[0:00] A word of prayer. Let's pray. Lord, Almighty, and King, O will it be coming again this evening, as we gather at this gathering of your people.
[0:17] Help us to do so that the heart and mind is here to worship. Help us to be aside distractions. Lord, if it stresses perhaps even this evening as we come before you, we come to this place with individual needs, individual worries, individual responsibilities, individual burdens.
[0:40] Help us, we ask, to lay these worries and these burdens and these needs, these responsibilities at the place of grace this evening. That place where you find help, eternal love for me.
[0:54] That throne of grace where you're in mercy and in time of need. We confess we often are in times of need. We pray just now this evening for your number, dear.
[1:07] For those here who know you and who love you, help us to spend this time together this evening, knowing we are here in your presence. We're not here as a matter of pattern of our week.
[1:19] We're not here just to say we've been here. We're here to meet with you. We're here to be in your presence. And not because of a bed or a building.
[1:31] And not because of bricks and stone. But we are here in your presence because your word tells us. And your people gather together. We're gathered together as those who you have made your hope in and with.
[1:44] And we are here this evening with your spirit inside us. We're here this evening. Those of us who know and love Jesus, we can know for certain that he has made his dwelling in our hearts.
[2:00] And from the days of our life. From the journeys we may go on. From the distance we may travel. From the days of our lives physically, mentally or spiritually. That we are those who have been kept and will be kept by our saviour.
[2:14] We pray this evening again for our dear brothers and sisters who would love to be here. And whom's hearts long to be here. But through means of age and means of illness.
[2:28] And for our greatest reasons there's perhaps no other nobid. We cannot gather here. Brothers and sisters who love you and whom we love. Who are going through situations perhaps even in a moment which are difficult.
[2:41] Which are painful. A situation which are harshly sad. And providences that are perhaps confusing for them. We ask Lord you comfort them.
[2:53] You be with them. We ask that you come alongside them and comfort them. Look at comforters and only come from you. We pray this evening for those here.
[3:05] Those here who are interested in the gospel. Those here who are interested in who Jesus is. Who are interested in what the gospel is. What the gospel means.
[3:16] We ask that they would know that we love them. That we care for them. That we are so overjoyed we are here. We ask for more than that. We ask that even this evening through the preaching and through your application of your word.
[3:30] Through you making that word alive in their hearts. Through you opening up the eyes of their hearts. They would see you through your word. They would see the good news of Jesus.
[3:41] And even this evening. They would come perhaps even for the first time. To truly listen to the gospel. To listen to the good news. To listen to the reality. If it is a saviour who has come to save all and any who come to him and try to afford that salvation.
[3:57] Lord help us this evening. We ask that the burdens and distractions that so often assail us when we come to worship.
[4:09] We confess we are so easily distracted from our time with you. We pray Lord for growth for us all individually as your people. Growth for our own private lives with you.
[4:21] At our private home. As we seek to learn more about you. We do so for your name's sake. Not to puff up our own knowledge. But we seek to learn more about you.
[4:33] So we can serve you better. Love you more. And seek to see your name and your glory. Seen in this district. In these learned villages.
[4:43] I pray Lord for our worship we seek. We seek to worship you in spirit and in the truth. We give you grace. We give you confidence. As we lift our voices in song.
[4:55] Lord that you hear our song. For more than that we heard this morning. That you take great pleasure in the worship of your people. Not because of our lyrical quality.
[5:07] But you take pleasure in the worship of your people. Because we seek to worship you in love. In adoration. Reminding ourselves that we worship our God. Who is sovereign.
[5:18] Who is high and lifted up. The God we created. And at this very moment sustains the whole universe. The planets and stars and galaxies.
[5:30] There are parts of the universe. Lord, many parts. Most of it we will never see and understand. Or know of it. But even that was created by you. To reflect just the smallest part of your eternal glory.
[5:45] So even here the wind rager around us. At this very moment. As we see the lights flicker. Lord, we are reminded. That these elements. Even the strongest examples of these elements.
[5:59] Are simply under your control. They are part of your creation. And your power is so far exalted. That love. Even the stormiest of evenings.
[6:10] The stormiest of nights. Or your eternal power. Has no comparison to that power. We come to you. When we pump ourselves down before you.
[6:20] We confess that. We are so slow at times. To hold on to your promises. We confess we are so slow at times. To take you for your word.
[6:32] You tell us to trust in you. When you tell us to fear not. When you tell us to not be anxious. When you tell us to trust in you for all things.
[6:43] Or forgive us to have times that we look at these promises. We acknowledge these promises. But we don't consent and begin to lay hold of them for ourselves.
[6:55] Help us this evening to lay hold of the promises in your word. We want to receive this evening from them. Help us to come to your word. Have hearts and minds ready and willing to listen.
[7:07] We know that to the mortal mind. To the mind before it is transformed by Jesus. That your word is a closed book. Yes we might gather some intellectual method from it.
[7:20] But the spiritual reality that is so closed up from us. We pray this evening that we even want here. Who for the first time this evening. Doesn't just read your word with mortal eyes.
[7:32] But to read your word with spiritual eyes. Having had their heart and their mind opened up. To the work of the power of this good. For we come this evening.
[7:43] And we come thankful we have this place to gather. And we remember as always our dear brothers and sisters. Who at this moment are worshipping you. Who at this moment are serving you. And praising your name.
[7:55] And are doing so in a situation so far and moving from our way. And brothers and sisters who are facing persecution. At this very old time. Brothers and sisters who are dealing with no one by name.
[8:08] Who at this moment are in fear of their lives. At this moment are losing their liberty. Who at this moment are facing long prison sentences.
[8:18] Simply for daring to preach the gospel. And for daring to share the good news. That it is a saviour has come to save all the content. Lord help us not forget these dear brothers and dear sisters.
[8:30] Who are willing to lay even their lives in the line of the state of the gospel. We do pray for those who persecute them. We pray Lord for the full. For the whole nation states or some parts of this world.
[8:43] For the government itself is so opposed to your people. Lord you know the nations and you know the specific areas of those nations that we have in mind.
[8:53] You should. We ask you to lift your people there. Help us in the most of the freedom we have whilst you afford it to us. We do pray for those in government over us. Locally and nationally.
[9:04] We are minded now of our own Scottish Parliament. We find ourselves a very leader at this point. We pray for wisdom. Wisdom of all of us to take place politically.
[9:17] We pray first and foremost Lord that your name will be glorified locally. Name the glorified Holyrood. Your name will glorify in Westminster. We pray to show again for your people who are in these roles.
[9:32] Your people who are politicians who love you and are seeking to serve you in a biblical position. We bring them to you just now across the parties.
[9:42] Those who are seeking to serve you well. We ask you to give them wisdom and give them guidance. And they seek to serve you in a dark day. In a day of such small things.
[9:54] Lord give them wisdom. Give them power. Lord we ask once more to you. To still our hearts. And prepare our minds.
[10:05] And also prepare our hearts and our souls. To come before your word. And to hear you speak to us. So we give us our sins. We come to you now. Peeding.
[10:16] Peeding the finished work. On the cross of mercy. Whose blood is purchased for us. Full forgiveness. Of all the sins. Of all your sins.
[10:27] Help us acclaim to that this evening. As always. Thanks. In and through. And through. For his precious mercy. Let's again sing.
[10:40] Because this time. The Scottish Stalker. And from Psalm 88. Page 343. Of the Sandberg.
[10:54] Page 343. Psalm 88. Psalm 88. We can sing. Verses 1.
[11:06] Down. 2. Verse 8. It's starting on page 342. Psalm 88. On page 342. We can sing. Verses 1. Down. Verse 8.
[11:16] This of course is a psalm. In some ways. Is so hopeless. It's often said. This is the. One of. The bleakest. The darkest.
[11:27] Chapter. In scripture. It's very good. We read. And we'll touch on that. Perhaps. Another time. But this is a psalm. And reminds us. That there is suffering. And there is worry. And there is pain.
[11:38] In our experience. That God is not missing these things. Rather. Our God is close. In all the suffering of his people. Psalm 88. Lord my saviour. Day and night.
[11:48] Before we cry. Come on. Before we let my prayer come. Give ear unto my kind. For troubles great. Be fill my soul. My life draws nigh the grave.
[12:00] I'm counted with those that go down. To pit. And no strength. Amen. Psalm 88. Verses 1 to 8. The gospel. Do God my Savior weak might be full of God.
[12:24] Oh Oh Oh
[13:54] Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh
[14:56] Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Turn to God's word Turn to the Old Testament The book of Jonah Chapter 1 Page 727 726 Of the church Bibles The book of Jonah Page 726 Of the church Bibles Read chapter 1 together Let's again hear the word of God The word of the Lord came to Jonah The son of Amathai said Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city And call out against it For evil has come up before me But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish From the presence of the Lord He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish So he paid the fare and went down into it And the Lord came to the Lord And the Lord came to Jonah
[15:58] The son of Amathai said Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city And call out against it For evil has come up before me But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish He went down to Joppa And found a ship going to Tarshish So he paid the fare And went down into it To go with them to Tarshish Away from the presence of the Lord For the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea There was a mighty tempest on the sea So the ship threatened to break up Then the barreners were afraid He cried out to his God And they hurled the carmen When it was in the ship Into the sea To lighten it forward But Jonah went down to the inner part of the ship And had laid down And was fast asleep So the captain came and said to him What do you mean you sleeper Arise, call out to your God And perhaps the God will give a thought to us
[17:00] That we may not perish And they said to one another Come, that has cast lots For we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us So they cast lots And the lot fell on Jonah Then they said to him Tell us on whose account this evil has come upon us What is your occupation And where do you come from What is your country And of what people are you And he said to them I am a Hebrew And I fear the Lord The God of heaven Who made the sea and the dry land And he came from the sea And the sea and the sea And he said to him What is your country And the sea and the sea And he said to them What shall we do to you That the sea may quiet down for us For the sea grew more and more to the bishops He said to them Pick me up
[18:02] And hurl me into the sea Then the sea will quiet down for you For I know that it is because of me That this great tempest has come upon you Nevertheless the men rode hard To get back to dry land But they could not For the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them Therefore they called out to the Lord O Lord let us not perish for this For this man to the sea And the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them Therefor they called out to the Lord O Lord let us not perish for this For this man's life And lay not on us innocent blood For you O Lord have done as it pleased you So they picked up Jonah And hurled him into the sea And the sea ceased from its rage And the men feared the Lord exceedingly And they offered a sacrifice to the Lord And made vows The leader of the Lord And made vows The leader of the Lord The leader of the Lord
[19:04] We praise to God for his holy And his perfect word And to get praise God from his word We sing to God's praise From Scottish Psalter once more On Psalm 119 and verse 25 Psalm 119 and verse 25 That's on page 401 of the Psalms Psalm 119 and verse 25 Psalm 119 and verse 25 Psalm 119 and verse 25 Psalm 119 and verse 25 Psalm 119 and verse 25 Psalm 119 and verse 25 My soul to dust-please Quicken me according to my word My ways I show that the body he hurts Teach me by statutes Lord by statutes, Lord, the way of my commands, make me a right to know, so all by the works of a wondrous heart I shall to ever show.
[20:02] We sing the inception of the Lord's praise, my soul does these women, according to you now. My voice I shall, and may thy heart teach me thy stout, Lord, the way of thy commandment, make me a right to know, so all by the works of a wondrous heart I shall to ever show.
[21:11] My soul doth melt the drop away, for heaviness I'll give.
[21:26] Turn me according to thy word, give strength and strength.
[21:39] Turn me down, and may thy heart be. Turn me down, and may thy heart be. Turn me down, and may thy heart be.
[21:51] Turn me down, and may thy heart be. Turn me down, and may thy heart be. Turn me down, and may thy heart be.
[22:04] Turn me down, and may thy heart be. Turn me down, and may thy heart be.
[22:19] The perfect way of truth and gratitude. Thy judgment's love, most righteous are, before me in heart.
[22:42] I to thy testimonies plead, shame do not only cause.
[23:00] I run thy precepts with wonder, my heart enlarged past.
[23:18] Let's rush our time and come back to the chapter we had. Jonah and chapter 1. Jonah chapter 1.
[23:31] I'm going to approach it at this section here, this whole section of this whole account, together this evening. It was in the morning when we were starting a series on the Gospel of Mark, which was a little bit of segments, and it will be a longer series.
[23:50] It's mostly not a wee series on Jonah, but one thing about Jonah is, at least we can see the end of Jonah, it's just across the page for us. So it was about three out of four, maybe about five for our series, depending on how we get on.
[24:01] A bit like we were saying this morning, the Gospel of Mark, we all know that the account of Jonah, if we grew up knowing the story of Jonah, we know that it's the big fish that swallows Jonah, there's cartoons that exist, there's films of it, and in all this we perhaps are liable, even those of us who know and love the Lord, we're liable to lose sight once more as to what's actually going on in these versions.
[24:35] And in this account, Jonah is not just there about the big fish, Jonah was a real man. And this account of Jonah's experience, it's actually not about the fish, it's about a man who knows what he should be doing, and does something quite different.
[24:57] And this is an account about God's justice, but also God's mercy. This is an account that shows us something of becoming saviour, and we'll see that more throughout the weeks with the Lord's help.
[25:11] Let's see if we find ourselves here at the start of this account. I'm just taking this chapter and they're too very broad and very short, which is to tell us.
[25:23] First of all, verses 1 down to verse 6, roughly, we can see the runaway prophet. And then verses 7 down to verse 16, we can see the sinking prophet.
[25:39] The runaway prophet, and the sinking prophet. First of all, we can see verses 1 down to verse 6, with the runaway prophet. First of all, we can see the call that Jonah received.
[25:55] And the call, you can see that in verse 1, now the word of the Lord came to Jonah, the son of Amittai, saying, arise, go to Nineveh, and so on.
[26:07] The call from God that Jonah, the prophet, gets, it's normal. It's the same call, the same, roughly the same type of call we see over a hundred times used elsewhere in scripture.
[26:22] every time God would tell one of the prophets to go and do something, we see it written down in roughly the same formula, a formula, the word of the Lord came to so and so, saying, the call given.
[26:41] So the start here, of this account, we see something strange. This is quite a normal start, but we find that in all the other prophecies, to all the other prophets.
[26:54] We know ourselves that very quickly, very quickly this call begins to look so very different to the rest of the calls, to the rest of God's prophets.
[27:07] So God calls the prophet Jonah, and God calls Jonah, verse 2, to do what? To arise, and go to Nineveh, a great city, and call out against it, for evil has come up before me.
[27:25] We used to offer the word, arise, arise, go to Nineveh. It's not to imply Jonah wasn't already standing up, that is there for us to indicate, but at least in the Hebrew, it's just an expression of urgency.
[27:40] Get up, Jonah. The word of the Lord came and said, get up, go to Nineveh. Judgment is coming to Nineveh. God will destroy Nineveh. Time is short.
[27:51] Jonah, get up, do your job, and go there. Judgment is coming, quickly. Now we aren't told specifically, what sin Nineveh had partaken in, but that's not revealed to us in the text.
[28:08] We know from secular sources, I start the Bible, that the trading city, there was much wealth in Nineveh, but also much evil in Nineveh, at least in a cultural point of view, and we touch on that work as we go on, but whatever specific sins, they were great.
[28:29] They were of such a level, that God was willing to destroy, and ready to destroy, these people. And evil has come up, before me.
[28:43] Does we all know, we all know what happens, the second Jonah, receives this call from Nineveh? He does.
[28:54] We could say, arise. But Jonah doesn't just refuse to go. If he refused to go, perhaps, we might understand, but it goes the opposite way.
[29:09] It just goes the opposite way. And perhaps, we've heard this story so much, we don't quite appreciate, just what he's doing. Who is speaking to Jonah?
[29:21] God, precious God. But look, again, who is speaking to Jonah? The Word of the Lord. We've said it before. Capital L, Lorde. Who is speaking to Jonah?
[29:32] Yahweh is speaking to Jonah. The covenant-keeping Lord. Yahweh, the eternal God, who needs nothing, who is fully self-sufficient, self-sufficient, who is eternal, and perfect in all his ways.
[29:46] The Lord, solemnly, and says to this man, get up and go. And Jonah, refuses. To listen.
[29:58] We know from 2 Kings, chapter 14, that Jonah's taken a place called Gath-Ether. The Gath-Ether, it's just west, or was just west, of the Sea of Galilee.
[30:13] We can't say for certain, he was at this place, when God calls him here, but it's safe to say, but he's certainly in the area. The prophets were all, almost always, local prophets, in one aspect, and they did their work locally.
[30:28] So Jonah, is, we can assume, just west, of the Sea of Galilee. He's called to go to Hinda. Now, apart from, the physical danger, going, and calling out, to an evil people, that they're evil, that's not a safe job, to be doing.
[30:50] But also, the physical reality, that this call meant, Jonah, we have to travel, around, by hundreds, or so, miles.
[31:00] Think of yourself just now, that not bad enough trip, this evening, you are a prophet of the Lord, you get woken up, in your sleep, and a night like this, woken up in your sleep, and you're told, that you have to, make your way, this very open, make your way down to London, there's destruction, coming to London, you have to get there, you must get there.
[31:27] Before we shook our heads, too much, at Jonah at the start, he was still human, he was still just a man, he was, a prophet.
[31:38] We might simplify, as well as him, perhaps being, unwilling to go, but he wasn't just unwilling, he refuses, of course, to go. Jonah does arise, of haste, he gets up, in a hurry, but where did he go, verse 3, but Jonah, rose, to flee, he's called, to arise, to get up, and go, but Jonah, gets up, and flees, he is doing, straight away, the exact opposite thing, he has been called, to do, it's important to say, again, he was a prophet, he has done, and served the Lord, before this point, he's not new to this, he has served the Lord, before, and yet, at this time, he goes, no, I know, Yahweh, is calling me, to go and do this job, I know I must serve God, this way, so clear, that God, is calling me, to do this,
[32:42] I'm not going to do it, and Jonah, flees, away, he goes, the exact opposite, direction, he's called, to go east, to Nineveh, and instead, he goes directly, west, down, to Jonah, to get up, to get up, to get up, this great prophet, of Yahweh, the living, through God, this great prophet, who had prophesied, to the living God, before, this great prophet, who has prophesied, through kings, and through rulers, who has carried, his lips, the very words, the words of God, and here we see him, still just a man, scared, in his wits, and running, away, what does this prophet do, this great prophet, of the Lord, he does something, which makes no sense, whatsoever, something that he himself, knew was impossible, he tries to run, and hide, from God.
[33:55] So he gave the fear, went down, to it, to go to Tarshish, he gave the fear, went down into it, to go to Tarshish, away, from the presence, from the presence, of the Lord.
[34:11] Jonah has a panic, he hasn't forgotten, that God is the maker, of heaven and earth, and he sees that, he's wrong with it, he still knows, who is the God, he serves, and he knows, he can't flee from God, he knows, who God is, he's not silly, he's a prophet, he knows, he can't escape God, but yet, he tries to ignore, and hide himself, away from God, as fast, as he can.
[34:39] In other words, the actions of Jonah, are entering, the mind, the soul, and the thoughts, of poor Jonah. We start to see, and begin these verses, and we're getting, a little uncomfortable, do we have to see, a wee bit more, of ourselves, than Jonah, that we would like to see, and we hope to see, what we have in common, this man, who lived, thousands, of years ago, this man, who, is a prophet of the Lord, and a little culture, and a place, more of the uncommon, well, I'm hoping, you're seeing, quite a lot.
[35:25] Dear brothers, dear sisters, how many times, have we found ourselves, if not acting, the same way, in our minds, and at least, thought the same way, that Jonah's mind, is obviously thinking.
[35:43] We know, we've been called, to do something, by the Lord, and yet, we do the exact, opposite thing, every time. A gospel, chance comes up, our family member, our friend, a clear opportunity, given to us, by God, to share the gospel, with us a person, this person, says something to us, and your mind goes, this is a perfect, chance, to tell them, about Jesus, or bring them, or point them, towards Jesus, the chance comes, the chance comes, and we remain, saved.
[36:26] and we are, saved. Or you know, we are calling, as a Christian, it is to, it is to show, and to witness, that you worship, and follow, our risen Savior, and yet, you are calling, that the situation, that is so, opposite of what, he has been called, to be on.
[36:47] and again, and again, how many times, have, we let the gospel, be ignored? How many times, do we pass up, opportunities?
[37:01] How many times, do we like Jonah, let fear, perhaps, try, rule our hearts, rather, and follow the clear, commands, of the Lord?
[37:13] Amen. The implication, has to be made, and I assure you, and I will say this, every time, as long as I want you to, I assure you, friends, that there is no joy, in Savior's, really, there is no joy, in Savior's.
[37:33] I propose, this evening, to as of yet, you can't say, that you are, trusting in Jesus, as your Savior. As of yet, you can't say, that you know him, that you love him, that you call him, your, that you know this, I am, you are still, very much, on the run, as Lord, as a word, as a great saint.
[38:00] And I know you feel that, you feel as if, he's moving over you, all the time, he's always there, and he's there over you, as judge, he's there over you, in his wrath, he's there over you, thinking, I can't keep running, anyways I go, he's in front of me, beside me, behind me.
[38:21] I'm sure it's exhausting, isn't it? Absolutely, exhausting. And the good news, the glorious news, is that you are sitting, beside you, or behind you, or in front, of someone here, or people here, you should be old school, once you run away from God, have spent years, of your life, running away from God, what happened, when they stopped running, did God destroy them, did God, in his wrath, come out, and give them, what he deserved, you know, God, with love, and his mercy, saved them, your faith, that is your great saint, just stop running, learn, and his good prophet, stop running, and stop, and no longer fear God, but follow, and turn to him, for Jonah, he flees, now, the book of Jonah, as you'll see this, as we go on, the Lord's help, it is full, of such, beautiful, carefully crafted, like I say, wordplay, it's a book, that was, written here, right out loud, now, some of this, it is perhaps, lost a wee bit to us, when it comes from Hebrew, into English, we lose perhaps, some, of wordplay, in it, what's interesting for us, and we are fortunate for this, is, what's lost in the English, it is, it's reclaimed a wee bit, actually, in the Gallup translation, it's one of the, the events we have, of having, the various translations, there's something, if you, if you can, if you have a chance, to go home now, and read, if you're able, the Gallup translation, of this chapter, and just see what I mean, there's one theme, in chapter one, one ongoing theme, in the Hebrew, in the Hebrew, it is clear, in Hebrew, it's one word, well, a root, so it's one word, sometimes the word changes a wee bit, the words all rhyme, they all start, and they say, when you read that one in Hebrew, these words stick out, they look strange, they feel strange, and they're meant to stick out, there's one single theme, in this chapter, and in Gaelic, we see it, hi-eh-she-as, hi-eh-she-as, hi-eh-she-as, hi-eh-she-as, hi-eh-she-as, he went down, he went down, he lay down, and he went down, and the Hebrew, there's two words we use, and these words, that we write, and the sound is the same, and it's an implication for us, to see, the reader's voice to see,
[41:18] Jonah, from verse 1, to verse 16, he is going down, and down, and down, and he begins, in verse 1, as the prophet of Yahweh, and he ends, in chapter 1, being cast, into the darkness, and a stormy sea, and he goes, the word of the Lord, came to Jonah, arise and go, to Nimithah, but, Jonah, those who flee, and they go, he went down, to Jonah, so obviously, in a second, how that applies, to us, because see, when we come to see, all the, the down words here, when we come to see, the, the red church, and that it's not just, speaking, of the direction, what's, horrifying, is the same, word used here, to describe Jonah, going down, it's the same, word used, again, and again, in scripture, to describe, someone going down, to the grave, that's there, on purpose, again, and again, we're being told, as Jonah, seeks to flee, from the presence, of the Lord, he's not just, going away physically, he is going away spiritually, and every single choice,
[42:52] Jonah makes, and there are choices, he is making, every single choice, he makes, to go away from God, further and further, is going down, and down, physically, but also, spiritually, and we see it, because the final, time he goes down, is going down, almost literally, to the grave, we'll see that next week, of course, fish, chapter 2, verse 3, down, to Joppa, to a town, the opposite direction, verse 3, again, down, into, the boat, each step, rents him, physically, literally, spiritually, further away, from God, and verse 5, now Jonah goes, even further down, into the ship, he can't get, far away from God, and verse 5, the storms come up, at the end of verse 5, but Jonah, had gone down, down, where, into the inner part, of the ship, and then more, had laid down, again, fast asleep, you can imagine, bear lying asleep, his hands, covering his face, he can't, physically, get far away from God, but certainly, trying hard, as if, he was trying, his very best, to block out, what he's doing, he knows, he's wrong, he knows, his, his task, to escape God, it's an impossible one, the levels, dear brothers and sisters, this is to us,
[44:38] Jonah was a prophet of the Lord, he knew the Lord, he loved the Lord, brothers and sisters, the levels, we can go to, to escape, or to try, and escape God, when we know, our lives, out of it, what we should be, as Christians, when we know, we are serving the Lord, as we should be serving him, when we know, we've gone astray, in those times, we'll be very honest, we'll be very honest, in those times, what do we do, what's our first reaction, what's our first reaction, do we go, yeah, I've sinned, yeah, I've messed up, I will never turn back, to the Lord, and I will, I'll do what he's done, or, do we do what I'm not, what Jonah's heart, is there in it, we escape, I'm your love, we escape, I'm your love, and we turn, and we turn, and we turn, until the very end, until God brings us, to the end of ourselves, and then, we go, okay, we can't run anymore, the Lord, is there beside you,
[45:59] God is a gracious God, and the sad part is, Jonah knows, that God, is a gracious God, that's why he's got, in the first place, we'll see that for, future in our study, and we'll move, and finish out, one of the reasons, Jonah runs away, because Jonah doesn't, want to see, that he'll be saved, and God, Jonah knows, that God, who's going to, save the developers, is giving them, a chance to repent, so Jonah knows, God is a gracious God, and yet, he flees God, at any point, Jonah can come back, and repent, but he does not, do it, such, is the hardness, of Jonah's, heart, in this situation, situation, but God, is not walked, and God, is accomplishing, his plans, and God, is going to make sure, that people of Nineveh, are going to hear, the good news, of repentance, and God, and God, as we see,
[47:01] God's pearls, of the canvas, he starts to, to make the sea, rage, around the boat, then we come to, verses 7, to 17, we see, our sinking, prophet, our fleeing, prophet, as soon as he comes, our sinking, prophet, verses 7, down, to verse 9, and actually see, a glimmer, of who Jonah, still is, verse 7, the sailors, in panic, they said to one another, come, let us cast lots, for we may know, and whose account, is evil, come upon us, of a lot, laughing from Jonah, and you can, you can hear, you can hear, the desperation, of verse 8, tell us, what have you done, why is this, happening to us, Jonah, and also, here, through Jonah, in verse 9, read verse 9, in a tragic way, he, he, he, he, he, he lifts off, his, his CV, as a prophet, we can say, with respect,
[48:14] I don't think, Jonah was proud, in verse 9, I don't think, Jonah said the words, of verse 9, right in his chest, I think, in the middle of the storm, the sailors, distressed, and all around him, as they plead to Jonah, who is he, what he's done, you can imagine, the shame, and the horror, and the fear, of Jonah, as he realizes, who he is, and what he has done, verse 9, Jonah said, and he said, I am a Hebrew, I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea, and the dry land, and he knows, he knows, he knows, he has done, what is, clearly, displacing to the Lord, so much, so he's now, the life, of these men, in danger, of course, these poor, pagan, and they're pagan sailors, they're not Jews, they're not believers, they're pagan sailors, they're, tell that, of course they are, of course they are, we see something, interesting, don't we?
[49:32] The pagan sailors, seem to have, somewhat more of a fear, or a belief, at this point, in God, and Yahweh, that even Jonah himself, seems to have, verse 11, what shall we do, to the sea, by quieting down, and for us, to remember, to your sisters, the world is always watching, both around us, we love our family, our friends, and our colleagues, those in the village, they're always watching, our continent, and in college, one of the backwards, repeated phrases, was every interaction, matched, every interaction, that, it does, isn't it?
[50:24] Not to say, we must get that face on, we look apart, and say, I never know, but every interaction, we must be seeking, to glorify Jesus, and to bring his name, to bring glory to his name, rather than shame, to his name.
[50:40] To these pagan sailors, we are seeing, a man, the one of God, Jonah the prophet, who is fleeing, from his God, the shame, he is breaking, and he acquages, now, in his actions, let's not, be like Jonah, let's strive, not to give, the world, a chance, to look at us, and think, what, an example, they are, of their saviour, not saying, don't do that, so you and I, won't be ashamed, so the church, won't be ashamed, I'm saying, don't do it, so you, won't feel ashamed, for your saviour, Jonah feels ashamed, in these verses, it's over for Jonah, there is one more journey down, for him to go, Jonah knows, what wants to be done, and here again, we see a glimmer, of Jonah's care, of Jonah's understanding, Jonah, that comes back, to himself, and remembers, just who he is, he knows, what must, be done, but shall we, he said to them, pet me up, and hurl me into the sea, when the sea, will fight us down, for you, but I know, it's because of me, that this great tempest, has come, for you, these pure men, pagan, remember the egressive, pure men, but gracious men, verse 13, nevertheless, they rode hard, they tried their best, and verse 13, the wording there, is literally, they dug their oars in harder, they dug their oars in harder, to get back to dry land, they're trying their best, not to do, what Jonah has told them to do, they're not evil men, in that sense, they're pagans, they're worshipful, or whatever, but they are bloodthirsty men, they're normal sailors, but we're trying to do this, they're a cargo, a cargo ship here, the time comes, when they must, do what,
[53:01] I'm sure, would be unthinkable to them, they could not, verse 13, the sea grew more, and more tempestuous against them, therefore, they called out to the Lord, the pagans are now, called out in prayer to God, the pagans are now, praying to God, we haven't yet seen, Jonah pray to the Lord, but now, the pagans, pray to God, O Lord, let us not perish, from this man's life, and lay not on us, innocent blood, for you, O Lord, have done, as it pleased you, so they picked up Jonah, and hurled into the sea, and the sea ceased, from, it's rage, and look what God can do, and look what God can do, despite Jonah's disobedience, despite the shame, despite the chaos he has caused, there's this wonderful conclusion, of verse 16, verse 16, perhaps doesn't add anything, to account, there's no wasted words, in scripture, it's there for a reason, verse 16, then the men, fear the Lord, his name, fear the other way, exceedingly, and we offer a sacrifice, to the Lord, and made those, now, it wasn't that last phrase, we could just assume, that they were just thankful, like, like the thing, that there's no atheist, in a boat boat, there's no atheist, in trouble, on the stormy seas, even growing up, there was a lot of fishermen, around me, and said lots, and, these old boys, who, many of them, passed away, without knowing the Lord, at least publicly, confessing the Lord, leaving the discussion, these old guys, these old hard, and fishermen, who, snapped them to, in one hand, even if they would, happily say, that in times of trouble, they prayed, to God, to look after them, to keep them, but then they left, once a danger passed, the prayer also passed, and, look at these men, yes, they had a little, thankfulness, in the moment, offering sacrifice, but they also made vows, and we can't say for sure, we can't add to scripture, that gives us hope, that these men, at least, have an interest, in what took place, they saw the work, they have paid, before them, so even, through Jonah's, disaster, our witness, even through Jonah's, rebellion, the Lord still, uses even that, for his glory, through, as we carry on, through the chapters, of this book, we'll see again, a very clear, dream, the other,
[55:58] God, as we said at the start, is a gracious, God, a gracious, God, who wishes, that none, would cherish, any, God, those are righteous, God, and no evil, could be seen, before him, God is just, and God is sovereign, in all the ways, we'll see, that also, we'll go on, through, these chapters, there's one, other central, theme, to this book, it takes in, the previous two themes, it takes in, God's justice, and God's mercy, and I hope, we've spotted, this theme, perhaps, already, if you're reading, closely, these verses, Jonah, has been sent, from God, sent, from God, to an evil, people of Nineveh, who are being destined, to, destruction, when the end, was near, people of Nineveh, their time, were short, their end, was coming, where are we, minds going, when we, think of, this reality, think of, number one, who was sent, from God, who was sent, from God, to a people, who deserved, destruction, one, who was sent, to the Lord, who did not run, away, don't run, away, our saviour, did not run, away, where Jonah, could not bear, to go, and face, these evil people, our saviour, came, and lived, among us, among, the evil people, who, where Jonah, covered himself, in shame, and, in, in misery, and where he, caused, such shame, and destruction, those around him, our saviour, came, and took shame, upon himself, became like us, in all ways, dear friends, all ways, apart from sin, people of the human flesh, became fully man, but through the fool, life, experienced what it is, to be human, who felt all the emotions, who was tempted, as we are tempted, who did all he did, and obedience to the Father, and love, for us, his people, he, came to people, who were destined, for destruction, despised, and rejected, my men, a man of sorrows, acquainted, with grief, pierced, for our inscriptions,
[59:04] Jonah was the willing, to travel, in the right direction, our saviour, did more than that, he came down, from glory eternal, glory, and describable, down, to earth, he humbled himself, come bring, the message, of salvation, we heard, in the morning, as we go, through the rest of the chapter, of this, very short, account, of the prophet, of Jonah, and his travel, to Nehemiah, we will again, have opportunity, to contrast, just what Jonah was like, compared, to what Jesus, is, to the, mistakes, and the faults, and the waywardness, of Jonah, compares, to the, trials, and the faults, and the glorious, the glorious, and the work, of our Savior,
[60:17] I count, you all know, so well, that one, I promise, that we find ourselves, and, to see ourselves, in Jonah, that Jonah, is meant, to bring our minds, away from ourselves, away from Jonah, himself, to look forward, to the one, that Jonah's day, was coming, was coming, to bring, real salvation, not just to one city, to all, who would come to him, for Lord's help, we are reminded, this evening, he has come, no longer, awaited arrival, for one must come, a message, from the Lord, to save us, from destruction, for we need not, sit and wait, and such to come, there is the wound, with breath, in your lungs, this is the Lord's gracious, get it towards your end, my friend, not my touch, God's word, for homeless evening, and be to gain yourself, be to gain yourself, but, because you're now, you're ten times, over an hour, it's a short week, and you haven't prayed, this work, it is nine to nine, you pray, it is nine to nine, you pray, what do you say, pray that perhaps, you'll no longer run, but if it helps you, instead, to run to him, perhaps you might pray, that, yes you know, you have sinned, and you know, you need his help, you know you need, his salvation, pray that you have it,
[61:56] God assures us, and hears, and hears, and he knows, to pray to him, looking, and crying out, for him, let's go ahead, and hears, and a word of prayer, Lord, we are so blessed again, through the reading, of your word, we thank you for it, help us Lord, to come to read these texts, these well known texts, to have our hearts, and our minds open, and willing, to listen, and to read these verses, and these texts, afresh each time, come to them, but we give you praise, that, even from, the disaster, of this failed, Lord, time of prophecy, for Jonah, you are able, to show us, there was one coming, and indeed one has come, who did not fail, the Lord did his test, who came out to, who preached that, that gospel, who came out to, offered, and who gave himself, so as people, who have life, have life eternal, help us, we hold that life eternal, this evening, so pray once more, as we come to, sing, including the psalm, we do so, in love, and understanding, pray once more, for the service, of those who lead in worship, we thank you, for our strength, the one who leads this psalm, help us lead this place, this evening, we ask, but not just, having a goal, in our academic, but also, in our love, and our joy, and our worship, and towards you, it's always, it's always, it's always, it's always, in and through,
[63:30] Christy, and Christy, right, we bring our, kind of worship, to our conclusion, that simply goes, praise, for the second psalms, sing, sing, sing, psalm, 130, sing, psalm, psalm, 130, it's on page 173, of the Sabbath, sing, psalm, psalm, 130, this glorious psalm, of course, of salvation, this psalm, every Christian here, a sentence, about our, go, join, Lord from the depths I call to you Lord hear me from on high and give attention to my voice when I for mercy pack Lord in your presence who can stand if you are sins record and hear to the fish which gives us such hope and such joy but yet forgiveness is with you that we may fear you
[64:32] Lord let's stand together and sing Psalm 130 Lord from the depths I call to you Lord hear me from on high and give attention to my voice when I for mercy count Lord in your presence who can stand if you are sins record the death of goodness that we may fear you
[65:44] I with my soul I with my soul with warm heart my hope is in his heart more than the watch and wait for the Lord you Thank God for mercy and wisdom, and for redemption from their sins.
[66:56] And with this the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God with love, and fellowship of the Holy Spirit, both in heaven and forevermore,