WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.820 Verse 2 says, and he prayed to the Lord and said, O Lord, is this not what I said when I was yet in my country? 00:00:06.480 --> 00:00:19.879 That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish, for I knew that you were a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and relenting from disaster. 00:00:19.879 --> 00:00:32.519 Jonah recognizes that God is this type of God, a merciful God, and we'll see in some measure why he didn't want this to be the case for the Ninevites. 00:00:33.359 --> 00:00:38.980 But he just doesn't want to join God in his merciful work in the world. 00:00:38.980 --> 00:00:48.379 Verse 3 of chapter 4 says, therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live. 00:00:49.880 --> 00:00:54.820 We do not want to be like Jonah in this way. 00:00:55.780 --> 00:00:59.760 Now, because of the length of the narrative, I don't have an outline for you this morning. 00:00:59.840 --> 00:01:05.780 We're just going to simply read through it in its entirety, and I'm going to make comments to you as we read, 00:01:05.780 --> 00:01:10.140 and then we'll have some concluding points and some application questions for you. 00:01:10.219 --> 00:01:13.140 So, we're going to look at the entire book of Jonah this morning. 00:01:13.280 --> 00:01:16.500 Before I begin reading, let me remind you, beloved, that this is God's word to us. 00:01:16.500 --> 00:01:19.900 It was written for his glory and our good. 00:01:20.459 --> 00:01:27.819 So, we would all do well this morning to listen to it in order to believe its promises and obey its commands. 00:01:28.500 --> 00:01:30.980 Jonah chapter 1, beginning in verse 1. 00:01:30.980 --> 00:01:36.719 Now, the word of the Lord came to Jonah, the son of Amittai, saying, 00:01:37.480 --> 00:01:44.760 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me. 00:01:45.640 --> 00:01:48.719 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. 00:01:49.340 --> 00:01:52.340 He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. 00:01:52.340 --> 00:02:00.840 So, he paid the fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord. 00:02:01.200 --> 00:02:03.740 Right, so initially, we get the whole scene set up for us. 00:02:03.840 --> 00:02:09.960 God calls to Jonah to be a means of his mercy, to go to this wicked city, right? 00:02:10.280 --> 00:02:13.259 The evil has come up before God. 00:02:13.920 --> 00:02:16.620 Nineveh was the capital city of Assyria. 00:02:16.960 --> 00:02:21.580 There's lots of Old Testament talk and prophecy about the wickedness of the Assyrians. 00:02:21.580 --> 00:02:30.620 They would be used by God for the punishment of Israel, but then they would also end up being punished for their wickedness, right? 00:02:30.740 --> 00:02:35.540 This is what's playing in Jonah's mind in this day. 00:02:35.640 --> 00:02:40.080 In fact, in his day, they were paying tribute to the Assyrians. 00:02:40.180 --> 00:02:46.700 They were keeping the Assyrians at bay with money that they wouldn't come and attack them, right? 00:02:46.699 --> 00:02:53.079 The Ninevites, the Assyrians, were the enemies of God's people. 00:02:54.159 --> 00:02:55.259 And so, Jonah is reluctant. 00:02:55.419 --> 00:02:57.339 We don't find this out at the very beginning. 00:02:57.479 --> 00:03:03.079 We're not exactly sure, if you have never read the narrative before, why it is that verse 3 says, 00:03:03.219 --> 00:03:08.899 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. 00:03:08.900 --> 00:03:14.760 But we find out later in the book, it's because he did not want God to be merciful to these people. 00:03:16.060 --> 00:03:19.659 Now, Tarshish was a coastal city of Spain. 00:03:20.700 --> 00:03:25.040 Jonah travels to Joppa, the opposite direction of Nineveh. 00:03:25.039 --> 00:03:33.799 And he gets on a boat to go, in his mind, out of the presence of the Lord, to the very end of the known world. 00:03:33.899 --> 00:03:38.859 This was like as far as he could sail away from Nineveh. 00:03:39.259 --> 00:03:44.699 He is fleeing away, and again, in his thinking from the presence of God. 00:03:44.819 --> 00:03:50.039 He wants with all of himself not to be obedient to what God has asked him to do. 00:03:51.060 --> 00:03:51.799 Verse 4. 00:03:51.800 --> 00:04:19.280 Note here that the fear of the mariners, right? 00:04:19.279 --> 00:04:27.119 They are very aware that they are at danger, and they call out to each of their various gods, right? 00:04:27.199 --> 00:04:33.859 These are not God-fearing, Yahweh-fearing men, but they're crying out to the various idols that they worship at. 00:04:34.019 --> 00:04:37.979 But they are afraid, and rightly so. 00:04:38.559 --> 00:04:41.819 They begin to throw the livelihood of this ship overboard, right? 00:04:41.819 --> 00:04:46.539 To make it lighter in the water, that it might not be destroyed. 00:04:46.540 --> 00:04:53.420 And note that juxtaposition to the seeming carelessness of Jonah, right? 00:04:53.439 --> 00:04:57.000 He all throughout the text, you're going to see he's just ready for his life to be over, right? 00:04:57.340 --> 00:05:06.840 God has put a call on him, and he finds himself in the midst of a storm, caring not in the belly of this ship. 00:05:06.839 --> 00:05:08.359 Verse 6. 00:05:08.359 --> 00:05:10.259 So the captain came and said to him, 00:05:10.699 --> 00:05:12.659 What do you mean, you sleeper? 00:05:13.379 --> 00:05:15.339 Arise, call out to your God. 00:05:15.959 --> 00:05:19.859 Perhaps the God will give a thought to us that we may not perish. 00:05:20.620 --> 00:05:21.620 And they said to one another, 00:05:21.739 --> 00:05:26.219 Come, let us cast lots that we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us. 00:05:26.699 --> 00:05:29.679 So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. 00:05:29.680 --> 00:05:31.620 Then they said to him, 00:05:31.840 --> 00:05:34.720 Tell us on whose account this evil has come upon us. 00:05:34.939 --> 00:05:37.439 What is your occupation, and where do you come from? 00:05:37.540 --> 00:05:40.540 What is your country, and of what people are you? 00:05:41.199 --> 00:05:42.240 And he said to them, 00:05:42.340 --> 00:05:47.960 I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land. 00:05:48.720 --> 00:05:50.980 Then the men were exceedingly afraid and said to him, 00:05:51.160 --> 00:05:52.639 What is this that you have done? 00:05:53.079 --> 00:05:57.019 For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them. 00:05:57.019 --> 00:05:58.919 Then they said to him, 00:05:59.240 --> 00:06:02.799 What shall we do to you that the sea may quiet down for us? 00:06:03.419 --> 00:06:05.979 For the sea grew more and more tempestuous. 00:06:06.639 --> 00:06:07.759 He said to them, 00:06:08.180 --> 00:06:10.079 Pick me up and hurl me into the sea. 00:06:10.219 --> 00:06:11.919 Then the sea will quiet down for you. 00:06:12.319 --> 00:06:15.799 For I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you. 00:06:16.799 --> 00:06:19.719 Nevertheless, the men rode hard to get back to dry land, 00:06:19.839 --> 00:06:23.919 but they could not, for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them. 00:06:24.839 --> 00:06:26.599 Therefore they called out to the Lord, 00:06:27.019 --> 00:06:29.899 O Lord, let us not perish for this man's life, 00:06:30.099 --> 00:06:32.240 and lay not on us innocent blood. 00:06:32.319 --> 00:06:35.379 For you, O Lord, have done as it pleased you. 00:06:36.120 --> 00:06:38.740 So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, 00:06:38.959 --> 00:06:41.719 and the sea ceased from its raging. 00:06:42.419 --> 00:06:45.199 Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, 00:06:45.699 --> 00:06:49.359 and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows. 00:06:49.360 --> 00:06:54.740 Again, notice this juxtaposition between the mariners and Jonah. 00:06:54.860 --> 00:07:00.020 I think the author of Jonah really intentionally is laying this out for us. 00:07:00.540 --> 00:07:02.139 Verse 5, as I mentioned previously, 00:07:02.280 --> 00:07:04.580 they each cried out to their God. 00:07:04.660 --> 00:07:07.920 They knew that they were at the mercy of something. 00:07:08.920 --> 00:07:10.040 Verse 13, 00:07:10.040 --> 00:07:11.680 Jonah has said to them, 00:07:11.920 --> 00:07:13.580 Hurl me into the sea, 00:07:14.260 --> 00:07:18.900 but they nevertheless rode hard, right? 00:07:18.939 --> 00:07:22.160 They aren't quick to cast the life of this man into the sea, 00:07:22.220 --> 00:07:27.180 but they recognize there's some measure of morality in the world, 00:07:27.180 --> 00:07:28.879 and they don't want to transgress 00:07:28.879 --> 00:07:34.300 whichever God may have told them not to murder in their hearts. 00:07:35.219 --> 00:07:39.639 Verse 14, we see that they call out to whom? 00:07:39.879 --> 00:07:40.819 One of their gods? 00:07:40.959 --> 00:07:43.600 No, to the Lord. 00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:47.279 Asked that he would spare them of guilt of the life 00:07:47.279 --> 00:07:49.519 they're going to throw into the sea. 00:07:50.219 --> 00:07:51.680 And then we see in verse 16 00:07:51.680 --> 00:07:55.139 that the men feared the Lord exceedingly. 00:07:55.420 --> 00:07:56.879 And what do we find them doing now? 00:07:56.879 --> 00:07:59.219 Not offering to their vain idols, 00:07:59.339 --> 00:08:02.500 but offering a sacrifice to the Lord 00:08:02.500 --> 00:08:04.279 and making vows. 00:08:04.920 --> 00:08:06.939 So here you have these men, right? 00:08:07.319 --> 00:08:09.180 Not followers of the Lord, 00:08:09.300 --> 00:08:12.420 but possibly in some measure converts 00:08:12.420 --> 00:08:15.420 at the end of chapter 1. 00:08:16.339 --> 00:08:17.240 Verse 17, 00:08:18.019 --> 00:08:22.300 And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. 00:08:22.579 --> 00:08:24.639 And Jonah was in the belly of the fish 00:08:24.639 --> 00:08:27.019 three days and three nights. 00:08:27.800 --> 00:08:29.259 God appoints, right? 00:08:29.399 --> 00:08:31.860 As Jonah is thrown overboard, right? 00:08:31.899 --> 00:08:34.159 The providence of God on display here 00:08:34.159 --> 00:08:37.939 that a great fish is there just at this time, 00:08:38.059 --> 00:08:40.580 and it swallows him whole. 00:08:41.100 --> 00:08:42.639 And we have absolutely no way to be sure 00:08:42.639 --> 00:08:44.139 if it was a fish or a whale. 00:08:44.299 --> 00:08:47.639 We won't spend much or any time on this at all. 00:08:47.639 --> 00:08:50.699 The best guesses are whale shark or sperm whale. 00:08:50.860 --> 00:08:51.840 My money's on sperm whale 00:08:51.840 --> 00:08:54.220 because around the turn of the century, 00:08:54.480 --> 00:08:55.819 turn of the 20th century, 00:08:55.939 --> 00:08:58.559 a man named James Bartley survived for 15 hours 00:08:58.559 --> 00:09:00.240 in the belly of a sperm whale, 00:09:00.340 --> 00:09:01.199 which I think is fascinating. 00:09:01.340 --> 00:09:02.600 And so that's where my money's at. 00:09:03.439 --> 00:09:04.860 But it doesn't matter, right? 00:09:06.559 --> 00:09:08.480 It happened in fact, right? 00:09:08.639 --> 00:09:11.319 The Lord sent this great fish, 00:09:11.439 --> 00:09:13.000 this creature of the deep. 00:09:13.000 --> 00:09:14.759 It swallowed Jonah up, 00:09:14.759 --> 00:09:17.039 and the Lord preserved his life 00:09:17.039 --> 00:09:21.200 in the belly of this fish for three days. 00:09:21.799 --> 00:09:23.539 As I previously stated, 00:09:24.039 --> 00:09:25.960 the theme of the book of Jonah 00:09:25.960 --> 00:09:31.419 is the great mercy of God to all peoples. 00:09:31.899 --> 00:09:36.740 And we should not miss that this includes Jonah. 00:09:37.659 --> 00:09:41.179 Jonah is in the midst of a great disobedience, right? 00:09:41.179 --> 00:09:43.899 The Lord has come and said to him, right? 00:09:43.939 --> 00:09:46.079 And he is doing the opposite, right? 00:09:46.120 --> 00:09:49.679 He is setting himself against God. 00:09:50.179 --> 00:09:51.879 Jonah thought he could flee 00:09:51.879 --> 00:09:54.879 from the presence of God. 00:09:55.539 --> 00:09:57.599 But God loved him enough 00:09:57.599 --> 00:09:59.259 to send a storm, 00:09:59.859 --> 00:10:03.399 to have mariners pitch him overboard, 00:10:03.399 --> 00:10:07.019 and to have a great fish swallow him. 00:10:07.019 --> 00:10:12.799 God pursued Jonah on his way to Tarshish. 00:10:13.340 --> 00:10:18.259 It does not matter how great your sin, 00:10:18.960 --> 00:10:22.600 how dead level you are against God. 00:10:23.019 --> 00:10:25.159 Our God is a merciful God. 00:10:25.779 --> 00:10:26.939 And if you will repent, 00:10:27.259 --> 00:10:29.799 he will save your soul. 00:10:29.799 --> 00:10:32.979 You may find yourself this morning 00:10:32.979 --> 00:10:37.059 thinking that you're outside the mercy of God. 00:10:37.500 --> 00:10:39.699 I would plead with you to pay attention 00:10:39.699 --> 00:10:42.459 to the sign of Jonah. 00:10:43.740 --> 00:10:47.699 Jesus in Matthew chapter 12, verse 38 and following, 00:10:48.219 --> 00:10:50.639 answers some scribes and Pharisees 00:10:50.639 --> 00:10:51.459 who said to him, 00:10:51.539 --> 00:10:54.779 Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you. 00:10:55.219 --> 00:10:57.419 They wanted something special. 00:10:57.419 --> 00:11:01.659 They wanted something miraculous to speak to them. 00:11:02.779 --> 00:11:03.979 But he answered them, 00:11:04.759 --> 00:11:08.599 An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, 00:11:08.959 --> 00:11:11.120 but no sign will be given to it 00:11:11.120 --> 00:11:14.839 except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 00:11:16.519 --> 00:11:18.860 So, here's your sign. 00:11:19.979 --> 00:11:22.899 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights 00:11:22.899 --> 00:11:24.579 in the belly of the great fish, 00:11:24.580 --> 00:11:28.160 so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights 00:11:28.160 --> 00:11:30.600 in the heart of the earth. 00:11:32.120 --> 00:11:35.780 Jonah, this man, is a type for Christ. 00:11:36.160 --> 00:11:37.639 Christ is the anti-type. 00:11:37.940 --> 00:11:39.620 I talked to you again a couple of weeks ago 00:11:39.620 --> 00:11:41.920 about how the Old Testament does this again and again and again. 00:11:42.300 --> 00:11:43.800 Eastern logic often says, 00:11:43.960 --> 00:11:45.820 not this, not this, not this, but this. 00:11:46.120 --> 00:11:48.560 And in some cases, in the case of typology, 00:11:48.720 --> 00:11:49.140 says, 00:11:49.139 --> 00:11:53.759 like this, but not this. 00:11:54.720 --> 00:11:55.980 So what does Jonah do? 00:11:56.199 --> 00:11:56.600 We'll see. 00:11:57.059 --> 00:11:59.179 He comes out and he preaches repentance. 00:11:59.840 --> 00:12:03.539 He speaks of the mercy of God. 00:12:03.600 --> 00:12:06.519 And this is what Christ now does 00:12:06.519 --> 00:12:10.759 through the story of Jonah for you. 00:12:12.120 --> 00:12:14.860 Verse 41, Matthew chapter 12. 00:12:14.860 --> 00:12:15.940 Jesus says, 00:12:16.060 --> 00:12:18.680 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment 00:12:18.680 --> 00:12:20.919 with this generation and condemn it, 00:12:21.300 --> 00:12:23.980 for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, 00:12:24.019 --> 00:12:29.060 and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. 00:12:29.879 --> 00:12:31.680 The Lord Jesus Christ, right? 00:12:31.919 --> 00:12:34.860 Preaching repentance to all who will believe. 00:12:35.879 --> 00:12:37.460 Chapter 2 and verse 1. 00:12:38.700 --> 00:12:40.639 Then Jonah, and I am always astounded 00:12:40.639 --> 00:12:43.779 that it took three days in the belly of a fish, 00:12:43.779 --> 00:12:46.759 then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God 00:12:46.759 --> 00:12:48.559 from the belly of the fish, saying, 00:12:49.259 --> 00:12:51.899 I called out to the Lord out of my distress, 00:12:51.899 --> 00:12:53.500 and he answered me. 00:12:53.879 --> 00:12:56.039 Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, 00:12:56.159 --> 00:12:57.659 and he heard my voice. 00:12:58.360 --> 00:12:59.819 For you cast me into the deep 00:12:59.819 --> 00:13:00.939 and the heart of the seas, 00:13:00.980 --> 00:13:02.779 and the flood surrounded me. 00:13:03.220 --> 00:13:06.299 All your waves and your billows passed over me. 00:13:07.039 --> 00:13:07.740 Then I said, 00:13:07.819 --> 00:13:09.279 I am driven away from your sight, 00:13:09.419 --> 00:13:12.259 yet I shall again look upon your holy temple. 00:13:12.259 --> 00:13:15.799 The waters closed in over me to take my life. 00:13:16.259 --> 00:13:17.580 The deep surrounded me. 00:13:17.779 --> 00:13:19.840 Weeds were wrapped around my head 00:13:19.840 --> 00:13:21.700 at the roots of the mountains. 00:13:22.439 --> 00:13:23.559 I went down to the land 00:13:23.559 --> 00:13:25.379 whose bars closed upon me forever. 00:13:25.960 --> 00:13:28.340 Yet you brought up my life from the pit, 00:13:28.539 --> 00:13:30.080 O Lord, my God. 00:13:30.500 --> 00:13:32.179 When my life was fainting away, 00:13:32.319 --> 00:13:33.399 I remembered the Lord, 00:13:33.519 --> 00:13:35.059 and my prayer came to you 00:13:35.059 --> 00:13:36.639 into your holy temple. 00:13:36.639 --> 00:13:39.500 Those who pay regard to vain idols 00:13:39.500 --> 00:13:42.259 forsake their hope of steadfast love. 00:13:42.960 --> 00:13:44.620 But I, with the voice of thanksgiving, 00:13:44.720 --> 00:13:46.120 will sacrifice to you 00:13:46.120 --> 00:13:48.379 what I have vowed I will pay. 00:13:49.120 --> 00:13:52.039 Salvation belongs to the Lord. 00:13:52.980 --> 00:13:54.600 And the Lord spoke to the fish, 00:13:55.159 --> 00:13:57.059 and it vomited Jonah out 00:13:57.059 --> 00:13:59.319 upon the Jai land. 00:13:59.320 --> 00:14:02.080 So after all of this suffering 00:14:02.080 --> 00:14:04.160 in the belly of this fish, 00:14:04.360 --> 00:14:07.020 Jonah remembers the Lord. 00:14:07.520 --> 00:14:11.060 He remembers God's steadfast love for him. 00:14:11.460 --> 00:14:14.100 He turns his heart back to God. 00:14:14.300 --> 00:14:17.600 He desires his presence. 00:14:18.080 --> 00:14:20.640 He's been fleeing from the presence of God, 00:14:20.760 --> 00:14:22.440 but here, look at verse 4. 00:14:22.560 --> 00:14:23.080 Then I said, 00:14:23.220 --> 00:14:25.120 I am driven away from your sight, 00:14:25.120 --> 00:14:30.700 yet I shall again look upon your holy temple. 00:14:31.259 --> 00:14:34.419 He repents of his disobedience 00:14:34.419 --> 00:14:36.379 and turns back to God. 00:14:37.100 --> 00:14:38.679 Chapter 3 and verse 1. 00:14:39.620 --> 00:14:42.480 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah 00:14:42.480 --> 00:14:44.080 the second time, saying, 00:14:44.919 --> 00:14:47.460 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, 00:14:47.580 --> 00:14:49.639 and call out against it the message 00:14:49.639 --> 00:14:50.740 that I tell you. 00:14:51.419 --> 00:14:53.279 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh 00:14:53.279 --> 00:14:55.100 according to the word of the Lord. 00:14:55.120 --> 00:14:58.139 Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, 00:14:58.480 --> 00:15:00.320 three days journey in breadth. 00:15:01.080 --> 00:15:02.679 Jonah began to go into the city, 00:15:02.860 --> 00:15:04.139 going a day's journey, 00:15:04.419 --> 00:15:05.620 and he called out, 00:15:06.060 --> 00:15:07.379 yet 40 days, 00:15:07.620 --> 00:15:10.620 and Nineveh shall be overthrown. 00:15:11.080 --> 00:15:14.720 So here we see Jonah gets a second opportunity, 00:15:14.720 --> 00:15:18.259 and this time he is obedient. 00:15:19.159 --> 00:15:21.820 Chapter 3, verses 1 through 4, 00:15:21.820 --> 00:15:24.879 is the center of the chiastic structure. 00:15:25.120 --> 00:15:25.899 of Jonah. 00:15:26.039 --> 00:15:27.399 This is the middle of it, 00:15:27.480 --> 00:15:31.039 where the whole thing folds in over on itself. 00:15:31.279 --> 00:15:31.419 Right? 00:15:31.580 --> 00:15:35.620 This is the place we want to pay extra careful attention. 00:15:36.060 --> 00:15:36.240 Right? 00:15:37.080 --> 00:15:39.279 God says to Jonah again, 00:15:39.519 --> 00:15:39.779 right, 00:15:39.860 --> 00:15:41.620 go to Nineveh, 00:15:41.620 --> 00:15:43.659 and what does Jonah do? 00:15:43.659 --> 00:15:45.199 He goes, 00:15:45.639 --> 00:15:49.879 this is what the author is trying to draw our attention to. 00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:50.139 Right? 00:15:50.179 --> 00:15:52.980 This merciful God has a message for Nineveh, 00:15:53.079 --> 00:15:57.199 and Jonah joins him in sharing that message. 00:15:57.439 --> 00:15:57.539 Right? 00:15:57.899 --> 00:15:59.279 We're going to see wonderful repentance here, 00:15:59.339 --> 00:16:00.620 and some few verses, 00:16:00.620 --> 00:16:03.840 and then the horrible end in chapter 4. 00:16:04.139 --> 00:16:09.240 Jonah's downcast disposition towards what the Lord did. 00:16:09.299 --> 00:16:11.700 But right here in these first four verses of chapter 3, 00:16:11.820 --> 00:16:12.500 Jonah repents, 00:16:12.899 --> 00:16:14.679 he's recommissioned, 00:16:14.679 --> 00:16:16.960 and he preaches in obedience. 00:16:18.120 --> 00:16:19.019 Verse 5. 00:16:20.080 --> 00:16:23.879 And the people of Nineveh believed God. 00:16:23.879 --> 00:16:25.240 It's a wonderful sentence. 00:16:26.019 --> 00:16:28.879 And the people of Nineveh believed God. 00:16:29.700 --> 00:16:31.659 They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, 00:16:31.720 --> 00:16:34.720 from the greatest of them to the least of them. 00:16:35.480 --> 00:16:37.139 The word reached the king of Nineveh, 00:16:37.179 --> 00:16:38.539 and he arose from his throne, 00:16:38.679 --> 00:16:39.679 removed his robe, 00:16:39.820 --> 00:16:41.779 covered himself with sackcloth, 00:16:41.860 --> 00:16:43.259 and sat in ashes. 00:16:43.320 --> 00:16:46.039 These are outward expressions of repentance. 00:16:46.840 --> 00:16:48.340 And he issued a proclamation, 00:16:48.559 --> 00:16:49.879 and published through Nineveh, 00:16:50.259 --> 00:16:52.139 by the decree of the king and his nobles, 00:16:52.139 --> 00:16:53.480 let neither man nor beast, 00:16:53.600 --> 00:16:54.319 herd nor flock, 00:16:54.460 --> 00:16:55.159 taste anything. 00:16:55.559 --> 00:16:57.899 Let them not feed or drink water. 00:16:58.419 --> 00:17:00.419 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, 00:17:00.500 --> 00:17:03.080 and let them call out mightily to God. 00:17:03.539 --> 00:17:05.180 Let everyone turn from his evil way, 00:17:05.259 --> 00:17:07.980 and from the violence that is in his hands. 00:17:08.420 --> 00:17:09.259 Who knows? 00:17:09.639 --> 00:17:11.279 God may turn and relent, 00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:13.119 and turn from his fierce anger, 00:17:13.639 --> 00:17:15.799 so that we may not perish. 00:17:17.660 --> 00:17:21.599 A city-wide repentance happens at the preaching. 00:17:22.140 --> 00:17:23.140 Of Jonah. 00:17:24.180 --> 00:17:26.800 We can know roughly when Jonah traveled to Nineveh, 00:17:26.860 --> 00:17:30.120 because of some evidence from the book of 2 Kings. 00:17:30.759 --> 00:17:32.980 Based on Assyrian records, 00:17:33.320 --> 00:17:35.180 Jonah would likely have arrived within months, 00:17:35.240 --> 00:17:37.759 or possibly a couple of years, 00:17:38.060 --> 00:17:40.280 from a complete solar eclipse, 00:17:40.640 --> 00:17:43.980 that was soon followed by floods and famine. 00:17:44.120 --> 00:17:47.120 There had been some signs happening of tragedy, 00:17:47.320 --> 00:17:49.300 impending doom. 00:17:49.299 --> 00:17:54.279 And so it is very likely that God had prepared the hearts of the Ninevites 00:17:54.279 --> 00:17:56.740 for the preaching of Jonah. 00:17:57.039 --> 00:18:00.539 That this was a harvest ready to be yielded. 00:18:01.119 --> 00:18:03.559 We've got this man Jonah, right, 00:18:03.579 --> 00:18:05.440 who's resistant to preach to begin with. 00:18:05.659 --> 00:18:07.919 It seems that he has a heart turned back to God. 00:18:08.279 --> 00:18:12.599 The only record of his preaching is something very brief, right? 00:18:12.599 --> 00:18:15.099 Yet 40 days, right? 00:18:15.299 --> 00:18:17.279 And Nineveh shall be overthrown. 00:18:17.759 --> 00:18:21.079 I'd like to think there was more to the message than that, 00:18:21.339 --> 00:18:22.419 but maybe not. 00:18:22.899 --> 00:18:26.599 Maybe these people had been so struck down 00:18:27.159 --> 00:18:31.539 that they were so ready to hear something of a God 00:18:31.539 --> 00:18:35.500 that they could place some measure of hope in. 00:18:35.500 --> 00:18:42.339 Regardless, we see this whole city turning their hearts towards God. 00:18:42.440 --> 00:18:43.420 We see in verse 10, 00:18:43.480 --> 00:18:45.599 when God saw what they did, 00:18:46.119 --> 00:18:48.720 how they turned from their evil way, 00:18:49.339 --> 00:18:52.240 God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, 00:18:52.279 --> 00:18:55.220 and he did not do it. 00:18:55.480 --> 00:18:59.160 So the city is spared because of their repentance. 00:18:59.160 --> 00:19:05.560 So God shows great mercy to this people when they repent. 00:19:05.700 --> 00:19:07.340 Again, the theme of the book of Jonah 00:19:07.340 --> 00:19:11.660 is the great mercy of God to all peoples, right? 00:19:11.759 --> 00:19:16.200 These are not Israelites that God has shown this mercy to, right? 00:19:16.259 --> 00:19:18.740 They are Assyrians, right? 00:19:19.460 --> 00:19:22.940 Our God is a missionary God. 00:19:23.380 --> 00:19:25.980 From the very beginning, 00:19:25.980 --> 00:19:28.000 Genesis chapter 12, 00:19:28.299 --> 00:19:29.500 verse three verses. 00:19:29.640 --> 00:19:31.240 Now the Lord said to Abram, 00:19:31.599 --> 00:19:34.299 Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house 00:19:34.299 --> 00:19:35.940 to the land that I will show you. 00:19:36.500 --> 00:19:38.200 And I will make of you a great nation, 00:19:38.200 --> 00:19:40.860 and I will bless you and make your name great. 00:19:41.539 --> 00:19:42.000 Why? 00:19:42.759 --> 00:19:46.220 So that you will be a blessing. 00:19:47.039 --> 00:19:48.660 I will bless those who bless you, 00:19:48.700 --> 00:19:50.660 and him who dishonors you I will curse. 00:19:50.660 --> 00:19:52.000 And in you, 00:19:52.240 --> 00:19:54.779 all the families of the earth 00:19:54.779 --> 00:19:56.359 shall be blessed. 00:19:57.500 --> 00:19:59.579 God calls a man, right? 00:19:59.920 --> 00:20:01.420 Out of his idolatry. 00:20:02.460 --> 00:20:04.980 Sets his blessing on him 00:20:04.980 --> 00:20:08.960 so that a blessing will go to all peoples. 00:20:09.019 --> 00:20:10.299 We see this work itself out 00:20:10.299 --> 00:20:12.680 in the Old Testament narrative in temporal ways. 00:20:12.980 --> 00:20:15.200 We know, as New Testament believers, 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:18.519 that it is accomplished in eternal ways 00:20:18.519 --> 00:20:20.279 through the person and work 00:20:20.279 --> 00:20:22.579 of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 00:20:22.579 --> 00:20:27.799 The gospel message is meant to go to all peoples. 00:20:27.919 --> 00:20:30.819 And you see this again and again and again and again 00:20:30.819 --> 00:20:32.539 in the Old Testament narrative. 00:20:33.159 --> 00:20:35.759 I'm just going to give you one example from a psalm. 00:20:35.819 --> 00:20:38.099 I was really tempted to walk through the text this morning, 00:20:38.159 --> 00:20:40.199 but we don't have time for that today. 00:20:40.279 --> 00:20:41.460 So let me just give you one example. 00:20:41.579 --> 00:20:42.819 This is Psalm 96, 00:20:42.819 --> 00:20:44.139 the first four verses. 00:20:44.139 --> 00:20:46.519 Oh, sing to the Lord a new song. 00:20:46.740 --> 00:20:49.419 Sing to the Lord all the earth. 00:20:50.200 --> 00:20:50.799 Sing to the Lord. 00:20:50.939 --> 00:20:51.639 Bless his name. 00:20:51.799 --> 00:20:54.639 Tell of his salvation from day to day. 00:20:55.419 --> 00:20:58.579 Declare his glory among the nations. 00:20:58.799 --> 00:21:02.099 His marvelous works among all the peoples. 00:21:03.059 --> 00:21:04.139 For great is the Lord 00:21:04.139 --> 00:21:06.220 and greatly to be praised. 00:21:06.639 --> 00:21:09.700 He is to be feared above all gods. 00:21:09.700 --> 00:21:14.140 So Jonah and we as God's people 00:21:14.140 --> 00:21:17.580 are meant to be about the work that God is about, right? 00:21:17.920 --> 00:21:18.980 Sharing his glory, 00:21:19.420 --> 00:21:23.080 being a blessing to all the peoples of the earth. 00:21:23.819 --> 00:21:25.220 Our God is a missionary God 00:21:25.220 --> 00:21:28.700 and therefore we ought to be missionary people. 00:21:29.120 --> 00:21:30.100 Great is the Lord 00:21:30.100 --> 00:21:32.740 and greatly to be praised. 00:21:33.759 --> 00:21:36.340 Our God is a merciful God 00:21:36.339 --> 00:21:40.220 and therefore we ought to be people of mercy. 00:21:42.720 --> 00:21:44.699 Chapter four, verse one. 00:21:45.879 --> 00:21:49.459 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly 00:21:49.459 --> 00:21:51.539 and he was angry. 00:21:53.079 --> 00:21:55.339 There's been this citywide repentance. 00:21:56.119 --> 00:21:57.279 I hope that any one of us 00:21:57.279 --> 00:21:59.759 would have just been rejoicing after such a thing. 00:22:00.139 --> 00:22:02.679 I came and preached a message in obedience to God 00:22:02.680 --> 00:22:05.140 and look at what he accomplished. 00:22:06.220 --> 00:22:09.060 Jonah is angry, right? 00:22:09.140 --> 00:22:09.820 And as we'll see, 00:22:09.900 --> 00:22:13.299 he goes out of the city to pout, essentially. 00:22:14.220 --> 00:22:15.680 And he prayed to the Lord and said, 00:22:15.740 --> 00:22:17.560 O Lord, is this not what I said 00:22:17.560 --> 00:22:18.860 when I was yet in my country? 00:22:19.380 --> 00:22:21.299 That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish, 00:22:21.360 --> 00:22:23.299 for I knew that you were a gracious God and merciful, 00:22:23.840 --> 00:22:25.880 slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love 00:22:25.880 --> 00:22:27.680 and relenting from disaster. 00:22:27.880 --> 00:22:29.360 Therefore now, O Lord, 00:22:29.460 --> 00:22:30.880 please take my life for me, 00:22:30.880 --> 00:22:34.320 for it is better for me to die than to live. 00:22:34.820 --> 00:22:38.160 For he is not happy about what has happened. 00:22:39.380 --> 00:22:40.800 And the Lord said, 00:22:41.540 --> 00:22:44.060 Do you do well to be angry? 00:22:44.900 --> 00:22:45.880 The answer is no. 00:22:45.940 --> 00:22:47.020 It's a rhetorical question. 00:22:47.560 --> 00:22:48.580 You do not. 00:22:49.140 --> 00:22:49.540 Verse five. 00:22:49.640 --> 00:22:50.700 Jonah went out of the city 00:22:50.700 --> 00:22:52.140 and sat to the east of the city 00:22:52.140 --> 00:22:53.840 and made a booth for himself, 00:22:53.960 --> 00:22:55.440 or a tent, you could think. 00:22:55.840 --> 00:22:57.820 He sat under it in the shade 00:22:57.819 --> 00:23:01.299 until he should see what should become of the city. 00:23:01.500 --> 00:23:03.399 He's still holding out hope 00:23:03.399 --> 00:23:06.179 that God's going to destroy the Ninevites. 00:23:06.720 --> 00:23:09.299 It seems that he's going to stay there for 40 days 00:23:09.299 --> 00:23:11.720 to see what will happen to them. 00:23:12.779 --> 00:23:13.559 Verse six. 00:23:13.639 --> 00:23:15.019 Now, the Lord God appointed a plant 00:23:15.019 --> 00:23:16.639 and made it come up over Jonah 00:23:16.639 --> 00:23:19.539 that it might be a shade over his head 00:23:19.539 --> 00:23:21.839 to save him from his discomfort. 00:23:21.839 --> 00:23:23.939 Now, my assumption here is that his booth 00:23:23.939 --> 00:23:25.299 is not quite doing the job. 00:23:25.379 --> 00:23:26.480 It's providing a little shade, 00:23:26.579 --> 00:23:28.699 but not quite enough shade. 00:23:28.799 --> 00:23:30.720 We all know light shade and deep shade 00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:32.339 is much more cool. 00:23:33.159 --> 00:23:35.039 So Jonah was exceedingly glad 00:23:35.039 --> 00:23:36.519 because of the plant. 00:23:37.699 --> 00:23:39.639 But when dawn came upon the next day, 00:23:40.039 --> 00:23:42.419 God appointed a worm that attacked the plant 00:23:42.419 --> 00:23:43.759 so that it withered. 00:23:44.500 --> 00:23:45.419 When the sun rose, 00:23:45.519 --> 00:23:47.519 God appointed a scorching east wind 00:23:47.519 --> 00:23:49.439 and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah 00:23:49.439 --> 00:23:50.879 so that he was faint. 00:23:50.880 --> 00:23:53.660 And he asked that he might die and said, 00:23:53.800 --> 00:23:57.100 it is better for me to die than to live. 00:23:57.760 --> 00:23:59.380 But God said to Jonah, 00:23:59.700 --> 00:24:03.120 do you do well to be angry for the plant? 00:24:03.540 --> 00:24:05.940 And he said, yes, I do well to be angry, 00:24:06.140 --> 00:24:07.780 angry enough to die. 00:24:08.600 --> 00:24:09.800 And the Lord said, 00:24:10.460 --> 00:24:12.880 you pity the plant for which you did not labor, 00:24:13.220 --> 00:24:14.680 nor did you make it grow, 00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:16.480 which came into being in a night 00:24:16.480 --> 00:24:17.920 and perished in a night. 00:24:18.660 --> 00:24:20.700 And should not I pity Nineveh, 00:24:20.700 --> 00:24:25.120 that great city in which there are more than 120,000 persons 00:24:25.120 --> 00:24:28.220 who do not know their right hand from their left 00:24:28.220 --> 00:24:31.380 and also much cattle? 00:24:32.200 --> 00:24:34.640 So he teaches here, Jonah, a lesson. 00:24:34.799 --> 00:24:37.100 And the text just hangs at that point. 00:24:37.660 --> 00:24:39.259 And I believe it hangs at that point 00:24:39.259 --> 00:24:41.840 because the Israelites and now we 00:24:41.840 --> 00:24:45.480 are meant to think of ourselves in this situation. 00:24:45.480 --> 00:24:47.980 What is left for Jonah to do? 00:24:47.980 --> 00:24:49.620 To repent again, right? 00:24:49.980 --> 00:24:52.539 But it stops at that place 00:24:52.539 --> 00:24:54.339 and leaves us, I think, 00:24:54.620 --> 00:24:56.380 with the thought of repentance 00:24:56.380 --> 00:24:58.039 for our part, 00:24:58.700 --> 00:25:02.339 not being agents of mercy for others. 00:25:02.900 --> 00:25:07.000 So why does God show Nineveh this great mercy? 00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:10.619 First, because of the worm. 00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:12.160 He uses this example. 00:25:12.299 --> 00:25:14.119 This plant sprouts up quickly. 00:25:14.519 --> 00:25:16.019 It's appointed by God. 00:25:16.079 --> 00:25:18.420 Then the worm is appointed by God. 00:25:18.500 --> 00:25:20.400 Verse 7, when the dawn came on the next day, 00:25:20.519 --> 00:25:21.940 God appointed a worm. 00:25:22.059 --> 00:25:23.160 It attacks the plant 00:25:23.160 --> 00:25:25.960 so that it withers. 00:25:26.460 --> 00:25:27.779 And I believe what God's trying to communicate 00:25:27.779 --> 00:25:29.339 is that there has been a worm 00:25:29.339 --> 00:25:30.720 in the city of Nineveh, 00:25:30.859 --> 00:25:32.079 the work of Satan, 00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:34.819 deceiving those people. 00:25:34.819 --> 00:25:38.299 Jonah feels sad for the plant 00:25:38.299 --> 00:25:40.039 because of the worm. 00:25:40.740 --> 00:25:43.480 And he should have felt sad for Nineveh 00:25:43.480 --> 00:25:45.559 because of Satan, 00:25:45.759 --> 00:25:47.799 because of that thing that's coming in 00:25:47.799 --> 00:25:51.019 to cause the Ninevites to wither. 00:25:52.379 --> 00:25:54.220 He also shows Nineveh mercy 00:25:54.220 --> 00:25:57.779 because of his labor for Nineveh. 00:25:58.299 --> 00:25:59.599 First part of verse 6, 00:25:59.700 --> 00:26:01.419 now the Lord God appointed this plant, right? 00:26:01.759 --> 00:26:03.740 He makes it come up over Jonah, right? 00:26:03.740 --> 00:26:05.839 He brings it about in a day 00:26:05.839 --> 00:26:07.980 and he brings it to end in a day. 00:26:08.099 --> 00:26:10.900 But yet he had been working in Nineveh 00:26:10.900 --> 00:26:13.579 for much, much longer. 00:26:14.460 --> 00:26:17.640 The Ninevites were image bearers of God. 00:26:18.099 --> 00:26:19.900 They were not worshipers of God, 00:26:19.960 --> 00:26:22.579 but they had built a great city. 00:26:22.720 --> 00:26:25.880 This was a magnificent city. 00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:29.940 He had labored over these people. 00:26:30.140 --> 00:26:32.240 They were his. 00:26:32.240 --> 00:26:35.079 He also shows the Ninevites mercy 00:26:35.079 --> 00:26:38.279 because of their moral confusion. 00:26:38.839 --> 00:26:40.720 He says in the first part of verse 11, 00:26:40.880 --> 00:26:41.759 should I not pity Nineveh, 00:26:41.839 --> 00:26:43.599 that great city in which there are more 00:26:43.599 --> 00:26:45.839 than 120,000 persons 00:26:45.839 --> 00:26:47.460 who do not know their right hand 00:26:47.460 --> 00:26:48.680 from their left? 00:26:48.940 --> 00:26:50.579 Now some think this is a, 00:26:50.740 --> 00:26:52.819 I would say an odd reference to children 00:26:52.819 --> 00:26:54.140 that he's numbering out 00:26:54.140 --> 00:26:56.779 how many people there are in Nineveh. 00:26:56.839 --> 00:26:58.180 But this phrase is not used 00:26:58.180 --> 00:26:59.620 anywhere else in the scripture 00:26:59.619 --> 00:27:00.739 to speak of children, 00:27:00.839 --> 00:27:02.859 to designate persons as children 00:27:02.859 --> 00:27:04.659 by talking about not knowing 00:27:04.659 --> 00:27:07.339 their right hand from their left. 00:27:07.659 --> 00:27:09.459 I think, along with others, 00:27:09.539 --> 00:27:10.500 that it's more likely 00:27:10.500 --> 00:27:12.219 that God is referencing 00:27:12.219 --> 00:27:15.639 how very confused these people are. 00:27:15.640 --> 00:27:18.840 in need of mercy, 00:27:19.040 --> 00:27:20.340 utterly sinful, 00:27:20.560 --> 00:27:23.420 at fault for their wickedness, 00:27:23.620 --> 00:27:26.100 but morally confused. 00:27:26.820 --> 00:27:29.960 God chooses to show them mercy. 00:27:30.920 --> 00:27:32.880 And also he shows them mercy for, 00:27:33.240 --> 00:27:35.720 that's the word that ends the text, 00:27:36.600 --> 00:27:38.460 the many cattle. 00:27:39.200 --> 00:27:41.200 Doesn't that seem like an odd way 00:27:41.200 --> 00:27:42.140 in the text, 00:27:42.240 --> 00:27:44.559 and also much cattle? 00:27:46.160 --> 00:27:48.220 And I suppose that what the Lord is saying 00:27:48.220 --> 00:27:50.720 is that there is also things 00:27:50.720 --> 00:27:52.480 in this city, right? 00:27:52.539 --> 00:27:54.759 It's a mark of their wealth. 00:27:54.960 --> 00:27:57.120 Things that are meant to be used 00:27:57.120 --> 00:27:58.259 for God's purposes 00:27:58.259 --> 00:28:00.259 would also be destroyed 00:28:00.259 --> 00:28:03.799 in the destruction of this city. 00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:06.140 God loves people. 00:28:06.740 --> 00:28:08.680 God loves cities. 00:28:08.680 --> 00:28:13.180 God is merciful to all peoples. 00:28:13.700 --> 00:28:17.440 This is the theme of the book of Jonah. 00:28:18.259 --> 00:28:21.420 So have you experienced the mercy of God? 00:28:22.160 --> 00:28:26.740 Have you been forgiven for your sins? 00:28:27.080 --> 00:28:28.779 I hope that you identify 00:28:28.779 --> 00:28:32.519 with Jonah being shown favor in this text 00:28:32.519 --> 00:28:35.440 and the Ninevites being shown favor. 00:28:36.279 --> 00:28:37.580 If you have, 00:28:37.579 --> 00:28:40.960 do you now think of God as merciful? 00:28:41.899 --> 00:28:43.079 When you sin, 00:28:43.220 --> 00:28:45.539 do you throw yourself on the mercy of God 00:28:45.539 --> 00:28:47.599 found at the cross of Christ? 00:28:48.379 --> 00:28:50.879 Do you find yourself running to Zion? 00:28:51.720 --> 00:28:54.799 Or do you find yourself running back to Sinai? 00:28:56.019 --> 00:28:59.139 Oh, God is going to be so displeased with me. 00:28:59.599 --> 00:29:00.899 I deserve punishment. 00:29:01.079 --> 00:29:02.159 Or are you in Christ, 00:29:02.259 --> 00:29:03.559 having been shown the mercy of God, 00:29:03.559 --> 00:29:06.399 do you rely on His continued mercy 00:29:06.399 --> 00:29:08.200 on your behalf? 00:29:08.200 --> 00:29:14.400 The law of God is meant to drive us to Christ 00:29:14.400 --> 00:29:16.220 and then to show us, 00:29:16.340 --> 00:29:17.440 once we're in Jesus, 00:29:17.440 --> 00:29:20.180 how we can walk in Him. 00:29:21.039 --> 00:29:22.240 Our recitation this morning 00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:23.420 asked the question, 00:29:23.500 --> 00:29:24.759 since no one can keep the law, 00:29:24.900 --> 00:29:26.840 what is its purpose? 00:29:27.600 --> 00:29:29.120 That we may know the holy nature 00:29:29.120 --> 00:29:29.920 and will of God 00:29:29.920 --> 00:29:30.920 and the sinful nature 00:29:30.920 --> 00:29:32.740 and disobedience of our hearts 00:29:32.740 --> 00:29:35.319 and thus our need of a Savior. 00:29:36.059 --> 00:29:37.120 The law also teaches 00:29:37.120 --> 00:29:39.259 and exhorts us to live a life 00:29:39.259 --> 00:29:41.880 worthy of our Savior. 00:29:42.400 --> 00:29:44.980 So, if you have experienced the mercy of God, 00:29:45.120 --> 00:29:48.559 do you think now of God as merciful? 00:29:49.120 --> 00:29:51.000 Do you expect our God 00:29:51.000 --> 00:29:53.240 to be merciful to all peoples? 00:29:53.740 --> 00:29:55.160 People not like you? 00:29:55.559 --> 00:29:58.440 People who make you uncomfortable? 00:29:58.440 --> 00:30:00.820 And are you willing 00:30:00.820 --> 00:30:03.340 to be used by our God 00:30:03.340 --> 00:30:06.299 as an agent of His mercy? 00:30:06.640 --> 00:30:07.700 To be ministers 00:30:07.700 --> 00:30:09.299 of the reconciliation 00:30:09.299 --> 00:30:11.940 that He means to bring to people 00:30:11.940 --> 00:30:13.299 who will repent 00:30:13.299 --> 00:30:15.799 and place their faith in Him? 00:30:16.820 --> 00:30:18.480 I hope that you can answer yes, 00:30:18.580 --> 00:30:19.960 a resounding yes 00:30:19.960 --> 00:30:22.660 to every one of those questions. 00:30:23.080 --> 00:30:24.200 Let's pray to that end.