WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.480 556. 00:00:03.580 --> 00:00:04.339 556. 00:00:14.080 --> 00:00:19.460 And it's a good psalm to prepare us as we come to listen to God's Word. 00:00:23.219 --> 00:00:25.699 Let's read Psalm 25 verse 1. 00:00:25.699 --> 00:00:33.679 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. In you I trust, O my God. 00:00:34.979 --> 00:00:40.340 Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. 00:00:41.759 --> 00:00:45.239 No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame. 00:00:46.399 --> 00:00:51.439 But they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse. 00:00:51.439 --> 00:00:55.759 Show me your ways, O Lord. 00:00:56.780 --> 00:00:58.619 Teach me your paths. 00:01:00.099 --> 00:01:02.140 Guide me in your truth. 00:01:03.119 --> 00:01:08.200 And teach me, for you are God my Saviour. 00:01:09.060 --> 00:01:11.879 And my hope is in you all day long. 00:01:11.879 --> 00:01:19.719 Remember, O Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. 00:01:21.479 --> 00:01:26.379 Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways. 00:01:27.640 --> 00:01:33.640 According to your love, remember me, for you are good, O Lord. 00:01:33.640 --> 00:01:36.859 Good and upright is the Lord. 00:01:37.320 --> 00:01:40.840 Therefore, he instructs sinners in his ways. 00:01:41.420 --> 00:01:45.340 He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. 00:01:46.280 --> 00:01:52.060 All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant. 00:01:52.060 --> 00:02:02.379 For the sake of your name, O Lord, forgive my iniquity, though it is great. 00:02:05.420 --> 00:02:07.960 Who then is the man that fears the Lord? 00:02:09.080 --> 00:02:12.280 He will instruct him in the way chosen for him. 00:02:13.000 --> 00:02:17.819 He will spend his days in prosperity and his descendants will inherit the land. 00:02:18.620 --> 00:02:21.039 The Lord confides in those who fear him. 00:02:21.039 --> 00:02:23.159 He makes his covenant known to them. 00:02:24.599 --> 00:02:27.219 My eyes are ever on the Lord. 00:02:28.400 --> 00:02:32.060 For only he will release my feet from the snare. 00:02:34.479 --> 00:02:40.680 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. 00:02:41.620 --> 00:02:44.319 The troubles of my heart have multiplied. 00:02:44.919 --> 00:02:46.899 Free me from my anguish. 00:02:46.900 --> 00:02:50.340 Look upon my affliction and my distress. 00:02:50.460 --> 00:02:53.599 And take away all my sins. 00:02:55.920 --> 00:03:00.000 See how my enemies have increased and how fiercely they hate me. 00:03:00.960 --> 00:03:02.879 Guard my life and rescue me. 00:03:03.460 --> 00:03:05.759 Let me not be put to shame. 00:03:05.759 --> 00:03:09.819 For I take refuge in you. 00:03:09.819 --> 00:03:14.539 May integrity and uprightness protect me. 00:03:15.659 --> 00:03:18.599 Because my hope is in you. 00:03:20.120 --> 00:03:24.099 Redeem Israel, O God, from all their troubles. 00:03:24.099 --> 00:03:26.500 Amen. 00:03:27.659 --> 00:03:29.239 Well, I'm going to ask Seth to come up. 00:03:29.819 --> 00:03:31.219 And I'm going to pray for you. 00:03:31.280 --> 00:03:32.039 Is that okay, Seth? 00:03:32.919 --> 00:03:34.479 You don't mind people praying for you? 00:03:36.219 --> 00:03:37.159 That's a good start. 00:03:37.259 --> 00:03:39.159 So let's pray for Seth. 00:03:39.259 --> 00:03:41.819 Father, we thank you for Seth. 00:03:41.879 --> 00:03:44.419 And we thank you for him being here this morning. 00:03:44.419 --> 00:03:52.619 We pray that you would use him to speak your words to us. 00:03:52.759 --> 00:03:54.779 Fill him with the power of your spirit. 00:03:55.459 --> 00:03:57.779 And may your spirit be at work within us. 00:03:59.379 --> 00:04:02.259 Bringing us on to be the people you call us to be. 00:04:03.899 --> 00:04:10.799 May we not leave this building without an encounter with you. 00:04:10.800 --> 00:04:12.700 Hearing you. 00:04:13.480 --> 00:04:15.000 And knowing you more deeply. 00:04:16.400 --> 00:04:18.480 We pray this for your glory. 00:04:19.220 --> 00:04:20.720 And for our good. 00:04:21.879 --> 00:04:22.360 Amen. 00:04:24.040 --> 00:04:31.519 Well, thank you. 00:04:31.580 --> 00:04:32.420 It's great to be here. 00:04:34.319 --> 00:04:35.480 I like this church. 00:04:35.580 --> 00:04:36.199 I like to be here. 00:04:36.280 --> 00:04:39.939 It's great to see just a glimpse of what God is doing 00:04:39.939 --> 00:04:41.459 on this side of the county. 00:04:43.560 --> 00:04:46.160 If you would just turn in your Bibles to Jonah. 00:04:46.719 --> 00:04:48.100 I wonder if this could lower a little bit. 00:04:48.160 --> 00:04:49.060 I'm not quite as tall. 00:04:51.540 --> 00:04:52.600 Okay, not that much. 00:04:53.899 --> 00:04:54.259 Right. 00:04:54.519 --> 00:04:55.800 Turn your Bibles to Jonah. 00:04:56.100 --> 00:04:58.839 If it's the church Bible, it's on page 927. 00:05:03.040 --> 00:05:04.980 Now, last Sunday, it was only a week ago 00:05:04.980 --> 00:05:06.259 that we were celebrating Easter. 00:05:06.259 --> 00:05:08.980 And if we're thinking about Jesus at Easter, 00:05:09.139 --> 00:05:12.459 which we should be, not just chocolate eggs and bunnies and things, 00:05:13.480 --> 00:05:17.199 then we're probably focusing on his love for us. 00:05:18.060 --> 00:05:21.980 We're probably focusing on his power to rise from the dead, 00:05:22.219 --> 00:05:25.980 to give us that as well, that we'll be able to do that as well. 00:05:25.980 --> 00:05:29.640 But there is something else going on at Easter, 00:05:29.860 --> 00:05:32.200 maybe not quite so comfortable, 00:05:33.280 --> 00:05:37.080 and that is God's judgment for sin. 00:05:38.460 --> 00:05:40.020 Because Easter wouldn't have happened 00:05:40.020 --> 00:05:43.379 if Good Friday hadn't happened first. 00:05:45.879 --> 00:05:47.520 Jesus rose from the dead, 00:05:47.819 --> 00:05:50.140 but before he rose from the dead, he had to die. 00:05:50.420 --> 00:05:51.420 And why did he die? 00:05:51.420 --> 00:05:54.300 Because of our sin and our rebellion, 00:05:54.640 --> 00:05:55.879 it was that serious. 00:05:57.300 --> 00:05:58.259 That's what it took. 00:05:58.460 --> 00:06:00.460 If there had been an easier way to save us, 00:06:00.540 --> 00:06:03.280 then God certainly wouldn't have made Jesus go to the cross. 00:06:03.439 --> 00:06:06.300 If all roads lead to heaven, as some people say, 00:06:06.879 --> 00:06:09.680 then why on earth would God send Jesus to die 00:06:09.680 --> 00:06:12.759 just to open up one more road to the same place? 00:06:14.860 --> 00:06:16.060 Jesus prayed in the garden, 00:06:16.240 --> 00:06:18.620 if it is possible, let this cup be removed. 00:06:18.620 --> 00:06:20.879 But it wasn't removed. 00:06:21.780 --> 00:06:23.079 It wasn't possible. 00:06:24.420 --> 00:06:27.120 There was no other way to save us 00:06:27.120 --> 00:06:31.680 than dying the death that we deserved for our sin. 00:06:32.480 --> 00:06:35.000 So yes, God's mercy is incredible. 00:06:35.160 --> 00:06:35.860 It's amazing. 00:06:36.160 --> 00:06:37.139 And it's to be celebrated. 00:06:37.459 --> 00:06:40.079 But we're not going to understand quite how amazing it is 00:06:40.079 --> 00:06:41.399 unless we have some idea 00:06:41.399 --> 00:06:45.100 of the judgment that we deserved, 00:06:45.660 --> 00:06:47.340 of what we're actually being saved from. 00:06:47.339 --> 00:06:51.759 But if we only emphasize one or the other, 00:06:51.899 --> 00:06:53.000 we can go off either way. 00:06:53.119 --> 00:06:54.959 We can emphasize God's mercy so much 00:06:54.959 --> 00:06:56.339 that we forget about God's judgment. 00:06:56.779 --> 00:06:59.219 Or we can emphasize God's judgment so much 00:06:59.219 --> 00:07:00.459 that we forget about his mercy. 00:07:00.819 --> 00:07:02.359 We can go off balance quite quickly. 00:07:03.039 --> 00:07:04.659 And this morning, we're going to look at a prophet, 00:07:05.239 --> 00:07:05.539 Jonah, 00:07:06.399 --> 00:07:09.979 who got the balance wrong in both directions 00:07:09.979 --> 00:07:10.939 at the same time. 00:07:12.199 --> 00:07:14.539 Which might seem a bit crazy, but it's true. 00:07:14.540 --> 00:07:17.340 He's an interesting case, 00:07:17.420 --> 00:07:18.680 and I think we can learn a bit from him. 00:07:18.840 --> 00:07:22.140 So let's look at just the first couple of verses there in Jonah. 00:07:23.060 --> 00:07:23.780 It says, 00:07:24.319 --> 00:07:27.480 The word of the Lord came to Jonah, son of Amittai. 00:07:28.980 --> 00:07:31.840 Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, 00:07:32.020 --> 00:07:34.220 because its wickedness has come up before me. 00:07:34.220 --> 00:07:37.100 So right at the beginning here, 00:07:37.160 --> 00:07:37.900 we see a command. 00:07:39.040 --> 00:07:42.060 God's judgment is to be preached to Nineveh. 00:07:42.960 --> 00:07:44.180 So there's God's justice. 00:07:44.860 --> 00:07:46.440 Why will God be judging Nineveh? 00:07:46.920 --> 00:07:48.460 Well, he says right here, he says, 00:07:48.980 --> 00:07:50.680 Their wickedness has come up before me. 00:07:50.760 --> 00:07:51.160 They're wicked. 00:07:52.200 --> 00:07:53.760 We don't know everything there is to know 00:07:53.760 --> 00:07:56.520 about the ancient empire of Assyria, 00:07:56.740 --> 00:07:58.840 which Nineveh was the capital of most of the time. 00:07:58.839 --> 00:08:00.979 But we know enough, 00:08:01.560 --> 00:08:03.039 we've discovered enough to know 00:08:03.039 --> 00:08:05.199 that they really were quite wicked. 00:08:06.439 --> 00:08:09.539 Even by the standards of the people around them, 00:08:09.839 --> 00:08:10.399 they were wicked. 00:08:10.579 --> 00:08:11.859 And the standards weren't very high. 00:08:13.019 --> 00:08:14.359 They worshipped false gods, 00:08:15.199 --> 00:08:17.359 and their gods were capricious and cruel, 00:08:17.599 --> 00:08:20.399 and the people that worshipped them became like them. 00:08:20.399 --> 00:08:22.779 And it was normal in those days 00:08:22.779 --> 00:08:24.819 for war to be very brutal. 00:08:25.000 --> 00:08:26.439 I suppose war always is brutal. 00:08:27.839 --> 00:08:31.500 But the Assyrians took torture and intimidation 00:08:31.500 --> 00:08:36.559 and cruelty to just new highs, 00:08:36.759 --> 00:08:39.500 new lows maybe is a better way to say it. 00:08:39.639 --> 00:08:40.899 They were horrible. 00:08:41.720 --> 00:08:42.840 I won't go into detail. 00:08:43.500 --> 00:08:44.539 It's well documented. 00:08:44.840 --> 00:08:45.519 If you want to know, 00:08:45.639 --> 00:08:49.279 you can find out just exactly how terrible they were. 00:08:49.279 --> 00:08:51.899 But we know very well they were wicked. 00:08:53.279 --> 00:08:54.419 Now in Jonah's time, 00:08:54.559 --> 00:08:57.039 they had already started to build a reputation for themselves. 00:08:57.220 --> 00:08:58.899 They'd already started to expand their empire, 00:08:59.360 --> 00:09:00.579 taking over some of their neighbors. 00:09:01.179 --> 00:09:02.439 They hadn't got to Israel yet, 00:09:02.500 --> 00:09:03.759 but they definitely were a threat. 00:09:04.659 --> 00:09:06.539 They kind of stalled for the moment 00:09:06.539 --> 00:09:07.879 when Jonah was around 00:09:07.879 --> 00:09:11.740 because they were having some internal rebellions. 00:09:11.860 --> 00:09:13.199 They were having some famines and things. 00:09:13.600 --> 00:09:15.860 But Jonah knew that the first chance they got, 00:09:15.860 --> 00:09:19.019 they would love to come and conquer Israel 00:09:19.019 --> 00:09:22.240 and be just as cruel and merciless 00:09:22.240 --> 00:09:24.120 as they had been to everyone else. 00:09:25.220 --> 00:09:27.200 So he knows what's going on here. 00:09:27.300 --> 00:09:29.100 He knows that these people really are wicked. 00:09:30.460 --> 00:09:31.759 And what is his response? 00:09:32.740 --> 00:09:33.220 Sorry. 00:09:34.259 --> 00:09:37.180 What's his response to God's command 00:09:37.180 --> 00:09:39.560 to go and preach judgment on them? 00:09:39.559 --> 00:09:40.979 Verse 3. 00:09:41.639 --> 00:09:42.979 Jonah ran away from the Lord 00:09:42.979 --> 00:09:44.139 and headed for Tarshish. 00:09:46.019 --> 00:09:47.319 Or Tarshish or Tarshish. 00:09:47.339 --> 00:09:48.459 Anyway, that place. 00:09:48.879 --> 00:09:50.619 He went down to Joppa 00:09:50.619 --> 00:09:51.659 where he found a ship 00:09:51.659 --> 00:09:53.019 found for that port. 00:09:53.359 --> 00:09:54.279 After paying the fare, 00:09:54.399 --> 00:09:55.059 he went aboard 00:09:55.059 --> 00:09:56.179 and sailed for Tarshish 00:09:56.179 --> 00:09:57.199 to flee from the Lord. 00:09:58.319 --> 00:09:59.039 He ran away. 00:10:00.959 --> 00:10:02.279 But why would he run away? 00:10:03.559 --> 00:10:04.899 He didn't like them. 00:10:04.899 --> 00:10:07.299 We see later 00:10:07.299 --> 00:10:09.720 that he really wanted God to judge them. 00:10:10.639 --> 00:10:12.299 He wanted it very badly. 00:10:13.379 --> 00:10:14.899 And here God is telling him 00:10:14.899 --> 00:10:16.039 that he's going to judge them 00:10:16.039 --> 00:10:17.079 and that he should go 00:10:17.079 --> 00:10:18.039 and announce that to them. 00:10:19.620 --> 00:10:21.840 So why not go and tell his enemies 00:10:21.840 --> 00:10:22.519 that they're doomed? 00:10:24.019 --> 00:10:26.959 What would stop him 00:10:26.959 --> 00:10:27.919 from wanting to do that 00:10:27.919 --> 00:10:30.039 when he wanted them to be judged? 00:10:31.480 --> 00:10:33.019 Well, basically, the reason is 00:10:33.019 --> 00:10:34.439 that Jonah knew something 00:10:34.440 --> 00:10:35.860 about God. 00:10:38.080 --> 00:10:40.320 It's something that he had seen himself 00:10:40.320 --> 00:10:43.080 because God had already used him 00:10:43.080 --> 00:10:44.460 to prophesy to Israel. 00:10:45.160 --> 00:10:47.040 We see this same Jonah show up 00:10:47.040 --> 00:10:49.680 in 2 Kings, chapter 14. 00:10:51.780 --> 00:10:53.680 And I'll just read to you. 00:10:54.640 --> 00:10:56.400 In the 15th year of Amaziah, 00:10:56.540 --> 00:10:57.720 son of Joash, king of Judah, 00:10:57.880 --> 00:10:59.300 Jeroboam, the son of Jehoash, 00:10:59.400 --> 00:10:59.940 king of Israel, 00:11:00.000 --> 00:11:01.120 became king in Samaria. 00:11:01.600 --> 00:11:02.740 He reigned 41 years. 00:11:02.740 --> 00:11:05.299 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord. 00:11:06.120 --> 00:11:06.899 He didn't turn away 00:11:06.899 --> 00:11:08.320 from any of the sins of Jeroboam, 00:11:08.720 --> 00:11:10.340 which he had caused Israel to commit. 00:11:10.799 --> 00:11:11.539 He was the one 00:11:11.539 --> 00:11:14.299 who restored the boundaries of Israel 00:11:14.299 --> 00:11:17.360 from the Lebo Hamath to the Dead Sea 00:11:17.360 --> 00:11:18.960 in accordance with the word of the Lord, 00:11:19.019 --> 00:11:19.659 the God of Israel, 00:11:19.779 --> 00:11:20.899 spoken through his servant, 00:11:21.320 --> 00:11:22.799 Jonah, son of Amittai, 00:11:23.019 --> 00:11:24.560 the prophet from Gath-Hepper. 00:11:24.559 --> 00:11:27.119 The Lord had seen how bitterly 00:11:27.119 --> 00:11:27.919 everyone in Israel, 00:11:28.159 --> 00:11:28.879 slave or free, 00:11:28.939 --> 00:11:29.479 was suffering. 00:11:29.939 --> 00:11:31.279 There was no one to help them. 00:11:31.359 --> 00:11:32.699 And since the Lord had not said 00:11:32.699 --> 00:11:34.000 that he would blot the name of Israel 00:11:34.000 --> 00:11:34.819 out from under heaven, 00:11:35.000 --> 00:11:35.759 he saved them 00:11:35.759 --> 00:11:37.559 by the hand of Jeroboam. 00:11:38.339 --> 00:11:39.559 So here's Jeroboam, 00:11:39.679 --> 00:11:40.579 a bad king. 00:11:41.839 --> 00:11:44.039 And yet God sends a message 00:11:44.039 --> 00:11:46.359 with Jonah that says, 00:11:46.579 --> 00:11:47.679 I'm going to bless you. 00:11:48.319 --> 00:11:49.639 I'm going to bless Israel 00:11:49.639 --> 00:11:50.979 through this bad king. 00:11:51.980 --> 00:11:53.879 So Jonah already knew 00:11:53.879 --> 00:11:55.539 that God was inclined 00:11:55.539 --> 00:11:58.100 to show mercy to people 00:11:58.100 --> 00:12:00.000 even when they didn't deserve it. 00:12:00.720 --> 00:12:01.800 Because obviously Israel 00:12:01.800 --> 00:12:02.420 had done nothing 00:12:02.420 --> 00:12:03.680 to deserve this mercy. 00:12:05.460 --> 00:12:06.940 This was an evil king. 00:12:07.279 --> 00:12:07.659 The people, 00:12:07.860 --> 00:12:09.300 the king had never repented. 00:12:09.560 --> 00:12:10.879 The people had never repented. 00:12:11.379 --> 00:12:12.620 And yet God says, 00:12:12.860 --> 00:12:14.019 I haven't told them 00:12:14.019 --> 00:12:15.480 that I would destroy them. 00:12:15.620 --> 00:12:17.420 So I'm going to bless them instead 00:12:17.420 --> 00:12:19.659 and give them another opportunity 00:12:19.659 --> 00:12:20.600 to repent. 00:12:20.980 --> 00:12:21.800 And turn back. 00:12:23.300 --> 00:12:24.860 He knew also very well 00:12:24.860 --> 00:12:25.740 what we've read already, 00:12:25.980 --> 00:12:27.800 how God had revealed himself 00:12:27.800 --> 00:12:28.720 to Moses. 00:12:29.639 --> 00:12:30.960 We've had it read already 00:12:30.960 --> 00:12:32.120 in Exodus 34. 00:12:32.659 --> 00:12:33.139 The Lord, 00:12:33.200 --> 00:12:33.580 the Lord, 00:12:33.700 --> 00:12:35.159 compassionate and gracious, 00:12:35.399 --> 00:12:36.320 slow to anger, 00:12:36.980 --> 00:12:37.960 abounding in love 00:12:37.960 --> 00:12:38.620 and faithfulness, 00:12:38.759 --> 00:12:40.080 maintaining love to thousands, 00:12:40.320 --> 00:12:41.220 forgiving wickedness, 00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:42.639 rebellion and sin. 00:12:43.200 --> 00:12:44.519 Yet he does not leave 00:12:44.519 --> 00:12:45.460 the guilty unpunished. 00:12:45.879 --> 00:12:46.960 He punishes the children 00:12:46.960 --> 00:12:48.019 and their children 00:12:48.019 --> 00:12:48.980 for the sin of the parents 00:12:48.980 --> 00:12:50.360 of the third and fourth generation. 00:12:50.980 --> 00:12:52.159 So there's justice 00:12:52.159 --> 00:12:52.960 in God's dealings 00:12:52.960 --> 00:12:53.680 with people, yes. 00:12:54.039 --> 00:12:54.879 But Jonah knew 00:12:54.879 --> 00:12:56.080 that there was more 00:12:56.080 --> 00:12:57.580 than only justice. 00:12:58.360 --> 00:12:59.159 There was mercy 00:12:59.159 --> 00:12:59.960 and forgiveness 00:12:59.960 --> 00:13:01.600 even for those 00:13:01.600 --> 00:13:02.620 who had rebelled 00:13:02.620 --> 00:13:03.580 and sinned. 00:13:04.340 --> 00:13:05.360 And that kind of forgiveness 00:13:05.360 --> 00:13:07.279 had already been shown 00:13:07.279 --> 00:13:08.460 over and over 00:13:08.460 --> 00:13:09.720 and over and over again 00:13:09.720 --> 00:13:10.560 in the history 00:13:10.560 --> 00:13:11.399 of God's people, 00:13:11.519 --> 00:13:11.720 Israel, 00:13:11.800 --> 00:13:12.620 and even in the nations 00:13:12.620 --> 00:13:13.120 around them. 00:13:13.500 --> 00:13:14.600 In Jeremiah 18, 00:13:14.740 --> 00:13:15.820 God says specifically, 00:13:15.820 --> 00:13:16.720 he says, 00:13:16.879 --> 00:13:18.700 if at any time 00:13:18.700 --> 00:13:19.540 I announce 00:13:19.540 --> 00:13:20.520 that a nation or kingdom 00:13:20.520 --> 00:13:21.480 is to be uprooted, 00:13:21.640 --> 00:13:22.860 torn down and destroyed, 00:13:23.080 --> 00:13:24.740 if that nation I warned 00:13:24.740 --> 00:13:25.879 repents of its evil, 00:13:26.640 --> 00:13:27.740 then I will relent 00:13:27.740 --> 00:13:29.340 and not inflict on it 00:13:29.340 --> 00:13:30.379 the disaster I planned. 00:13:31.040 --> 00:13:31.820 So God has said it 00:13:31.820 --> 00:13:32.740 very clearly, 00:13:33.000 --> 00:13:33.760 very specifically, 00:13:34.240 --> 00:13:35.220 and Jonah had seen 00:13:35.220 --> 00:13:36.440 the pattern in history. 00:13:37.280 --> 00:13:38.340 That when God 00:13:38.340 --> 00:13:39.520 announces judgment 00:13:39.520 --> 00:13:40.320 against people 00:13:40.320 --> 00:13:41.140 for their sin, 00:13:42.280 --> 00:13:43.520 he leaves them 00:13:43.520 --> 00:13:44.160 an opportunity. 00:13:44.159 --> 00:13:46.699 often many opportunities 00:13:46.699 --> 00:13:47.939 to repent 00:13:47.939 --> 00:13:48.699 and be forgiven. 00:13:50.500 --> 00:13:52.000 So why did Jonah run away? 00:13:53.120 --> 00:13:54.179 He ran away 00:13:54.179 --> 00:13:55.199 because he knew 00:13:55.199 --> 00:13:56.659 that if he announced 00:13:56.659 --> 00:13:57.659 God's judgment 00:13:57.659 --> 00:13:58.899 against the Assyrians, 00:13:59.419 --> 00:14:01.299 there was the very real possibility 00:14:01.299 --> 00:14:03.000 that they would repent 00:14:03.000 --> 00:14:05.579 and that they would not be judged 00:14:05.579 --> 00:14:06.779 because God would spare them. 00:14:08.639 --> 00:14:09.819 It wasn't actually 00:14:09.819 --> 00:14:11.179 specifically part of the message 00:14:11.179 --> 00:14:12.480 because the message 00:14:12.480 --> 00:14:14.000 was only go to the great city 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:15.080 and preach against it 00:14:15.080 --> 00:14:17.120 because of their wickedness. 00:14:17.759 --> 00:14:19.539 It wasn't in the message itself, 00:14:19.539 --> 00:14:21.299 but the very fact 00:14:21.299 --> 00:14:22.779 that God was giving them warning 00:14:22.779 --> 00:14:24.039 before he destroyed them, 00:14:24.120 --> 00:14:25.220 before he judged them, 00:14:25.899 --> 00:14:27.179 showed that he was giving them 00:14:27.179 --> 00:14:28.539 a chance to repent, 00:14:29.279 --> 00:14:30.240 to avoid the judgment. 00:14:31.480 --> 00:14:32.620 And Jonah just could not 00:14:32.620 --> 00:14:33.419 stand the thought 00:14:33.419 --> 00:14:34.259 of that happening 00:14:34.259 --> 00:14:34.899 to his enemies. 00:14:35.980 --> 00:14:37.200 And if we look at chapter 4, 00:14:37.200 --> 00:14:37.980 if you just turn over 00:14:37.980 --> 00:14:39.180 to chapter 4, 00:14:42.000 --> 00:14:46.020 Nineveh actually does repent. 00:14:47.560 --> 00:14:48.840 It happens just as 00:14:48.840 --> 00:14:49.900 Jonah was afraid of 00:14:49.900 --> 00:14:53.000 and God spares them 00:14:53.000 --> 00:14:53.600 from the judgment 00:14:53.600 --> 00:14:54.300 that he had warned. 00:14:55.580 --> 00:14:57.420 So in 4, verse 1, 00:14:57.840 --> 00:14:58.840 to Jonah this seemed 00:14:58.840 --> 00:15:00.140 very wrong 00:15:00.140 --> 00:15:02.379 and he became angry. 00:15:02.820 --> 00:15:03.840 He prayed to the Lord, 00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:05.020 isn't this what I said, 00:15:05.019 --> 00:15:06.159 Lord, when I was still at home. 00:15:06.460 --> 00:15:07.419 This is what I tried 00:15:07.419 --> 00:15:08.340 to forestall by fleeing 00:15:08.340 --> 00:15:08.919 to Tarshish. 00:15:09.139 --> 00:15:10.379 I knew that you are 00:15:10.379 --> 00:15:12.199 gracious and compassionate God, 00:15:12.279 --> 00:15:13.079 slow to anger 00:15:13.079 --> 00:15:14.019 and abounding in love. 00:15:14.079 --> 00:15:14.460 Where have we heard 00:15:14.460 --> 00:15:14.960 that before? 00:15:15.899 --> 00:15:17.059 A God who relents 00:15:17.059 --> 00:15:18.139 from sending calamity. 00:15:19.139 --> 00:15:19.819 Now, Lord, 00:15:19.960 --> 00:15:21.139 take away my life. 00:15:21.480 --> 00:15:22.220 It's better for me 00:15:22.220 --> 00:15:23.799 to die than to live. 00:15:24.360 --> 00:15:25.319 He's pretty upset. 00:15:25.320 --> 00:15:27.660 And here he is 00:15:27.660 --> 00:15:29.200 quoting Exodus 34, 00:15:29.560 --> 00:15:30.780 word for word, 00:15:31.260 --> 00:15:31.980 God's character, 00:15:32.100 --> 00:15:32.980 but he's not quoting it 00:15:32.980 --> 00:15:33.879 as a praise. 00:15:34.760 --> 00:15:35.700 He's quoting it 00:15:35.700 --> 00:15:36.640 as an accusation 00:15:36.640 --> 00:15:37.360 against God. 00:15:37.640 --> 00:15:39.020 He's very much okay 00:15:39.020 --> 00:15:40.220 with God 00:15:40.220 --> 00:15:41.140 being gracious 00:15:41.140 --> 00:15:41.940 to Israel. 00:15:42.800 --> 00:15:43.340 He doesn't seem 00:15:43.340 --> 00:15:44.220 to have any problem 00:15:44.220 --> 00:15:45.600 delivering the message 00:15:45.600 --> 00:15:46.400 that God was going 00:15:46.400 --> 00:15:46.900 to be gracious 00:15:46.900 --> 00:15:47.460 to Israel 00:15:47.460 --> 00:15:48.500 in spite of their sin. 00:15:49.400 --> 00:15:50.080 That's okay. 00:15:50.260 --> 00:15:51.240 Not upset about that. 00:15:51.240 --> 00:15:53.500 But when God 00:15:53.500 --> 00:15:53.940 is gracious 00:15:53.940 --> 00:15:54.740 to the Assyrians 00:15:54.740 --> 00:15:56.279 even after they repent, 00:15:57.039 --> 00:15:57.879 that's a problem. 00:15:59.100 --> 00:15:59.919 And that's why 00:15:59.919 --> 00:16:00.560 he runs away. 00:16:01.299 --> 00:16:02.080 And it seems like 00:16:02.080 --> 00:16:02.860 he thought that maybe 00:16:02.860 --> 00:16:03.919 if he held back 00:16:03.919 --> 00:16:04.600 the message, 00:16:04.980 --> 00:16:05.419 that if he 00:16:05.419 --> 00:16:07.320 just didn't tell them, 00:16:08.620 --> 00:16:09.379 didn't give them 00:16:09.379 --> 00:16:09.840 the warning, 00:16:10.060 --> 00:16:10.620 maybe they really 00:16:10.620 --> 00:16:11.279 would be doomed 00:16:11.279 --> 00:16:12.580 because they'd have 00:16:12.580 --> 00:16:13.180 no opportunity 00:16:13.180 --> 00:16:13.779 to repent. 00:16:14.639 --> 00:16:15.560 In his mind, 00:16:15.620 --> 00:16:16.320 he seemed to think 00:16:16.320 --> 00:16:17.379 that by running away, 00:16:17.840 --> 00:16:19.120 he would make sure 00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:20.180 that the Assyrians 00:16:20.180 --> 00:16:21.139 got what they 00:16:21.139 --> 00:16:21.819 really deserved. 00:16:23.480 --> 00:16:24.000 Of course, 00:16:24.080 --> 00:16:25.080 God wasn't so easily 00:16:25.080 --> 00:16:25.620 put off. 00:16:26.580 --> 00:16:27.740 He sends this 00:16:27.740 --> 00:16:28.519 massive storm 00:16:28.519 --> 00:16:29.039 to the ship. 00:16:29.139 --> 00:16:30.159 The sailors are afraid. 00:16:30.460 --> 00:16:31.000 They realize 00:16:31.000 --> 00:16:31.879 it's the hand of God. 00:16:32.799 --> 00:16:33.799 But Jonah's response 00:16:33.799 --> 00:16:34.340 is interesting, 00:16:34.460 --> 00:16:34.759 I think. 00:16:35.299 --> 00:16:35.980 This is back 00:16:35.980 --> 00:16:36.720 in chapter 1. 00:16:37.759 --> 00:16:38.840 He talks about... 00:16:38.840 --> 00:16:39.659 Sorry. 00:16:42.220 --> 00:16:43.080 Jonah doesn't 00:16:43.080 --> 00:16:44.000 beg for his life. 00:16:44.299 --> 00:16:45.080 He doesn't say, 00:16:45.480 --> 00:16:46.139 God, you know, 00:16:46.319 --> 00:16:47.279 okay, fine, 00:16:47.399 --> 00:16:48.319 I'll obey you. 00:16:48.779 --> 00:16:50.379 Just please save us. 00:16:51.139 --> 00:16:51.699 In fact, 00:16:51.779 --> 00:16:52.179 Jonah doesn't 00:16:52.179 --> 00:16:52.960 even pray at all. 00:16:53.860 --> 00:16:54.699 The sailors pray. 00:16:55.259 --> 00:16:56.100 They ask Jonah 00:16:56.100 --> 00:16:56.639 to pray, 00:16:57.299 --> 00:16:58.179 but he doesn't do it. 00:16:59.080 --> 00:16:59.840 All he says 00:16:59.840 --> 00:17:01.159 is just throw me in. 00:17:03.120 --> 00:17:04.059 Which is basically 00:17:04.059 --> 00:17:04.639 just saying, 00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:05.480 just kill me now 00:17:05.480 --> 00:17:06.379 because you get 00:17:06.379 --> 00:17:07.740 thrown into a stormy sea 00:17:07.740 --> 00:17:08.559 in the middle 00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:08.980 of the ocean. 00:17:09.139 --> 00:17:09.319 Well, 00:17:09.500 --> 00:17:10.579 that's basically 00:17:10.579 --> 00:17:11.359 certain death. 00:17:11.359 --> 00:17:14.359 So, I mean, 00:17:14.399 --> 00:17:15.119 is it possible 00:17:15.119 --> 00:17:16.500 that Jonah 00:17:16.500 --> 00:17:17.419 was actually 00:17:17.419 --> 00:17:18.419 so committed 00:17:18.419 --> 00:17:19.959 to making sure 00:17:19.959 --> 00:17:20.799 that the Assyrians 00:17:20.799 --> 00:17:21.559 were judged 00:17:21.559 --> 00:17:22.839 that he was actually 00:17:22.839 --> 00:17:23.679 willing to make, 00:17:23.879 --> 00:17:25.019 to even die 00:17:25.019 --> 00:17:25.579 to make sure 00:17:25.579 --> 00:17:26.259 that that happened? 00:17:26.759 --> 00:17:27.519 To make sure 00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:28.099 that the message 00:17:28.099 --> 00:17:29.059 would not get to them 00:17:29.059 --> 00:17:30.519 and that they 00:17:30.519 --> 00:17:31.240 wouldn't get the warning 00:17:31.240 --> 00:17:32.779 and that if he died, 00:17:33.599 --> 00:17:34.759 maybe they would die too. 00:17:34.759 --> 00:17:37.960 One thing that Jonah 00:17:37.960 --> 00:17:38.680 saw clearly, 00:17:39.460 --> 00:17:40.299 he saw clearly 00:17:40.299 --> 00:17:40.879 that the sin 00:17:40.879 --> 00:17:41.640 of the Assyrians 00:17:41.640 --> 00:17:43.359 was a serious thing. 00:17:44.079 --> 00:17:44.879 And he was right. 00:17:45.980 --> 00:17:46.640 Their sin 00:17:46.640 --> 00:17:47.819 really did deserve 00:17:47.819 --> 00:17:48.500 God's judgment. 00:17:49.299 --> 00:17:50.059 There's no question 00:17:50.059 --> 00:17:50.539 about it. 00:17:51.379 --> 00:17:52.359 God had every right 00:17:52.359 --> 00:17:53.220 to announce judgment 00:17:53.220 --> 00:17:54.220 on Nineveh 00:17:54.220 --> 00:17:56.299 for all the wicked 00:17:56.299 --> 00:17:57.220 things that they had done. 00:18:00.240 --> 00:18:02.359 But God had every right 00:18:02.359 --> 00:18:02.980 to be gracious 00:18:02.980 --> 00:18:03.900 as well. 00:18:04.079 --> 00:18:04.740 And he had every right 00:18:04.740 --> 00:18:05.279 to be gracious 00:18:05.279 --> 00:18:05.960 to Israel 00:18:05.960 --> 00:18:08.000 and he had every right 00:18:08.000 --> 00:18:08.579 to be gracious 00:18:08.579 --> 00:18:10.380 to wicked Nineveh. 00:18:11.880 --> 00:18:12.720 What Jonah 00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:13.720 can't see 00:18:13.720 --> 00:18:14.720 very clearly here 00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:16.440 is that God 00:18:16.440 --> 00:18:17.680 also had every right 00:18:17.680 --> 00:18:19.099 to announce judgment 00:18:19.099 --> 00:18:20.440 on Jonah himself. 00:18:23.099 --> 00:18:24.460 Jonah deserved 00:18:24.460 --> 00:18:26.740 the same kind of judgment 00:18:26.740 --> 00:18:27.420 that Assyria 00:18:27.420 --> 00:18:27.900 was getting. 00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:28.539 After all, 00:18:28.779 --> 00:18:29.640 he had directly 00:18:29.640 --> 00:18:30.960 disobeyed 00:18:30.960 --> 00:18:32.559 God's clear command. 00:18:33.200 --> 00:18:34.299 He had tried his best 00:18:34.299 --> 00:18:35.099 to subvert 00:18:35.099 --> 00:18:37.119 God's revealed will, 00:18:37.279 --> 00:18:38.139 his stated will, 00:18:38.279 --> 00:18:39.379 and make things happen 00:18:39.379 --> 00:18:40.539 according to his own agenda. 00:18:42.480 --> 00:18:43.579 He was very committed 00:18:43.579 --> 00:18:43.899 to that, 00:18:43.960 --> 00:18:44.819 even to the point of 00:18:44.819 --> 00:18:45.919 maybe even being 00:18:45.919 --> 00:18:47.000 willing to die for it. 00:18:48.059 --> 00:18:49.000 And he never even 00:18:49.000 --> 00:18:49.480 repents. 00:18:50.480 --> 00:18:51.680 If you look in chapter 2, 00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:53.079 he gives this long prayer 00:18:53.079 --> 00:18:54.539 after God saves him 00:18:54.539 --> 00:18:56.000 from his trying 00:18:56.000 --> 00:18:57.519 to kill himself. 00:18:57.519 --> 00:19:02.039 in verse 3 of chapter 2, 00:19:02.119 --> 00:19:02.420 he said, 00:19:02.500 --> 00:19:03.220 You hurled me 00:19:03.220 --> 00:19:03.839 into the deep 00:19:03.839 --> 00:19:05.039 in the very heart 00:19:05.039 --> 00:19:05.559 of the seas 00:19:05.559 --> 00:19:06.160 and the currents 00:19:06.160 --> 00:19:06.900 swirled about me. 00:19:06.900 --> 00:19:08.180 All your waves 00:19:08.180 --> 00:19:08.859 and breakers 00:19:08.859 --> 00:19:09.960 swept over me. 00:19:12.099 --> 00:19:12.680 I mean, 00:19:12.759 --> 00:19:13.099 he's basically, 00:19:13.240 --> 00:19:13.559 he's saying 00:19:13.559 --> 00:19:14.579 God hurled him 00:19:14.579 --> 00:19:15.279 into the deep 00:19:15.279 --> 00:19:17.160 and it was God's waves 00:19:17.160 --> 00:19:17.980 that were over him. 00:19:18.200 --> 00:19:19.460 But is that really fair? 00:19:19.460 --> 00:19:21.640 I mean, 00:19:21.680 --> 00:19:22.440 wasn't it Jonah 00:19:22.440 --> 00:19:23.900 who asked the sailors 00:19:23.900 --> 00:19:24.860 to throw him in? 00:19:25.980 --> 00:19:27.079 Wasn't the very fact 00:19:27.079 --> 00:19:28.500 that he was on the ocean 00:19:28.500 --> 00:19:30.019 a result of his 00:19:30.019 --> 00:19:31.220 direct disobedience? 00:19:31.600 --> 00:19:31.819 I mean, 00:19:31.840 --> 00:19:32.779 if he had gone to Nineveh, 00:19:32.840 --> 00:19:33.440 he wouldn't have had 00:19:33.440 --> 00:19:34.259 to cross an ocean. 00:19:38.860 --> 00:19:39.299 So, 00:19:39.600 --> 00:19:41.059 and look in verse 4. 00:19:42.240 --> 00:19:42.720 He says, 00:19:42.779 --> 00:19:43.579 I've been banished 00:19:43.579 --> 00:19:44.360 from your sight, 00:19:45.180 --> 00:19:46.220 yet I will look again 00:19:46.220 --> 00:19:47.140 toward your holy temple. 00:19:47.579 --> 00:19:47.840 But, 00:19:47.839 --> 00:19:49.500 who banished him? 00:19:51.259 --> 00:19:52.879 Wasn't it Jonah himself 00:19:52.879 --> 00:19:53.539 that was doing 00:19:53.539 --> 00:19:54.399 his level best 00:19:54.399 --> 00:19:55.500 to get away from God? 00:19:56.119 --> 00:19:57.019 To get away 00:19:57.019 --> 00:19:57.939 from God's sight? 00:19:59.059 --> 00:19:59.339 And yet, 00:19:59.459 --> 00:20:00.099 he makes it sound 00:20:00.099 --> 00:20:00.619 like he's doing 00:20:00.619 --> 00:20:01.419 something wonderful 00:20:01.419 --> 00:20:02.779 looking towards the temple 00:20:02.779 --> 00:20:04.099 after he's been banished. 00:20:05.279 --> 00:20:06.319 And in verse 7, 00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:06.980 he says, 00:20:07.059 --> 00:20:08.039 my life was ebbing away. 00:20:08.159 --> 00:20:09.079 I remembered you 00:20:09.079 --> 00:20:10.519 and my prayer rose to you 00:20:10.519 --> 00:20:11.679 to your holy temple. 00:20:12.740 --> 00:20:13.419 He makes it sound 00:20:13.419 --> 00:20:14.240 like he's pretty great 00:20:14.240 --> 00:20:14.699 that in the middle 00:20:14.699 --> 00:20:15.519 of all this trouble, 00:20:15.799 --> 00:20:17.059 he's looking to the Lord, 00:20:17.059 --> 00:20:18.059 but there's no admission 00:20:18.059 --> 00:20:19.119 that he actually 00:20:19.119 --> 00:20:20.200 was the cause 00:20:20.200 --> 00:20:20.799 of all the trouble. 00:20:21.819 --> 00:20:22.940 That his rebellion 00:20:22.940 --> 00:20:23.740 against God 00:20:23.740 --> 00:20:25.019 was the reason 00:20:25.019 --> 00:20:25.859 for all of that trouble. 00:20:26.919 --> 00:20:28.299 He kind of promotes himself 00:20:28.299 --> 00:20:29.179 even in his prayer 00:20:29.179 --> 00:20:29.859 of thankfulness. 00:20:30.159 --> 00:20:30.919 He's quoting lots 00:20:30.919 --> 00:20:31.379 of scripture. 00:20:31.759 --> 00:20:32.819 He knows his Bible well, 00:20:32.980 --> 00:20:33.759 but there's something 00:20:33.759 --> 00:20:34.779 really missing here. 00:20:36.359 --> 00:20:37.379 There's no repentance. 00:20:39.139 --> 00:20:40.139 There's no admission 00:20:40.139 --> 00:20:41.539 of doing anything wrong. 00:20:41.539 --> 00:20:44.079 And contrast that response 00:20:44.079 --> 00:20:45.579 with the wicked people 00:20:45.579 --> 00:20:46.299 of Nineveh 00:20:46.299 --> 00:20:48.079 when they heard his warning. 00:20:48.920 --> 00:20:50.220 Look in chapter 3, 00:20:51.299 --> 00:20:52.500 starting in verse 5. 00:20:54.099 --> 00:20:55.899 The Ninevites believed God. 00:20:56.720 --> 00:20:57.740 They declared a fast, 00:20:57.839 --> 00:20:58.279 all of them, 00:20:58.379 --> 00:20:59.619 from the greatest to the least, 00:20:59.659 --> 00:21:00.599 and put on sackcloth. 00:21:00.879 --> 00:21:01.920 When the news reached 00:21:01.920 --> 00:21:02.759 the king of Nineveh, 00:21:02.839 --> 00:21:03.700 he rose from his throne, 00:21:03.819 --> 00:21:04.819 took off his royal robes, 00:21:04.920 --> 00:21:06.119 covered himself with sackcloth, 00:21:06.180 --> 00:21:07.279 and sat down in the dust. 00:21:07.879 --> 00:21:09.039 Then he issued a proclamation 00:21:09.039 --> 00:21:09.559 in Nineveh. 00:21:09.559 --> 00:21:10.599 By the decree of the king 00:21:10.599 --> 00:21:11.179 and his nobles, 00:21:11.500 --> 00:21:12.700 do not let any man or beast, 00:21:12.799 --> 00:21:13.279 herd or flock, 00:21:13.379 --> 00:21:13.980 taste anything. 00:21:14.399 --> 00:21:15.539 Do not let them eat or drink, 00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:17.179 but let man and beast 00:21:17.179 --> 00:21:18.319 be covered with sackcloth. 00:21:18.399 --> 00:21:20.259 Let everyone call urgently on God. 00:21:20.940 --> 00:21:22.399 Let them give up their evil ways 00:21:22.399 --> 00:21:23.119 and their violence. 00:21:23.559 --> 00:21:24.000 Who knows? 00:21:24.079 --> 00:21:25.179 God may yet relent 00:21:25.179 --> 00:21:26.480 and with compassion 00:21:26.480 --> 00:21:27.839 turn from his fierce anger 00:21:27.839 --> 00:21:29.059 so that we will not perish. 00:21:31.419 --> 00:21:33.700 They repented immediately. 00:21:34.859 --> 00:21:35.960 And even the sailors, 00:21:36.240 --> 00:21:37.200 in 116, 00:21:37.759 --> 00:21:38.139 it says, 00:21:38.139 --> 00:21:39.139 they feared the Lord. 00:21:39.559 --> 00:21:41.139 And offered sacrifices to him. 00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:43.039 So it seems like 00:21:43.039 --> 00:21:44.460 everyone is actually 00:21:44.460 --> 00:21:45.399 responding to God 00:21:45.399 --> 00:21:46.759 better than the actual prophet 00:21:46.759 --> 00:21:47.539 of God. 00:21:48.919 --> 00:21:50.599 And yet even this rebellious prophet 00:21:50.599 --> 00:21:51.339 who can't admit 00:21:51.339 --> 00:21:52.759 his own disobedience 00:21:52.759 --> 00:21:54.740 is given a second chance 00:21:54.740 --> 00:21:55.639 by God. 00:21:56.659 --> 00:21:57.539 That's a great mercy. 00:21:57.659 --> 00:21:57.779 I mean, 00:21:57.839 --> 00:21:58.859 God didn't have to do that. 00:21:59.099 --> 00:22:00.419 He could have found somebody else 00:22:00.419 --> 00:22:01.399 who would be willing to go. 00:22:02.940 --> 00:22:04.000 But to Jonah's credit, 00:22:04.079 --> 00:22:05.339 he does go the second time, 00:22:05.659 --> 00:22:06.500 although his heart 00:22:06.500 --> 00:22:08.240 really doesn't change. 00:22:09.880 --> 00:22:10.680 We've read already 00:22:10.680 --> 00:22:11.460 from chapter 4 00:22:11.460 --> 00:22:12.400 about how Jonah 00:22:12.400 --> 00:22:13.880 was angry with God 00:22:13.880 --> 00:22:15.720 when God spared the Ninevites. 00:22:17.480 --> 00:22:18.220 But again, 00:22:18.539 --> 00:22:20.039 God is gracious with Jonah 00:22:20.039 --> 00:22:20.619 and he gives him 00:22:20.619 --> 00:22:21.240 this illustration 00:22:21.240 --> 00:22:22.019 at the end of the book 00:22:22.019 --> 00:22:25.720 about a plant. 00:22:26.660 --> 00:22:27.900 He makes this plant 00:22:27.900 --> 00:22:28.539 grow over Jonah 00:22:28.539 --> 00:22:29.839 and Jonah loves it 00:22:29.839 --> 00:22:30.740 because it gives him shade, 00:22:30.839 --> 00:22:31.519 makes him comfortable. 00:22:31.519 --> 00:22:33.759 And then he takes it away 00:22:33.759 --> 00:22:34.559 and Jonah's angry. 00:22:35.000 --> 00:22:35.559 But basically, 00:22:35.700 --> 00:22:36.400 he's teaching Jonah 00:22:36.400 --> 00:22:37.319 that his perspective 00:22:37.319 --> 00:22:38.859 is just way too small. 00:22:39.879 --> 00:22:40.920 He cares so much 00:22:40.920 --> 00:22:41.740 about his own comfort. 00:22:41.940 --> 00:22:43.039 He cares about this plant. 00:22:43.599 --> 00:22:44.879 He cares about his own agenda. 00:22:45.480 --> 00:22:46.559 But he can't see 00:22:46.559 --> 00:22:47.460 the desperate need 00:22:47.460 --> 00:22:48.359 of a whole city 00:22:48.359 --> 00:22:49.579 full of people 00:22:49.579 --> 00:22:50.759 that God created. 00:22:52.259 --> 00:22:53.519 So what Jonah saw, 00:22:53.940 --> 00:22:55.099 he saw very clearly 00:22:55.099 --> 00:22:56.859 that other people's sins 00:22:56.859 --> 00:22:57.960 deserve God's judgment. 00:22:59.700 --> 00:23:00.619 Which was true. 00:23:00.619 --> 00:23:03.119 But what he overlooked 00:23:03.119 --> 00:23:04.659 was that his own sins 00:23:04.659 --> 00:23:06.059 deserve God's judgment 00:23:06.059 --> 00:23:06.639 as well. 00:23:07.419 --> 00:23:08.779 He just took for granted 00:23:08.779 --> 00:23:10.199 that God had mercy on him. 00:23:10.219 --> 00:23:11.399 And God did have mercy on him. 00:23:11.659 --> 00:23:13.559 But he didn't recognize 00:23:13.559 --> 00:23:15.919 his own even need for that. 00:23:17.299 --> 00:23:18.959 But God sees all of it. 00:23:19.939 --> 00:23:21.319 He sees all sin. 00:23:22.279 --> 00:23:23.779 He doesn't pick and choose 00:23:23.779 --> 00:23:25.399 whose sin to take seriously. 00:23:25.739 --> 00:23:26.939 He doesn't pick and choose 00:23:26.939 --> 00:23:28.339 what sin to take seriously. 00:23:28.679 --> 00:23:29.619 We love to take sins 00:23:29.619 --> 00:23:31.000 sins that we don't struggle 00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:31.659 with seriously. 00:23:32.759 --> 00:23:34.219 And we love to kind of 00:23:34.219 --> 00:23:35.899 justify and overlook 00:23:35.899 --> 00:23:37.039 the sins that, you know, 00:23:37.059 --> 00:23:38.079 are more common to us. 00:23:39.079 --> 00:23:40.379 But God doesn't do that. 00:23:40.519 --> 00:23:41.539 He sees all sin 00:23:41.539 --> 00:23:42.399 as serious 00:23:42.399 --> 00:23:43.639 as it really is. 00:23:44.659 --> 00:23:45.599 But thankfully, 00:23:46.119 --> 00:23:47.479 our only hope is 00:23:47.479 --> 00:23:49.379 that God is a God of mercy 00:23:49.379 --> 00:23:50.019 as well. 00:23:51.159 --> 00:23:52.279 But the question is, 00:23:52.359 --> 00:23:53.219 do we really 00:23:53.219 --> 00:23:54.619 realize 00:23:54.619 --> 00:23:55.259 realize 00:23:55.259 --> 00:23:56.019 and do we 00:23:56.019 --> 00:23:56.619 recognize 00:23:56.619 --> 00:23:58.539 our own need 00:23:58.539 --> 00:23:59.459 for God's mercy? 00:24:00.399 --> 00:24:00.619 I mean, 00:24:00.659 --> 00:24:01.119 Romans says, 00:24:01.219 --> 00:24:02.039 the wages of sin 00:24:02.039 --> 00:24:02.679 is death. 00:24:03.159 --> 00:24:04.199 And all have sinned 00:24:04.199 --> 00:24:04.639 and fall short 00:24:04.639 --> 00:24:05.339 of the glory of God. 00:24:05.599 --> 00:24:06.199 Isaiah says, 00:24:06.319 --> 00:24:06.799 all of us 00:24:06.799 --> 00:24:07.239 have become 00:24:07.239 --> 00:24:08.719 like unclean. 00:24:09.419 --> 00:24:09.819 I'm sorry, 00:24:09.899 --> 00:24:10.399 all of us 00:24:10.399 --> 00:24:10.939 have become 00:24:10.939 --> 00:24:12.179 like one who is unclean. 00:24:12.299 --> 00:24:13.219 All our righteous acts 00:24:13.219 --> 00:24:14.239 are like filthy rags. 00:24:14.599 --> 00:24:15.939 Even our righteous acts 00:24:15.939 --> 00:24:17.339 are like filthy rags. 00:24:17.399 --> 00:24:18.519 Even our best moments 00:24:18.519 --> 00:24:19.419 are tainted 00:24:19.419 --> 00:24:20.359 with sin. 00:24:20.359 --> 00:24:21.439 Whether it's 00:24:21.439 --> 00:24:22.199 wrong attitudes 00:24:22.199 --> 00:24:22.759 or pride 00:24:22.759 --> 00:24:23.519 or self-promotion 00:24:23.519 --> 00:24:24.639 or self-sufficiency. 00:24:25.159 --> 00:24:25.299 I mean, 00:24:25.339 --> 00:24:25.839 it's clear that 00:24:25.839 --> 00:24:27.259 even our good deeds, 00:24:27.500 --> 00:24:28.579 even our good deeds 00:24:28.579 --> 00:24:29.740 can be done 00:24:29.740 --> 00:24:30.319 in rebellion 00:24:30.319 --> 00:24:31.019 against God. 00:24:33.359 --> 00:24:34.579 We might be like Jonah 00:24:34.579 --> 00:24:35.439 and we might look down 00:24:35.439 --> 00:24:36.819 on the really wicked people 00:24:36.819 --> 00:24:37.279 around us 00:24:37.279 --> 00:24:37.619 who are doing 00:24:37.619 --> 00:24:38.599 really wicked things 00:24:38.599 --> 00:24:39.319 and we think 00:24:39.319 --> 00:24:40.059 that we're way 00:24:40.059 --> 00:24:41.039 better than them. 00:24:41.279 --> 00:24:42.039 But if we could see 00:24:42.039 --> 00:24:43.199 from God's perspective, 00:24:44.039 --> 00:24:44.759 it'd be obvious 00:24:44.759 --> 00:24:45.379 that even if 00:24:45.379 --> 00:24:46.879 our sins may be different, 00:24:47.219 --> 00:24:47.740 all sin 00:24:47.740 --> 00:24:48.719 is serious. 00:24:48.720 --> 00:24:50.900 All sin 00:24:50.900 --> 00:24:51.880 deserves 00:24:51.880 --> 00:24:53.019 God's judgment. 00:24:53.799 --> 00:24:54.420 We might try 00:24:54.420 --> 00:24:54.900 to justify 00:24:54.900 --> 00:24:55.579 our own sin. 00:24:55.799 --> 00:24:56.420 We might take 00:24:56.420 --> 00:24:57.519 God's mercy to us 00:24:57.519 --> 00:24:58.039 for granted 00:24:58.039 --> 00:24:58.579 like somehow 00:24:58.579 --> 00:24:59.319 we deserve it. 00:24:59.920 --> 00:25:00.819 But even while 00:25:00.819 --> 00:25:01.500 we're looking down 00:25:01.500 --> 00:25:02.779 on really wicked 00:25:02.779 --> 00:25:03.299 people around, 00:25:03.640 --> 00:25:04.360 we need to realize 00:25:04.360 --> 00:25:05.120 that our sin 00:25:05.120 --> 00:25:06.920 is so serious 00:25:06.920 --> 00:25:09.220 that the only way 00:25:09.220 --> 00:25:09.620 for God 00:25:09.620 --> 00:25:10.460 to offer forgiveness 00:25:10.460 --> 00:25:11.019 to us, 00:25:11.100 --> 00:25:11.539 the only way 00:25:11.539 --> 00:25:11.799 for God 00:25:11.799 --> 00:25:12.600 to offer mercy 00:25:12.600 --> 00:25:13.240 to us 00:25:13.240 --> 00:25:14.480 was for Jesus 00:25:14.480 --> 00:25:15.640 to take our punishment 00:25:15.640 --> 00:25:16.360 to the cross. 00:25:16.359 --> 00:25:18.319 that's how 00:25:18.319 --> 00:25:18.819 serious 00:25:18.819 --> 00:25:19.959 our sin is. 00:25:21.599 --> 00:25:22.359 And following 00:25:22.359 --> 00:25:22.979 on from that, 00:25:23.939 --> 00:25:24.559 do we realize, 00:25:24.679 --> 00:25:24.819 okay, 00:25:24.939 --> 00:25:25.779 how serious 00:25:25.779 --> 00:25:26.579 our own sin is? 00:25:26.619 --> 00:25:26.959 But also, 00:25:27.039 --> 00:25:27.599 do we realize 00:25:27.599 --> 00:25:28.500 how serious 00:25:28.500 --> 00:25:29.399 the sin is 00:25:29.399 --> 00:25:30.219 of other people? 00:25:30.579 --> 00:25:31.879 And do we realize 00:25:31.879 --> 00:25:32.599 their need 00:25:32.599 --> 00:25:33.359 for God's mercy 00:25:33.359 --> 00:25:33.959 as well? 00:25:34.399 --> 00:25:35.119 Jonah realized 00:25:35.119 --> 00:25:35.659 very clearly 00:25:35.659 --> 00:25:36.339 that people 00:25:36.339 --> 00:25:37.799 deserve God's judgment. 00:25:38.519 --> 00:25:39.500 But he didn't want 00:25:39.500 --> 00:25:40.259 God to have mercy 00:25:40.259 --> 00:25:40.619 on them. 00:25:42.319 --> 00:25:43.179 But we might go 00:25:43.179 --> 00:25:44.259 to the other extreme 00:25:44.259 --> 00:25:44.640 and say, 00:25:44.740 --> 00:25:45.039 well, 00:25:45.119 --> 00:25:45.420 okay, 00:25:45.619 --> 00:25:46.579 and just focus 00:25:46.579 --> 00:25:47.660 only on God's mercy 00:25:47.660 --> 00:25:48.680 to everyone 00:25:48.680 --> 00:25:49.099 and say, 00:25:49.200 --> 00:25:49.480 ah, 00:25:49.599 --> 00:25:49.779 sure, 00:25:49.900 --> 00:25:50.059 you know, 00:25:50.119 --> 00:25:50.720 they'll be grand. 00:25:51.519 --> 00:25:52.279 Even though 00:25:52.279 --> 00:25:53.279 God is just 00:25:53.279 --> 00:25:54.019 and he must 00:25:54.019 --> 00:25:54.740 punish sin. 00:25:57.879 --> 00:25:58.119 I mean, 00:25:58.160 --> 00:25:59.019 the only place 00:25:59.019 --> 00:25:59.960 where God's justice 00:25:59.960 --> 00:26:00.599 and mercy 00:26:00.599 --> 00:26:01.180 can meet 00:26:01.180 --> 00:26:02.119 is the cross 00:26:02.119 --> 00:26:02.660 of Jesus. 00:26:03.440 --> 00:26:04.220 Where Jesus 00:26:04.220 --> 00:26:05.440 met the demands 00:26:05.440 --> 00:26:06.379 of God's justice 00:26:06.379 --> 00:26:07.019 for us 00:26:07.019 --> 00:26:07.799 so that God 00:26:07.799 --> 00:26:08.539 could show us 00:26:08.539 --> 00:26:08.920 mercy. 00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:10.900 But do we even 00:26:10.900 --> 00:26:11.700 care enough 00:26:11.700 --> 00:26:12.339 about others 00:26:12.339 --> 00:26:13.140 to show them 00:26:13.140 --> 00:26:14.360 their need 00:26:14.360 --> 00:26:15.740 and also 00:26:15.740 --> 00:26:16.220 how God 00:26:16.220 --> 00:26:16.780 has provided 00:26:16.780 --> 00:26:17.180 mercy? 00:26:18.920 --> 00:26:20.000 God gave Jonah 00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:20.840 a message 00:26:20.840 --> 00:26:22.759 of warning 00:26:22.759 --> 00:26:24.500 to give to Nineveh 00:26:24.500 --> 00:26:29.259 to give them 00:26:29.259 --> 00:26:29.660 a chance 00:26:29.660 --> 00:26:30.200 to repent 00:26:30.200 --> 00:26:31.520 and to be saved. 00:26:31.920 --> 00:26:32.640 But he's given us 00:26:32.640 --> 00:26:33.320 a similar message. 00:26:33.440 --> 00:26:33.560 I mean, 00:26:33.600 --> 00:26:34.160 God's judgment 00:26:34.160 --> 00:26:34.660 for sin 00:26:34.660 --> 00:26:35.480 has not changed. 00:26:36.080 --> 00:26:37.200 There still is 00:26:37.200 --> 00:26:38.140 judgment for sin 00:26:38.140 --> 00:26:38.840 today 00:26:38.840 --> 00:26:39.840 just like there was 00:26:39.840 --> 00:26:41.540 back then. 00:26:43.140 --> 00:26:44.700 Jonah ran away 00:26:44.700 --> 00:26:45.380 from giving that 00:26:45.380 --> 00:26:45.940 message because 00:26:45.940 --> 00:26:46.740 he wanted them 00:26:46.740 --> 00:26:47.340 to be judged. 00:26:47.660 --> 00:26:48.940 But we have 00:26:48.940 --> 00:26:49.940 lots of reasons 00:26:49.940 --> 00:26:50.660 for running away 00:26:50.660 --> 00:26:50.960 too. 00:26:51.600 --> 00:26:52.240 Maybe we don't 00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:52.800 want people 00:26:52.800 --> 00:26:53.300 to be judged. 00:26:53.360 --> 00:26:53.720 We wouldn't 00:26:53.720 --> 00:26:54.400 say that anyway. 00:26:54.800 --> 00:26:55.460 Maybe some people 00:26:55.460 --> 00:26:55.860 we do. 00:26:57.140 --> 00:26:57.700 But maybe we're 00:26:57.700 --> 00:26:58.540 just afraid of 00:26:58.540 --> 00:26:59.660 what people 00:26:59.660 --> 00:27:00.280 will think of us. 00:27:00.360 --> 00:27:00.660 We're afraid 00:27:00.660 --> 00:27:01.360 of our reputation 00:27:01.360 --> 00:27:02.020 and people might 00:27:02.020 --> 00:27:02.660 make fun of us 00:27:02.660 --> 00:27:03.880 or see us 00:27:03.880 --> 00:27:04.280 differently. 00:27:05.100 --> 00:27:06.000 But the result 00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:06.820 is really the same. 00:27:07.500 --> 00:27:08.080 We'd still be 00:27:08.080 --> 00:27:08.800 holding back 00:27:08.800 --> 00:27:09.740 the message 00:27:09.740 --> 00:27:10.520 that they need 00:27:10.519 --> 00:27:10.940 to hear 00:27:10.940 --> 00:27:12.220 to be saved, 00:27:12.460 --> 00:27:13.119 to repent. 00:27:15.980 --> 00:27:16.500 So, 00:27:16.680 --> 00:27:17.160 we need to be 00:27:17.160 --> 00:27:17.779 quick to remember 00:27:17.779 --> 00:27:19.000 that we depend 00:27:19.000 --> 00:27:20.119 on God's mercy 00:27:20.119 --> 00:27:21.079 just as much 00:27:21.079 --> 00:27:22.220 as everyone else. 00:27:23.079 --> 00:27:23.859 We should be 00:27:23.859 --> 00:27:24.480 quick to share 00:27:24.480 --> 00:27:24.900 with others 00:27:24.900 --> 00:27:25.900 that they need 00:27:25.900 --> 00:27:26.799 God's mercy too 00:27:26.799 --> 00:27:27.639 but that he has 00:27:27.639 --> 00:27:28.359 provided it 00:27:28.359 --> 00:27:29.160 in Jesus. 00:27:30.160 --> 00:27:31.000 We need to take 00:27:31.000 --> 00:27:31.639 sin seriously, 00:27:31.799 --> 00:27:32.740 not just everyone 00:27:32.740 --> 00:27:33.420 else's sin 00:27:33.420 --> 00:27:34.259 like Jonah did, 00:27:35.200 --> 00:27:36.740 but our own sin 00:27:36.740 --> 00:27:37.160 as well. 00:27:37.160 --> 00:27:40.279 But we also 00:27:40.279 --> 00:27:41.060 should recognize 00:27:41.060 --> 00:27:42.519 that in spite 00:27:42.519 --> 00:27:43.320 of the greatness 00:27:43.320 --> 00:27:44.460 of our sin, 00:27:45.019 --> 00:27:45.940 God has provided 00:27:45.940 --> 00:27:46.740 a mercy 00:27:46.740 --> 00:27:47.540 that is even 00:27:47.540 --> 00:27:47.980 greater. 00:27:49.080 --> 00:27:49.700 It's not only 00:27:49.700 --> 00:27:50.240 for us. 00:27:50.800 --> 00:27:51.360 Jonah was very 00:27:51.360 --> 00:27:53.380 happy to accept 00:27:53.380 --> 00:27:54.400 mercy for himself 00:27:54.400 --> 00:27:58.000 but this mercy 00:27:58.000 --> 00:27:58.820 is actually 00:27:58.820 --> 00:28:00.240 for everyone. 00:28:02.519 --> 00:28:03.500 And he's given 00:28:03.500 --> 00:28:04.279 us the privilege 00:28:04.279 --> 00:28:04.980 of sharing 00:28:04.980 --> 00:28:06.160 that message 00:28:06.160 --> 00:28:07.000 with others. 00:28:08.100 --> 00:28:08.880 The saying is 00:28:08.880 --> 00:28:09.300 that the ground 00:28:09.300 --> 00:28:10.279 is level at the cross 00:28:10.279 --> 00:28:12.180 and it's true. 00:28:12.380 --> 00:28:13.140 We all deserve 00:28:13.140 --> 00:28:13.840 God's justice 00:28:13.840 --> 00:28:15.500 and yet God 00:28:15.500 --> 00:28:16.000 has provided 00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:16.640 his mercy 00:28:16.640 --> 00:28:17.580 that is available 00:28:17.580 --> 00:28:18.380 to all. 00:28:20.040 --> 00:28:20.800 And I think 00:28:20.800 --> 00:28:22.360 that a great 00:28:22.360 --> 00:28:22.940 thing for us 00:28:22.940 --> 00:28:23.480 to do now 00:28:23.480 --> 00:28:24.400 would be to sing 00:28:24.400 --> 00:28:25.580 Thank You 00:28:25.580 --> 00:28:26.200 for Saving Me 00:28:26.200 --> 00:28:26.880 is the next song. 00:28:26.880 --> 00:28:26.940 Thank you.