can the repentance be?  The answer of course lies in whether the people obeyed that decree willingly.  This they obviously did, for we read earlier that the fasting and mourning was participated from the greatest of them even to the least of them. 

Now it may well be asked why should the fast be extended to include animals as well.  The reason is that God declared that Nineveh would be destroyed in 40 days, and that means all that are in Nineveh would be destroyed, men, animals, buildings, etc.  Therefore the king decided to include animals in the fasting as well.

v8.  Besides fasting, the king’s decree also included a call to mourn for their sins, seek the forgiveness of God, and to turn away from such sins.  But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.  Here is confirmation that Jonah did preach against their evil and violent ways.  That is why the king’s decree specifically mentioned that the people are to turn from such ways.  More than that, they are to cry mightily unto God, meaning to confess their sins to God and to repent.  Hence learn that it is not enough to just confess sins, but action must follow confession to confirm that we truly repent of such sins, and have turned away from these sins.  Do you have unconfessed sins?  If so, go and settle them with God right now.

v9.  What was the purpose of the fasting and mourning?  Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?  The king obviously entertains hope of salvation, that God will change His mind and withdraw His anger towards them if they truly and sincerely repented of their sins.  This requires great faith, for Jonah’s message is that God would destroy Nineveh in 40 days’ time.  Hence learn that prayers of the truly repented man can move the hands of God.  Are you praying for the salvation of your unsaved loved ones?

v10. And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.  Isn’t this verse a wonderful encouragement to us to know that God not only hears our prayers, but He also sees what we do?  Afterall He is the Judge of mankind, and He searches even the innermost hearts of men to see if their words match their deeds.  We serve a living God.

Jonah Chapter 4:1-4 - Read this Bible passage once through before referring to the notes below.

v1.  Something unusual happened when God spared Nineveh: But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry.  Notice the description of this verse, Jonah was displeased exceedingly, and he was very angry.  These are powerful words directed against God.  Why was Jonah so displeased and angry?  Jonah was definitely wrong to be displeased and angry with God.  In the first place, a prophet of God should not lose control of himself, as it constitutes bad testimony to unbelievers.  Secondly, it shows little or no reverence to God.  Isn’t God a sovereign God?  If so, then He has the absolute right to do as He pleases, and who are we to be angry or displeased with God?  But the problem is that we often are also guilty of being displeased and angry with God.  We question God why these things happen to us, and in doing so, we show our displeasure and anger with Him.  Now there could also be a third reason for Jonah’s anger and displeasure against God.  Jonah could well feel uneasy that the prophecy that he proclaimed, that Nineveh would be destroyed in 40 days, would now be proven false, and that he himself could be considered by the Ninevites (and even the Jews) as a false prophet.  This is more to do with pride, and is something that we should not have.  Taken in the right spirit, Jonah ought to rejoice that God had spared the Ninevites from eternal damnation.

v2.  Here we read of Jonah praying again.  But this time, it was different from the prayer out of the fish’s belly.  See what anger can do to our prayer?  It was more like a quarrel with God rather than a prayer.  Worst still, he now tries to justify his earlier rebellious act.  Was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish.   Here Jonah reveals the true reason for his earlier action not to go to Nineveh despite God’s command.  This was because he feared that the Ninevites would repent and God would likewise grant them mercy.  We don’t exactly know why Jonah was so angry with the Ninevites, but to wish them eternal damnation in hell is certainly unbecoming of a prophet of God. 

The reason Jonah felt compelled to flee to Tarshish is now clear: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil. Think about it.  Isn’t this a terrible thing to say to God?  Jonah is actually saying that God was to be blamed for his earlier disobedience, because God is so merciful and kind that the Ninevites would not die.  Watch what you say in anger, for words spoken in anger are often regretted later.

v3. Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live. This surely is a strange request, to ask God to take away his life.  Why would God do that, especially after preserving his life throughout that storm, and through his sojourn in the fish’s belly?  And what made Jonah think he can throw away his life?  We leave it to God to take us home when the time is right.  As long as we are alive here, our duty is to prepare others for eternal life by declaring the precious message of the Gospel.

v4.  Now Jonah receives a rebuke from God: Then said the LORD, Doest thou well to be angry?  It was a divine rebuke, but one done with kindness and meekness.  We should examine ourselves as well.  Ask yourself, do you do well to be angry?  Anger always leads to trouble.  Control your anger.  Ask the Holy Spirit to control it for you.

Next ask yourself, do you do well to be angry when God shows mercy to repenting sinners? You should not be angry, because you yourself are a recipient of God’s mercy too.  You need God’s mercy when you seek forgiveness for your own sins.