WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:13.359 If you're just coming back from the break, you may recall that we have been working through the book of Ecclesiastes and we found ourselves in Ecclesiastes chapter 2 and there was not a time warp while you were gone. 00:00:13.960 --> 00:00:27.600 We did not manage to get all the way through the 12th chapter and now into another book, but decided instead to wrap up the book of Ecclesiastes for the time being by coming to the book of Jonah. 00:00:27.600 --> 00:00:41.560 And we're doing this because the summation of the book of Ecclesiastes, although it has so much of great value to say to us, is found in chapter 12, verse 13 of Ecclesiastes, where the pastor says, 00:00:41.560 --> 00:00:51.340 the preacher, the end of the matter, all has been heard, fear God and keep his commandments for this is the whole duty of man. 00:00:52.359 --> 00:01:01.579 So we're stepping away from it and we're coming to the book of Jonah to look at an example of this and the way that it works out in the life of Jonah, 00:01:01.579 --> 00:01:09.019 as well as the manors, though those that he sails with the sailors and the Ninevites as well. 00:01:10.060 --> 00:01:18.680 I said this last week, but for those of you who weren't here, if it makes you very sad that we're not still preaching in Ecclesiastes, my apologies to you. 00:01:19.060 --> 00:01:27.680 But if you will get married and build a house and have children in the area someday, maybe we'll revisit it and quench that thirst for you. 00:01:27.680 --> 00:01:39.000 So, we looked last week thematically from Jonah chapter 1, verses 1 through 16 at rebellion. 00:01:39.820 --> 00:01:42.020 We looked at the rebellion of the mariners. 00:01:42.460 --> 00:01:46.140 First part of verse 5 of chapter 1 says, 00:01:46.920 --> 00:01:53.000 Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his God. 00:01:53.000 --> 00:01:56.740 These were not followers of the one true God. 00:01:56.739 --> 00:02:02.459 They had many gods, and they all cried out asking that their God might stay the storm. 00:02:02.579 --> 00:02:05.819 They were rebellious against the one true God. 00:02:06.280 --> 00:02:09.060 We looked at Nineveh's rebellion. 00:02:09.379 --> 00:02:12.319 In chapter 1, verse 2, we see the command to Jonah, 00:02:12.479 --> 00:02:20.400 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me. 00:02:20.400 --> 00:02:24.439 And Jonah's cry, which we find in chapter 3, verse 4, is, 00:02:24.659 --> 00:02:28.180 Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. 00:02:28.319 --> 00:02:34.460 So, the promised destruction of Nineveh because of their evil, their rebellion before the Lord. 00:02:35.460 --> 00:02:40.759 And I read to everyone last week the prophecy of Nahum, which was for these people. 00:02:41.240 --> 00:02:44.140 Chapter 3, verses 1 through 4, Nahum. 00:02:44.139 --> 00:02:51.879 Woe to the bloody city, all full of lies and plunder, no end to the prey. 00:02:52.439 --> 00:02:58.139 The crack of the whip and rumble of wheel, galloping horse and bounding chariot. 00:02:58.839 --> 00:03:03.259 Horsemen charging, flashing sword and glittering spear. 00:03:03.839 --> 00:03:09.759 Hosts of slain, heaps of corpses, dead bodies without end. 00:03:09.759 --> 00:03:12.579 They stumble over the bodies. 00:03:13.679 --> 00:03:19.939 And all for the countless whorings of the prostitute, graceful and of deadly charms, 00:03:20.179 --> 00:03:24.739 who betrays nations with her whorings and peoples with her charms. 00:03:24.819 --> 00:03:26.340 So, get there, they were a warring people. 00:03:26.680 --> 00:03:34.579 They were a destructive people, a violent people because of sex and evil before God. 00:03:35.699 --> 00:03:37.919 And we looked at Jonah's rebellion. 00:03:37.919 --> 00:03:47.039 Jonah knew of God's purpose in the world that His glory might be known amongst the nations. 00:03:47.779 --> 00:03:52.519 We see a rapid expansion of this as we read the New Testament account, 00:03:52.839 --> 00:03:58.199 as the Gospel turns from primarily the Jews and outward to the Gentile populations. 00:03:58.199 --> 00:03:59.759 But this is not a new thing. 00:04:00.019 --> 00:04:04.000 This is not a brand new revelation of God's purpose, 00:04:04.000 --> 00:04:11.300 because we see all throughout the Old Testament God's intention to make Himself known amongst the peoples of the world. 00:04:11.360 --> 00:04:14.280 And here we find an example of that. 00:04:15.699 --> 00:04:19.339 Jonah's rebellion was because he knew of God's purpose. 00:04:19.740 --> 00:04:27.240 Because Jonah saw the Assyrians who lived in Nineveh as enemies, as dreaded enemies. 00:04:27.240 --> 00:04:30.360 Jonah 4, verse 1 and 2. 00:04:30.519 --> 00:04:35.139 After we see the Ninevites repent and turn to God, it says, 00:04:35.139 --> 00:04:39.139 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. 00:04:39.939 --> 00:04:41.279 And he prayed to the Lord and said, 00:04:41.639 --> 00:04:45.800 O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? 00:04:46.459 --> 00:04:50.060 That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish. 00:04:50.300 --> 00:04:53.399 For I knew that You were a gracious God and merciful, 00:04:53.979 --> 00:04:59.139 slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and relenting from disaster. 00:04:59.139 --> 00:05:03.860 Because he knew that God intended to save the Ninevites. 00:05:03.939 --> 00:05:06.479 He didn't want to be the one to bring him this message. 00:05:06.699 --> 00:05:08.099 And so he flees. 00:05:09.060 --> 00:05:11.779 Jonah tried to flee from God's presence. 00:05:12.659 --> 00:05:16.819 We see that twice in verse 3 and again in verse 10 of chapter 1. 00:05:17.060 --> 00:05:20.240 He tried to flee the presence of the Lord. 00:05:21.459 --> 00:05:23.939 And certainly we know this is not a possible thing. 00:05:23.939 --> 00:05:28.519 And I believe that Jonah knew that it wasn't a possible thing. 00:05:29.660 --> 00:05:32.300 The Psalms predate Jonah's day. 00:05:32.519 --> 00:05:37.540 And he would have likely been familiar with Psalm 139, 7-10. 00:05:38.300 --> 00:05:40.860 Where shall I go from your spirit? 00:05:41.300 --> 00:05:44.199 Or where shall I flee from your presence? 00:05:45.019 --> 00:05:47.540 If I ascend to heaven, you are there. 00:05:47.720 --> 00:05:50.680 If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. 00:05:50.680 --> 00:05:56.079 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 00:05:56.199 --> 00:06:01.199 even there your hand shall lead me and your right hand shall hold me. 00:06:01.500 --> 00:06:07.420 So we talked about how it's not possible to flee from the presence of the God in a physical sense. 00:06:07.740 --> 00:06:10.319 But that what he was doing is he was fleeing from the will of God. 00:06:10.680 --> 00:06:14.540 He was running away from the very thing that God intended to accomplish. 00:06:14.800 --> 00:06:18.860 So knowing God's purpose, he tried to flee from God's presence. 00:06:18.860 --> 00:06:23.120 And he therefore experiences God's power. 00:06:24.160 --> 00:06:26.060 I'm just going to alliterate this thing like crazy. 00:06:27.720 --> 00:06:32.960 God sovereignly works to accomplish his purpose. 00:06:33.120 --> 00:06:34.819 So he brings about this great storm. 00:06:35.960 --> 00:06:37.819 Jonah's throne overboard. 00:06:38.100 --> 00:06:41.500 And we'll pick up in the story today that he's swallowed by a great fish. 00:06:41.500 --> 00:06:47.579 And his heart is turned back toward the thing that God has asked him to do. 00:06:48.399 --> 00:06:54.779 And we're going to kind of narrow in on verses 14 of chapter 1 through the end of chapter 3. 00:06:54.939 --> 00:06:56.740 It's rather a chunk of a text. 00:06:56.819 --> 00:07:01.300 But thematically, we're going to look at the repentance of the characters of our stories. 00:07:01.879 --> 00:07:03.959 And it's important for us to pay attention to this. 00:07:04.000 --> 00:07:05.519 Not as some abstract thing. 00:07:05.839 --> 00:07:06.720 Their repentance. 00:07:06.720 --> 00:07:10.680 But how is it that we are meant to repent? 00:07:11.580 --> 00:07:16.280 How is it that we find ourselves in the same condition as these characters? 00:07:16.840 --> 00:07:22.380 We've got the mariners and the Ninevites who did not know God, repenting for the very first time. 00:07:22.780 --> 00:07:29.400 And we have Jonah who does know God, but who's disobedient to God, repenting and turning back to his ways. 00:07:30.260 --> 00:07:34.740 Because, beloved, all of us have been cast into the depths of the sea in Adam. 00:07:34.740 --> 00:07:38.280 Sin is an issue for all of us. 00:07:38.360 --> 00:07:41.759 Whether redeemed or not, sin is an issue in our day. 00:07:42.400 --> 00:07:46.720 This is the human condition apart from saving faith in Christ. 00:07:47.819 --> 00:07:50.860 Christ is the safety of the shore. 00:07:52.079 --> 00:07:56.379 Repentance is the big fish that carries us there. 00:07:57.199 --> 00:08:01.280 It is the act that stays the storm. 00:08:01.279 --> 00:08:06.219 It is the flag of truth that spares the destruction of our city. 00:08:07.339 --> 00:08:13.039 It's not a light matter to consider repentance and our need of it. 00:08:13.979 --> 00:08:19.379 It is my prayer for all of us this morning that we will be penitent. 00:08:20.739 --> 00:08:24.639 Now, penitent is a very old word, but it's a very good word. 00:08:24.639 --> 00:08:31.240 As an adjective, it means to feel and to show remorse for an action. 00:08:32.179 --> 00:08:36.720 As a noun, it means a person who is repentant. 00:08:37.000 --> 00:08:39.460 A person who is repentant. 00:08:39.539 --> 00:08:41.419 It is a state of being. 00:08:42.220 --> 00:08:47.120 And we ought to be, as God's people, penitent. 00:08:47.120 --> 00:08:50.740 The Christian life is a life of repentance. 00:08:51.000 --> 00:08:56.440 Of turning from sin and turning to God. 00:08:57.700 --> 00:08:58.940 So let's read together. 00:08:59.679 --> 00:09:04.080 Remember, the focus this morning is chapter 1, verse 14 through the end of chapter 3. 00:09:04.379 --> 00:09:06.779 But I am going to start at the beginning. 00:09:08.039 --> 00:09:09.519 It will take about six minutes. 00:09:09.799 --> 00:09:10.539 We're going to be okay. 00:09:11.980 --> 00:09:12.620 But stick with me. 00:09:12.620 --> 00:09:14.679 Beginning in chapter 1, verse 1. 00:09:19.940 --> 00:09:21.480 This is the Word of God. 00:09:22.940 --> 00:09:27.279 Now the Word of the Lord came to Jonah, the son of Amittai, saying, 00:09:27.840 --> 00:09:32.179 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it. 00:09:32.560 --> 00:09:34.460 For their evil has come up before me. 00:09:34.879 --> 00:09:38.940 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. 00:09:38.940 --> 00:09:42.760 He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. 00:09:43.120 --> 00:09:46.600 He paid the fare and went on board to go with them to Tarshish, 00:09:46.720 --> 00:09:49.100 away from the presence of the Lord. 00:09:49.800 --> 00:09:52.640 But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, 00:09:52.840 --> 00:09:54.840 and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, 00:09:54.900 --> 00:09:56.620 so that the ship threatened to break up. 00:09:57.180 --> 00:10:00.260 Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his God. 00:10:00.460 --> 00:10:04.620 And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. 00:10:04.620 --> 00:10:10.220 But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and laid down and was fast asleep. 00:10:10.980 --> 00:10:13.179 So the captain came and said to him, 00:10:13.399 --> 00:10:15.480 What do you mean, you sleeper? 00:10:15.879 --> 00:10:17.460 Arise, call out to your God. 00:10:17.820 --> 00:10:21.560 Perhaps the God will give a thought to us that we may not perish. 00:10:22.560 --> 00:10:23.700 And they said to one another, 00:10:23.820 --> 00:10:27.960 Come, let us cast lots that we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us. 00:10:28.240 --> 00:10:31.000 So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. 00:10:31.000 --> 00:10:32.559 Then they said to him, 00:10:32.779 --> 00:10:35.240 Tell us on whose account this evil has come upon us. 00:10:35.340 --> 00:10:38.120 What is your occupation, and where do you come from? 00:10:38.299 --> 00:10:40.659 What is your country, and of what people are you? 00:10:41.159 --> 00:10:42.059 And he said to them, 00:10:42.259 --> 00:10:45.919 I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, 00:10:46.179 --> 00:10:48.700 who made the sea and the dry land. 00:10:49.340 --> 00:10:52.139 Then the men were exceedingly afraid and said to him, 00:10:52.360 --> 00:10:54.379 What is this that you have done? 00:10:54.700 --> 00:10:57.759 For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the Lord, 00:10:58.059 --> 00:10:59.159 because he had told them. 00:10:59.159 --> 00:11:00.939 Then they said to him, 00:11:00.939 --> 00:11:05.120 What shall we do to you that the sea may quiet down for us? 00:11:05.439 --> 00:11:07.879 For the sea grew more and more tempestuous. 00:11:09.079 --> 00:11:10.179 He said to them, 00:11:10.639 --> 00:11:12.179 Pick me up and hurl me into the sea, 00:11:12.360 --> 00:11:13.899 then the sea will quiet down for you, 00:11:14.219 --> 00:11:17.539 for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you. 00:11:18.199 --> 00:11:21.039 Nevertheless, the men rode hard to get back to dry land, 00:11:21.319 --> 00:11:22.179 but they could not, 00:11:22.259 --> 00:11:25.459 for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them. 00:11:26.220 --> 00:11:27.819 Therefore they called out to the Lord, 00:11:27.820 --> 00:11:30.980 O Lord, let us not perish for this man's life, 00:11:31.040 --> 00:11:33.320 and lay not on us innocent blood, 00:11:33.400 --> 00:11:36.580 for you, O Lord, have done as it pleased you. 00:11:37.160 --> 00:11:40.060 So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, 00:11:40.220 --> 00:11:42.480 and the sea ceased from its raging. 00:11:43.200 --> 00:11:45.460 Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, 00:11:45.940 --> 00:11:49.320 and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows. 00:11:49.320 --> 00:11:53.440 And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah, 00:11:53.640 --> 00:11:58.080 and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. 00:11:59.220 --> 00:12:02.420 Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, 00:12:02.540 --> 00:12:02.940 saying, 00:12:03.480 --> 00:12:06.640 I called out to the Lord out of my distress, 00:12:07.040 --> 00:12:08.080 and he answered me. 00:12:08.480 --> 00:12:10.740 Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, 00:12:10.879 --> 00:12:12.520 and you heard my voice. 00:12:12.960 --> 00:12:14.760 For you cast me into the deep, 00:12:15.060 --> 00:12:16.440 into the heart of the seas, 00:12:16.440 --> 00:12:18.220 and the floods surrounded me. 00:12:18.600 --> 00:12:21.520 All your waves and your billows passed over me. 00:12:22.060 --> 00:12:22.800 Then I said, 00:12:22.880 --> 00:12:24.320 I am driven away from your sight, 00:12:24.440 --> 00:12:27.400 yet I shall again look upon your holy temple. 00:12:28.240 --> 00:12:31.040 The waters closed in over me to take my life. 00:12:31.500 --> 00:12:32.900 The deep surrounded me. 00:12:33.400 --> 00:12:35.080 Weeds were wrapped around my head 00:12:35.080 --> 00:12:36.920 at the roots of the mountains. 00:12:37.500 --> 00:12:38.820 I went down to the land 00:12:38.820 --> 00:12:40.840 whose bars closed upon me forever, 00:12:41.360 --> 00:12:44.440 yet you brought up my life from the pit, 00:12:44.440 --> 00:12:46.140 O Lord my God. 00:12:46.600 --> 00:12:48.520 When my life was fainting away, 00:12:48.680 --> 00:12:49.960 I remembered the Lord, 00:12:50.300 --> 00:12:53.260 and my prayer came to you into your holy temple. 00:12:54.000 --> 00:12:56.240 Those who pay regard to vain idols 00:12:56.240 --> 00:12:59.020 forsake their hope of steadfast love. 00:12:59.480 --> 00:13:01.700 But I, with the voice of thanksgiving, 00:13:01.920 --> 00:13:03.320 will sacrifice to you 00:13:03.320 --> 00:13:05.380 what I have vowed I will pay. 00:13:05.920 --> 00:13:08.320 Salvation belongs to the Lord. 00:13:08.320 --> 00:13:10.900 And the Lord spoke to the fish, 00:13:11.320 --> 00:13:14.400 and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land. 00:13:15.420 --> 00:13:17.240 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah 00:13:17.240 --> 00:13:18.460 the second time, saying, 00:13:18.600 --> 00:13:21.440 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, 00:13:21.520 --> 00:13:24.020 and call out against it the message that I tell you. 00:13:24.560 --> 00:13:26.400 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh 00:13:26.400 --> 00:13:27.620 according to the word of the Lord. 00:13:28.260 --> 00:13:30.640 Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, 00:13:31.200 --> 00:13:33.080 three days' journey in breadth. 00:13:33.680 --> 00:13:35.300 Jonah began to go into the city, 00:13:35.780 --> 00:13:36.980 going a day's journey, 00:13:36.980 --> 00:13:38.159 and he called out, 00:13:38.639 --> 00:13:39.720 Yet forty days, 00:13:39.899 --> 00:13:41.500 and Nineveh shall be overthrown. 00:13:42.200 --> 00:13:44.580 And the people of Nineveh believed God. 00:13:45.100 --> 00:13:46.519 They called for a fast 00:13:46.519 --> 00:13:47.860 and put on sackcloth 00:13:47.860 --> 00:13:49.039 from the greatest of them 00:13:49.039 --> 00:13:50.519 to the least of them. 00:13:51.480 --> 00:13:53.980 The word reached the king of Nineveh, 00:13:54.100 --> 00:13:55.840 and he arose from his throne, 00:13:56.340 --> 00:13:57.159 removed his robe, 00:13:57.320 --> 00:13:58.680 covered himself with sackcloth, 00:13:58.779 --> 00:13:59.980 and sat in ashes. 00:14:00.600 --> 00:14:02.080 And he issued a proclamation 00:14:02.080 --> 00:14:03.580 and published through Nineveh 00:14:03.580 --> 00:14:05.800 by the decree of the king and his nobles, 00:14:05.799 --> 00:14:07.879 Let neither man nor beast, 00:14:08.059 --> 00:14:08.839 herd nor flock, 00:14:08.979 --> 00:14:09.679 taste anything. 00:14:10.159 --> 00:14:11.959 Let them not feed or drink water, 00:14:12.240 --> 00:14:13.379 but let man and beast 00:14:13.379 --> 00:14:14.679 be covered with sackcloth, 00:14:14.779 --> 00:14:16.819 and let them call out mightily to God. 00:14:17.179 --> 00:14:20.279 Let everyone turn from his evil ways 00:14:20.279 --> 00:14:22.359 and from the violence that is in his hands. 00:14:22.839 --> 00:14:23.620 Who knows? 00:14:23.959 --> 00:14:26.719 God may turn and relent from his fierce anger 00:14:26.719 --> 00:14:28.659 so that we may not perish. 00:14:29.299 --> 00:14:31.179 When God saw what they did, 00:14:31.399 --> 00:14:33.179 how they turned from their evil way, 00:14:33.179 --> 00:14:34.939 God relented of the disaster 00:14:34.939 --> 00:14:36.500 that he had said he would do to them, 00:14:37.079 --> 00:14:38.939 and he did not do it. 00:14:40.519 --> 00:14:43.719 The story of Jonah is a fantastic story, 00:14:43.919 --> 00:14:45.799 and I believe that we're all familiar with it. 00:14:45.839 --> 00:14:49.659 I think at least in some cursory telling of it, 00:14:49.699 --> 00:14:50.659 we're aware of the man 00:14:50.659 --> 00:14:51.779 that was thrown overboard 00:14:51.779 --> 00:14:55.539 and swallowed up by a great fish. 00:14:56.579 --> 00:14:58.219 Jonah, the story of Jonah, 00:14:58.220 --> 00:15:01.100 becomes one of the proof points 00:15:01.100 --> 00:15:02.820 for those who want to declare 00:15:02.820 --> 00:15:04.540 the Word of God inerrant. 00:15:04.899 --> 00:15:06.220 They say this is not a thing 00:15:06.220 --> 00:15:08.899 that could have possibly happened. 00:15:09.399 --> 00:15:12.300 This whole story seems to be figurative, 00:15:12.420 --> 00:15:15.120 and we can learn some life lesson from it, 00:15:15.200 --> 00:15:17.759 but we can't believe that it's actually true 00:15:17.759 --> 00:15:20.420 that God sent a great fish 00:15:20.420 --> 00:15:21.300 to swallow Jonah 00:15:21.300 --> 00:15:24.759 and keep him alive inside for three days. 00:15:24.759 --> 00:15:27.039 Let me say to you, 00:15:27.279 --> 00:15:30.580 by faith, we believe that the Bible is true 00:15:30.580 --> 00:15:34.559 whether or not we can prove so empirically. 00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:38.259 However, I just want to tell you a few things 00:15:38.259 --> 00:15:39.740 that I learned in the study of Jonah 00:15:39.740 --> 00:15:43.179 about the historical veracity of this text. 00:15:43.919 --> 00:15:47.259 This is not the proof that the Scripture is true. 00:15:47.939 --> 00:15:49.819 However, it is nice to know these things, 00:15:49.939 --> 00:15:53.819 that there's these apologetics in the world for this. 00:15:53.820 --> 00:15:56.080 I told you last week that Nineveh, 00:15:56.180 --> 00:15:57.060 ancient Nineveh, 00:15:57.360 --> 00:16:00.240 is now underneath, for the most part, 00:16:00.379 --> 00:16:02.940 the modern-day city in Iraq 00:16:02.940 --> 00:16:04.840 called Mosul, or Mosul. 00:16:04.980 --> 00:16:05.800 You've heard it called. 00:16:06.580 --> 00:16:08.580 And there, in this city, 00:16:08.900 --> 00:16:10.200 there is a mount called, 00:16:10.340 --> 00:16:11.980 I hope I pronounced this correctly, 00:16:12.640 --> 00:16:13.960 Nebi Yunus. 00:16:14.920 --> 00:16:17.360 It's at least my best try at it. 00:16:17.680 --> 00:16:19.660 Which translated means, 00:16:19.720 --> 00:16:21.400 and they found underneath this mound of dirt, 00:16:21.480 --> 00:16:22.480 they did some excavation, 00:16:22.480 --> 00:16:24.379 they found some of the ancient city of Nineveh 00:16:24.379 --> 00:16:26.060 underneath this mound. 00:16:26.259 --> 00:16:27.879 And the mound, historically, 00:16:28.240 --> 00:16:30.320 is called Nebi Yunus, 00:16:30.399 --> 00:16:31.279 which translated means, 00:16:31.639 --> 00:16:33.639 the prophet Jonah. 00:16:34.560 --> 00:16:37.500 So this ancient burial mound 00:16:37.500 --> 00:16:40.940 that's been named after the prophet Jonah. 00:16:41.620 --> 00:16:44.440 Our text tells us that a great fish 00:16:44.440 --> 00:16:47.039 came and swallowed Jonah up, 00:16:47.039 --> 00:16:49.819 despite our common telling of it, 00:16:49.839 --> 00:16:50.500 that it was a whale, 00:16:50.679 --> 00:16:53.240 although it could have likely been a whale. 00:16:53.360 --> 00:16:54.480 I don't believe in this day 00:16:54.480 --> 00:16:57.219 they would have differentiated between the two. 00:16:57.959 --> 00:16:59.799 My wife and I had a little bit of a debate this week 00:16:59.799 --> 00:17:01.000 on whether or not they would have, 00:17:01.079 --> 00:17:01.500 and I said, 00:17:01.659 --> 00:17:03.480 it's not like they had Jack Casto 00:17:03.480 --> 00:17:04.500 swimming in the sea 00:17:04.500 --> 00:17:06.019 and taking photos of these things. 00:17:06.299 --> 00:17:06.619 She said, 00:17:06.659 --> 00:17:08.500 but their tail fins are so much different. 00:17:08.579 --> 00:17:08.980 And I said, 00:17:09.059 --> 00:17:10.359 this way versus this way? 00:17:10.359 --> 00:17:12.519 I don't know that that's all that different. 00:17:13.319 --> 00:17:14.179 All the same, 00:17:14.240 --> 00:17:15.619 I don't think they would have differentiated 00:17:15.619 --> 00:17:17.019 between the mammal whale 00:17:17.019 --> 00:17:19.399 and the fish shark 00:17:19.399 --> 00:17:21.419 or whatever it may have been. 00:17:21.559 --> 00:17:23.639 So a great fish was an apt name 00:17:23.639 --> 00:17:27.279 for this beast that swallowed up Jonah. 00:17:28.299 --> 00:17:29.299 Most whales, 00:17:30.299 --> 00:17:31.419 as well as sharks, 00:17:31.539 --> 00:17:33.319 have throats that are far too small 00:17:33.319 --> 00:17:35.059 to swallow a human whole. 00:17:35.839 --> 00:17:36.979 But there are two species 00:17:36.979 --> 00:17:38.039 that could pull this off. 00:17:38.659 --> 00:17:40.139 The sperm whale is one. 00:17:40.819 --> 00:17:42.019 And the other is the whale shark. 00:17:42.179 --> 00:17:43.639 You guys all been to the Georgia Aquarium? 00:17:44.219 --> 00:17:45.979 The whale sharks in the Georgia Aquarium 00:17:45.979 --> 00:17:47.119 are minuscule 00:17:47.119 --> 00:17:48.939 compared to the size 00:17:48.939 --> 00:17:51.539 that those fish can become. 00:17:51.719 --> 00:17:52.139 And of course, 00:17:52.639 --> 00:17:53.299 we know that the, 00:17:53.379 --> 00:17:54.199 or at least I think we know, 00:17:54.559 --> 00:17:55.219 I know, 00:17:55.459 --> 00:17:57.279 that the sperm whale primarily feeds 00:17:57.279 --> 00:17:58.559 on giant squid, 00:17:58.659 --> 00:18:00.539 which are much, much bigger than humans. 00:18:00.599 --> 00:18:01.339 So they have the ability 00:18:01.339 --> 00:18:02.379 to swallow something 00:18:02.379 --> 00:18:05.099 the size of a human. 00:18:06.099 --> 00:18:06.959 I looked a little bit, 00:18:07.019 --> 00:18:08.039 just for fun this week, 00:18:08.079 --> 00:18:08.839 at the range 00:18:08.839 --> 00:18:09.519 and the places 00:18:09.519 --> 00:18:13.480 that these ocean dwellers tend to go. 00:18:13.619 --> 00:18:15.779 And I tend towards this great fish 00:18:15.779 --> 00:18:17.279 being a sperm whale, 00:18:17.339 --> 00:18:18.319 although it doesn't really matter 00:18:18.319 --> 00:18:19.599 because they do range 00:18:19.599 --> 00:18:20.519 into the Mediterranean, 00:18:20.700 --> 00:18:22.319 which is where we presume 00:18:22.319 --> 00:18:23.259 he's sailing 00:18:23.259 --> 00:18:24.539 as he's headed to 00:18:24.539 --> 00:18:25.900 the city of Tarshish, 00:18:25.980 --> 00:18:28.480 which was likely in modern-day Spain. 00:18:28.480 --> 00:18:29.759 And so, 00:18:30.120 --> 00:18:32.259 just doing a bit more research, 00:18:32.360 --> 00:18:34.579 I found an account in 1891, 00:18:34.819 --> 00:18:35.680 a whaling ship, 00:18:36.640 --> 00:18:38.759 whaling four sperm whales, 00:18:39.180 --> 00:18:41.660 harpooned one out of a single boat, 00:18:41.720 --> 00:18:43.380 and the second boat coming along 00:18:43.380 --> 00:18:45.180 to harpoon again was capsized. 00:18:45.740 --> 00:18:47.079 And after capturing this whale, 00:18:47.460 --> 00:18:48.420 a man was missing. 00:18:48.680 --> 00:18:50.099 It just had totally lost a sailor, 00:18:50.140 --> 00:18:52.140 and they couldn't find his body anyplace. 00:18:52.140 --> 00:18:52.580 And so, 00:18:52.940 --> 00:18:54.620 as they took this whale, 00:18:54.740 --> 00:18:55.280 now dead, 00:18:55.400 --> 00:18:56.860 and cut all the blubber off of it 00:18:56.860 --> 00:18:57.620 in one day, 00:18:57.720 --> 00:18:58.420 the next day, 00:18:58.500 --> 00:19:00.060 they began to process the innards, 00:19:00.520 --> 00:19:02.240 and they pulled the stomach on board, 00:19:02.380 --> 00:19:02.980 cut it open, 00:19:03.100 --> 00:19:04.300 and the man was inside. 00:19:04.980 --> 00:19:05.780 He was unconscious, 00:19:06.340 --> 00:19:07.340 but he was alive. 00:19:08.259 --> 00:19:09.160 They revived him, 00:19:09.600 --> 00:19:10.520 and he went back to work. 00:19:11.519 --> 00:19:11.639 So, 00:19:11.639 --> 00:19:13.940 so phenomenally, 00:19:14.420 --> 00:19:16.819 here's a man able to live 00:19:16.819 --> 00:19:18.259 inside the belly of a whale for a day, 00:19:18.440 --> 00:19:18.700 right? 00:19:19.079 --> 00:19:20.599 And I would posit to you 00:19:20.599 --> 00:19:21.559 that we have an account 00:19:21.559 --> 00:19:22.980 of a man who lived inside the belly 00:19:22.980 --> 00:19:24.539 of a whale for three. 00:19:25.279 --> 00:19:26.619 Both sperm whale and the whale shark 00:19:26.619 --> 00:19:28.819 keep air inside of their bellies 00:19:28.819 --> 00:19:30.180 in order to stay afloat. 00:19:30.259 --> 00:19:31.180 It's the way they regulate 00:19:31.180 --> 00:19:32.539 staying afloat that way. 00:19:32.599 --> 00:19:33.559 So he would have had air to breathe. 00:19:34.680 --> 00:19:36.700 It would have been a rather miserable place to be, 00:19:36.839 --> 00:19:39.779 rather warm inside the belly of anything. 00:19:40.519 --> 00:19:43.200 104 to 108 degrees inside 00:19:43.200 --> 00:19:45.200 would have been quite the place to be 00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:47.359 for three days. 00:19:47.799 --> 00:19:48.740 But it's possible. 00:19:49.160 --> 00:19:50.720 We see a man living for a day 00:19:50.720 --> 00:19:52.960 inside the belly of a sperm whale. 00:19:54.279 --> 00:19:54.759 Further, 00:19:55.019 --> 00:19:57.240 and I find this so incredibly fascinating, 00:19:58.599 --> 00:19:59.420 the Assyrians, 00:19:59.660 --> 00:20:01.460 which are the people living in Nineveh, 00:20:01.639 --> 00:20:02.799 and the Phoenicians, 00:20:02.940 --> 00:20:04.519 which would have lived to the coast, 00:20:05.700 --> 00:20:08.559 both worshipped a god called Dagon, 00:20:08.559 --> 00:20:10.940 which was kind of a merman 00:20:10.940 --> 00:20:13.099 in their depictions of him. 00:20:14.319 --> 00:20:16.279 And so it's quite possible, 00:20:16.980 --> 00:20:19.059 and I'm postulating at this point, 00:20:19.799 --> 00:20:22.179 but that Jonah was spit ashore 00:20:22.179 --> 00:20:25.539 in Phoenician land and was found. 00:20:25.639 --> 00:20:26.039 It's not like, 00:20:26.179 --> 00:20:26.940 I think in our minds, 00:20:27.019 --> 00:20:28.079 we picture him getting vomited 00:20:28.079 --> 00:20:30.119 out of a great fish onto the shore 00:20:30.119 --> 00:20:33.059 and wiping the muck off of his robe 00:20:33.059 --> 00:20:34.739 and then walking to Nineveh. 00:20:35.339 --> 00:20:37.179 He probably needed some recovery. 00:20:38.000 --> 00:20:40.959 He likely had some help in that. 00:20:41.479 --> 00:20:43.479 We see in the beginning of chapter 3, 00:20:43.559 --> 00:20:44.939 the word of the Lord coming to Jonah 00:20:44.939 --> 00:20:46.039 a second time. 00:20:46.179 --> 00:20:48.000 So he's waiting. 00:20:48.179 --> 00:20:49.139 God says to him again, 00:20:49.299 --> 00:20:50.179 go to this people, 00:20:50.579 --> 00:20:51.819 like I told you before, 00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:52.739 be obedient. 00:20:53.740 --> 00:20:54.019 Now, 00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:56.039 and so it's very likely 00:20:56.039 --> 00:20:58.220 that the Phoenicians knew 00:20:58.220 --> 00:21:00.559 that this man came out of the belly 00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:02.180 of a great fish 00:21:02.180 --> 00:21:04.799 and that that word had traveled 00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:06.420 before Jonah 00:21:06.420 --> 00:21:07.839 to the city of Nineveh. 00:21:07.940 --> 00:21:09.380 So he walks into this city 00:21:09.380 --> 00:21:11.319 as a rather peculiar man, 00:21:11.900 --> 00:21:13.099 quite possibly seen 00:21:13.099 --> 00:21:16.079 as a messenger from Dagon, right? 00:21:16.180 --> 00:21:17.440 And it gets people's attention. 00:21:17.680 --> 00:21:19.960 So as he's speaking destruction upon them, 00:21:19.960 --> 00:21:22.779 and whether or not this is the case, 00:21:22.860 --> 00:21:23.700 if it is, 00:21:24.299 --> 00:21:25.360 how amazing that God 00:21:25.360 --> 00:21:26.259 would sovereignly work 00:21:26.259 --> 00:21:27.299 this whole circumstance 00:21:27.299 --> 00:21:31.160 that a man be vomited onto a beach 00:21:31.160 --> 00:21:33.000 by a great fish 00:21:33.000 --> 00:21:34.519 so that people would hear 00:21:34.519 --> 00:21:35.600 the word of the Lord 00:21:35.600 --> 00:21:37.380 as he entered into such a great, 00:21:37.420 --> 00:21:38.400 great city. 00:21:38.900 --> 00:21:40.440 Rather fascinating, right? 00:21:40.600 --> 00:21:42.039 So there's this veracity, 00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:43.960 this historical veracity to the story, 00:21:43.980 --> 00:21:45.720 and we should view it as such. 00:21:45.720 --> 00:21:46.340 And therefore, 00:21:46.539 --> 00:21:49.720 as we look at the nature of repentance, 00:21:49.960 --> 00:21:51.279 in this passage, 00:21:51.380 --> 00:21:52.299 it helps us, 00:21:52.500 --> 00:21:53.380 and it speaks to us 00:21:53.380 --> 00:21:55.420 as it is God's Word. 00:21:56.299 --> 00:21:56.640 And so, 00:21:57.039 --> 00:21:58.620 as the theme is repentance this morning, 00:21:58.680 --> 00:22:00.019 I want to break that down to you 00:22:00.019 --> 00:22:01.420 with three marks 00:22:01.420 --> 00:22:03.000 of true repentance. 00:22:03.200 --> 00:22:03.620 There's certainly 00:22:03.620 --> 00:22:05.299 plenty of false repentance 00:22:05.299 --> 00:22:06.680 in our day, 00:22:06.779 --> 00:22:07.460 but three marks 00:22:07.460 --> 00:22:09.400 of true repentance, 00:22:10.299 --> 00:22:12.660 and I told you I would alliterate it for you, 00:22:12.940 --> 00:22:13.519 and they are, 00:22:13.519 --> 00:22:14.100 number one, 00:22:14.680 --> 00:22:15.220 conviction, 00:22:16.740 --> 00:22:17.460 number two, 00:22:17.960 --> 00:22:18.660 confession, 00:22:18.660 --> 00:22:21.580 and to keep the seas going, 00:22:21.779 --> 00:22:22.320 number three, 00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:23.560 conformity, 00:22:24.500 --> 00:22:27.380 or obedience if you prefer. 00:22:30.880 --> 00:22:32.259 The first mark 00:22:32.259 --> 00:22:33.779 of true repentance 00:22:33.779 --> 00:22:36.060 is conviction. 00:22:37.200 --> 00:22:39.100 And conviction consists of two things. 00:22:39.180 --> 00:22:40.740 It consists of the sight of sin 00:22:40.740 --> 00:22:43.100 and sorrow for sin. 00:22:43.099 --> 00:22:47.719 It consists of knowing what is sin 00:22:47.719 --> 00:22:49.699 and seeing it as such, 00:22:49.779 --> 00:22:53.339 seeing it as disobedience against the command of God. 00:22:54.039 --> 00:22:55.399 In Hosea 5.15, 00:22:55.659 --> 00:22:58.859 we see a prescription for repentance 00:22:58.859 --> 00:23:01.039 written by the Lord. 00:23:01.759 --> 00:23:02.139 He says, 00:23:02.140 --> 00:23:04.140 I will return again to my place 00:23:04.140 --> 00:23:08.100 until they acknowledge their guilt 00:23:08.100 --> 00:23:10.020 and seek my face, 00:23:10.020 --> 00:23:11.960 and in their distress 00:23:11.960 --> 00:23:14.100 earnestly seek me. 00:23:14.660 --> 00:23:16.880 So we acknowledge our guilt. 00:23:17.420 --> 00:23:20.300 So many of us have grown up 00:23:20.300 --> 00:23:23.040 in what we would call good homes. 00:23:23.820 --> 00:23:26.000 So many of our stories begin, 00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:27.759 I was born into 00:23:27.759 --> 00:23:29.539 a Christian home. 00:23:29.640 --> 00:23:30.940 I was taught morality 00:23:30.940 --> 00:23:32.319 at a very early age, 00:23:32.339 --> 00:23:33.960 and we should praise God for this. 00:23:34.279 --> 00:23:34.380 Right? 00:23:34.660 --> 00:23:37.299 We are spared from so much 00:23:37.299 --> 00:23:39.279 because of the work of our parents 00:23:39.279 --> 00:23:40.539 in our lives. 00:23:41.059 --> 00:23:41.839 But as such, 00:23:41.900 --> 00:23:44.000 we often see ourselves as so good. 00:23:44.119 --> 00:23:45.000 How many of you have heard 00:23:45.000 --> 00:23:46.180 the testimony told 00:23:46.180 --> 00:23:47.119 where somebody says, 00:23:47.279 --> 00:23:50.059 I have a kind of boring testimony. 00:23:51.279 --> 00:23:53.740 Because there's nothing extravagant about it. 00:23:53.740 --> 00:23:55.799 I didn't demand my inheritance 00:23:55.799 --> 00:23:56.480 from my father 00:23:56.480 --> 00:23:57.740 and go off and squander it 00:23:57.740 --> 00:23:58.680 in a foreign land. 00:23:59.220 --> 00:24:03.160 I can't speak of prostitution and drugs. 00:24:03.640 --> 00:24:05.859 These are not part of my story. 00:24:06.099 --> 00:24:08.319 But my offense all the same 00:24:08.319 --> 00:24:09.920 against a holy God 00:24:09.920 --> 00:24:12.339 is just as extravagant. 00:24:13.120 --> 00:24:16.299 In every way in my living before Christ, 00:24:16.640 --> 00:24:17.920 I said to God, 00:24:18.160 --> 00:24:20.160 I am my own God. 00:24:20.380 --> 00:24:21.799 I seek my own direction. 00:24:21.799 --> 00:24:24.180 I want nothing to do with you. 00:24:24.940 --> 00:24:25.299 And beloved, 00:24:25.480 --> 00:24:28.059 so many of us get this wrong 00:24:28.059 --> 00:24:29.099 because we see our sin 00:24:29.099 --> 00:24:30.000 as a light thing. 00:24:31.039 --> 00:24:33.220 This is why the Gospel message 00:24:33.220 --> 00:24:35.460 begins with the law. 00:24:35.740 --> 00:24:38.379 To bring the conviction of sin. 00:24:38.879 --> 00:24:41.619 We must be knocked down first 00:24:41.619 --> 00:24:42.200 by the law 00:24:42.200 --> 00:24:45.220 in order to be picked up by Christ. 00:24:46.460 --> 00:24:48.039 Spurgeon says it in this way, 00:24:48.139 --> 00:24:50.740 when men talk a little of hell, 00:24:50.740 --> 00:24:53.059 the destruction that's coming for sin, 00:24:53.460 --> 00:24:54.500 it is because they think 00:24:54.500 --> 00:24:56.380 they have only a little sin 00:24:56.380 --> 00:24:58.620 and believe in a little Savior. 00:24:59.079 --> 00:25:00.960 It is all little together. 00:25:01.660 --> 00:25:04.339 But when you get a great sense of sin, 00:25:04.620 --> 00:25:06.519 you want a great Savior 00:25:06.519 --> 00:25:09.400 and feel that if you do not have Him, 00:25:09.839 --> 00:25:11.799 you will fall into a great destruction 00:25:11.799 --> 00:25:14.059 and suffer a great punishment 00:25:14.059 --> 00:25:16.899 at the hands of the great God. 00:25:17.700 --> 00:25:20.319 This is true of every one of us 00:25:20.319 --> 00:25:21.339 apart from Christ, 00:25:21.819 --> 00:25:24.500 that even the smallest offense 00:25:24.500 --> 00:25:26.539 against the ways of God 00:25:26.539 --> 00:25:28.000 is of eternal, 00:25:28.659 --> 00:25:31.339 I'm trying to not say weight again, 00:25:32.139 --> 00:25:33.919 of value before Him, right? 00:25:34.119 --> 00:25:35.940 This eternal holy God, 00:25:36.259 --> 00:25:37.339 when we offend Him, 00:25:37.399 --> 00:25:38.399 we offend Him eternally. 00:25:38.400 --> 00:25:38.900 And therefore, 00:25:39.280 --> 00:25:42.759 the proper payment for that 00:25:42.759 --> 00:25:43.940 is eternal destruction. 00:25:44.600 --> 00:25:45.860 This is what's due us. 00:25:46.580 --> 00:25:47.840 And we must understand this 00:25:47.840 --> 00:25:48.920 and we must see it 00:25:48.920 --> 00:25:52.140 if we are to repent properly. 00:25:53.259 --> 00:25:53.980 Thomas Watson, 00:25:54.080 --> 00:25:55.680 in a little book I commend to you, 00:25:55.700 --> 00:25:56.519 I'll just hold it up for you 00:25:56.519 --> 00:25:57.259 because I've got it here, 00:25:57.759 --> 00:25:58.500 a book called 00:25:58.500 --> 00:25:59.640 The Doctrine of Repentance, 00:25:59.680 --> 00:26:00.840 a Puritan writer, 00:26:01.180 --> 00:26:01.460 says, 00:26:01.720 --> 00:26:02.980 Till sin be bitter, 00:26:03.160 --> 00:26:06.040 Christ will not be sweet. 00:26:06.039 --> 00:26:09.220 We must have a sight of sin. 00:26:10.119 --> 00:26:13.460 And we must have sorrow for that sin. 00:26:14.099 --> 00:26:15.139 You can see it 00:26:15.139 --> 00:26:16.619 and you can recognize your offense 00:26:16.619 --> 00:26:17.359 against that God, 00:26:17.440 --> 00:26:19.460 but if you're not broken over it, 00:26:19.500 --> 00:26:21.339 of what good is it to you? 00:26:22.220 --> 00:26:24.200 Psalm 38, 7 and 18, 00:26:25.079 --> 00:26:25.819 David writes, 00:26:25.920 --> 00:26:27.299 For I am ready to fall 00:26:27.299 --> 00:26:30.139 and my pain is ever before me. 00:26:30.539 --> 00:26:32.299 I confess my iniquity. 00:26:32.299 --> 00:26:36.059 I am sorry for my sin. 00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:39.279 A brokenness over it. 00:26:39.480 --> 00:26:41.019 That you're wrecked by it. 00:26:41.059 --> 00:26:43.159 That you actually get the offense 00:26:43.159 --> 00:26:46.440 that it is before a holy God. 00:26:47.220 --> 00:26:48.500 Thomas Watson again, 00:26:48.700 --> 00:26:49.279 in his book, 00:26:49.359 --> 00:26:50.419 The Doctrine of Repentance, 00:26:50.919 --> 00:26:52.740 either sin must drown 00:26:52.740 --> 00:26:54.319 in the tears of repentance 00:26:54.319 --> 00:26:58.220 or the soul must burn in hell. 00:26:59.579 --> 00:27:00.759 For us to rightly repent, 00:27:00.759 --> 00:27:04.480 we must have sorrow for our sin. 00:27:05.720 --> 00:27:07.279 And in the midst of all of this 00:27:07.279 --> 00:27:08.480 and the characters in our story, 00:27:08.640 --> 00:27:10.779 God graciously intervenes 00:27:10.779 --> 00:27:11.640 in their rebellion 00:27:11.640 --> 00:27:14.079 in really great ways. 00:27:14.460 --> 00:27:15.480 Just note the ways. 00:27:15.579 --> 00:27:16.579 Chapter 1, verse 4, 00:27:16.700 --> 00:27:19.279 God hurls a great wind. 00:27:19.640 --> 00:27:20.819 For the sake of the mariners, 00:27:20.879 --> 00:27:23.460 the storm that strikes fear in them. 00:27:24.400 --> 00:27:26.740 God promises a great destruction. 00:27:27.019 --> 00:27:27.920 Chapter 1, verse 2, 00:27:27.980 --> 00:27:29.180 He calls the city of Nineveh 00:27:29.180 --> 00:27:30.379 a great city. 00:27:30.380 --> 00:27:30.880 And therefore, 00:27:31.000 --> 00:27:31.740 its overthrow, 00:27:32.220 --> 00:27:33.200 chapter 3, verse 4, 00:27:33.260 --> 00:27:35.900 would be a great destruction. 00:27:37.240 --> 00:27:39.240 God appoints for Jonah, 00:27:39.800 --> 00:27:41.080 chapter 1, verse 17, 00:27:41.440 --> 00:27:43.880 a great fish. 00:27:45.100 --> 00:27:46.280 And so when did you encounter 00:27:46.280 --> 00:27:48.000 God's gracious 00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:50.740 and great intervention? 00:27:50.740 --> 00:27:53.559 Have you had the experience of that, 00:27:53.620 --> 00:27:55.120 of really recognizing 00:27:55.120 --> 00:27:56.660 the weight of your sin 00:27:56.660 --> 00:27:58.980 and really treasuring Christ 00:27:58.980 --> 00:28:00.920 as a great Savior? 00:28:02.000 --> 00:28:03.799 Have you been wrecked 00:28:03.799 --> 00:28:04.259 by your offense 00:28:04.259 --> 00:28:05.240 against such a great God? 00:28:06.240 --> 00:28:08.680 And do you need to be destroyed 00:28:08.680 --> 00:28:10.799 by it all over again? 00:28:11.880 --> 00:28:13.620 And has it grown numb to you? 00:28:13.660 --> 00:28:14.420 Have you forgotten 00:28:14.420 --> 00:28:15.680 the great offense 00:28:15.680 --> 00:28:16.799 that you've been delivered 00:28:16.799 --> 00:28:18.899 from in Christ? 00:28:20.579 --> 00:28:23.019 Psalm 86, 11 and 12, 00:28:23.259 --> 00:28:24.139 David prays again, 00:28:24.259 --> 00:28:25.519 Teach me your way, O Lord, 00:28:25.659 --> 00:28:27.819 that I may walk in your truth. 00:28:28.440 --> 00:28:29.440 Unite my heart. 00:28:29.639 --> 00:28:29.940 He's saying, 00:28:29.940 --> 00:28:32.360 my heart is pulled apart. 00:28:32.860 --> 00:28:34.620 I'm a double-minded man. 00:28:34.720 --> 00:28:35.680 Unite my heart 00:28:35.680 --> 00:28:38.100 to fear your name. 00:28:38.820 --> 00:28:40.160 I give thanks to you, O Lord, 00:28:40.200 --> 00:28:40.580 my God, 00:28:40.600 --> 00:28:41.660 with my whole heart 00:28:41.660 --> 00:28:43.200 and I will glorify 00:28:43.200 --> 00:28:45.059 your name forever. 00:28:45.680 --> 00:28:48.320 We must have a sight of sin. 00:28:48.400 --> 00:28:51.320 We must have a sorrow for sin. 00:28:51.440 --> 00:28:52.200 And look at that 00:28:52.200 --> 00:28:53.559 in the lives of the characters 00:28:53.559 --> 00:28:54.320 in our story. 00:28:54.820 --> 00:28:55.720 First, the Mariners, 00:28:56.900 --> 00:28:58.100 chapter 1, verse 14, 00:28:58.180 --> 00:28:59.720 through the beginning of 16. 00:28:59.720 --> 00:29:00.960 Therefore, they called out 00:29:00.960 --> 00:29:01.940 to the Lord. 00:29:02.920 --> 00:29:04.180 This is Jonah's God 00:29:04.180 --> 00:29:04.920 they're calling out to. 00:29:05.000 --> 00:29:05.420 O Lord, 00:29:05.839 --> 00:29:06.720 let us not perish 00:29:06.720 --> 00:29:08.000 for this man's life 00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:09.120 and lay not on us 00:29:09.120 --> 00:29:10.519 innocent blood for you. 00:29:10.920 --> 00:29:11.440 O Lord, 00:29:11.500 --> 00:29:12.940 have done as it pleased you. 00:29:13.460 --> 00:29:14.539 So they picked up Jonah 00:29:14.539 --> 00:29:15.640 and hurled him into the sea 00:29:15.640 --> 00:29:16.539 and the sea ceased 00:29:16.539 --> 00:29:17.620 from its raging. 00:29:17.740 --> 00:29:18.920 And in the first part of 16, 00:29:19.480 --> 00:29:21.880 then the men feared 00:29:21.880 --> 00:29:24.120 the Lord exceedingly. 00:29:24.920 --> 00:29:26.620 They saw that their gods 00:29:26.620 --> 00:29:28.519 were no gods at all. 00:29:28.519 --> 00:29:29.900 They turned from their rebellion 00:29:29.900 --> 00:29:32.460 and they feared the Lord 00:29:32.460 --> 00:29:33.639 exceedingly. 00:29:34.980 --> 00:29:35.639 The Ninevites, 00:29:36.480 --> 00:29:39.299 chapter 3, verse 4, 00:29:39.339 --> 00:29:40.279 in the beginning of 5, 00:29:40.420 --> 00:29:41.680 Jonah began to go into the city 00:29:41.680 --> 00:29:42.720 going a day's journey 00:29:42.720 --> 00:29:43.639 and he called out, 00:29:44.220 --> 00:29:45.299 yet forty days 00:29:45.299 --> 00:29:47.920 and Nineveh shall be overthrown. 00:29:48.079 --> 00:29:49.519 And the people of Nineveh 00:29:50.079 --> 00:29:52.460 believed God. 00:29:52.460 --> 00:29:55.819 They saw that their way 00:29:55.819 --> 00:29:58.319 deserved the destruction. 00:29:59.039 --> 00:30:00.240 It made sense to them. 00:30:00.500 --> 00:30:02.039 Yes, God will come and destroy 00:30:02.039 --> 00:30:02.840 in forty days. 00:30:03.019 --> 00:30:05.180 We have been rebellious. 00:30:05.779 --> 00:30:07.940 The people believed God. 00:30:08.940 --> 00:30:10.059 And then we see for Jonah, 00:30:10.400 --> 00:30:12.720 chapter 2, verses 2 through 6, 00:30:12.840 --> 00:30:13.980 this lengthy expression, 00:30:14.380 --> 00:30:15.240 which I won't reread 00:30:15.240 --> 00:30:16.120 for the sake of time, 00:30:16.460 --> 00:30:18.380 of the trouble that he finds himself in 00:30:18.380 --> 00:30:21.180 due to his rebellion. 00:30:22.200 --> 00:30:24.240 He's convicted by the fact 00:30:24.240 --> 00:30:25.100 that he's found himself 00:30:25.100 --> 00:30:26.280 in such a troubled place 00:30:26.280 --> 00:30:28.440 because of his activity. 00:30:29.760 --> 00:30:33.160 And so we must experience conviction. 00:30:34.320 --> 00:30:36.980 What is your great wind? 00:30:37.980 --> 00:30:40.780 Your promised destruction? 00:30:41.620 --> 00:30:43.360 Your great fish? 00:30:43.359 --> 00:30:46.139 We all have to come to that low point 00:30:46.139 --> 00:30:46.759 in our lives. 00:30:46.799 --> 00:30:48.159 And it doesn't necessarily mean 00:30:48.159 --> 00:30:49.419 that we do that inactivity, 00:30:49.799 --> 00:30:51.379 which is the case for so many people. 00:30:52.799 --> 00:30:54.199 But in realization, 00:30:54.819 --> 00:30:58.019 in deep felt conviction 00:30:58.019 --> 00:31:00.479 over what we've done against God. 00:31:01.159 --> 00:31:02.299 We must experience conviction. 00:31:02.459 --> 00:31:03.099 And our conviction 00:31:03.099 --> 00:31:05.379 necessarily leads to, secondly, 00:31:05.939 --> 00:31:06.399 confession. 00:31:07.939 --> 00:31:09.819 Necessarily leads to confession. 00:31:09.979 --> 00:31:12.539 Proper conviction leads to confession. 00:31:12.539 --> 00:31:14.779 You can't say that you're convicted over sin 00:31:14.779 --> 00:31:15.539 and then say, 00:31:15.920 --> 00:31:16.420 but that's alright. 00:31:17.359 --> 00:31:19.500 No need to confess it to a holy God. 00:31:19.859 --> 00:31:23.399 It necessarily turns us to confession. 00:31:23.539 --> 00:31:24.700 If we see our sin 00:31:24.700 --> 00:31:27.720 and are sorrowful as a result of it, 00:31:28.059 --> 00:31:29.799 we will confess it. 00:31:30.559 --> 00:31:32.839 And we'll confess it to God. 00:31:34.119 --> 00:31:36.319 Psalm 51, verse 4. 00:31:36.519 --> 00:31:37.779 This is David. 00:31:38.220 --> 00:31:40.259 After he's taken Bathsheba 00:31:40.259 --> 00:31:41.859 and he's sent her husband 00:31:41.859 --> 00:31:43.359 to the front lines to be killed, 00:31:43.500 --> 00:31:45.479 he has essentially murdered her husband, 00:31:45.979 --> 00:31:46.639 he says, 00:31:47.119 --> 00:31:47.879 against you, 00:31:48.679 --> 00:31:50.539 you only have I sinned 00:31:50.539 --> 00:31:53.599 and done what is evil in your sight. 00:31:54.059 --> 00:31:56.399 So get that he had sinned against Bathsheba 00:31:56.399 --> 00:31:59.539 and he had sinned against Bathsheba's husband, 00:31:59.539 --> 00:32:01.479 but he sees rightly 00:32:01.479 --> 00:32:03.240 the primary offense 00:32:03.240 --> 00:32:05.719 being an offense against God. 00:32:06.639 --> 00:32:07.859 On the front of your bulletin, 00:32:08.259 --> 00:32:09.559 you see another Spurgeon quote. 00:32:09.559 --> 00:32:10.559 He writes, 00:32:10.679 --> 00:32:13.879 the true penitent repents of sin against God 00:32:13.879 --> 00:32:15.460 and he would do so 00:32:15.460 --> 00:32:17.480 even if there were no punishment. 00:32:18.480 --> 00:32:19.220 When he is forgiven, 00:32:19.359 --> 00:32:21.339 he repents of sin more than ever, 00:32:21.700 --> 00:32:23.919 for he sees more clearly than ever 00:32:23.919 --> 00:32:26.539 the wickedness of offending 00:32:26.539 --> 00:32:29.579 so gracious a God. 00:32:29.579 --> 00:32:32.339 So we confess to God 00:32:32.339 --> 00:32:34.460 in a continuing manner, right? 00:32:34.639 --> 00:32:35.539 Penitent people, 00:32:36.480 --> 00:32:38.039 God's followers should be. 00:32:38.500 --> 00:32:39.439 That we're always 00:32:39.439 --> 00:32:40.839 turning from sin 00:32:40.839 --> 00:32:41.699 and turning to Him. 00:32:41.799 --> 00:32:43.279 That we're always confessing to Him 00:32:43.279 --> 00:32:44.720 when we fail to follow Him 00:32:44.720 --> 00:32:46.740 in the way that we should. 00:32:47.899 --> 00:32:48.839 We'll confess to God 00:32:48.839 --> 00:32:49.859 and we'll also confess 00:32:49.859 --> 00:32:51.299 to each other 00:32:51.299 --> 00:32:53.199 and I'll add the caveat 00:32:53.199 --> 00:32:55.059 when necessary and appropriate, 00:32:55.559 --> 00:32:57.799 which is far more often 00:32:57.799 --> 00:32:59.139 than we think. 00:33:00.240 --> 00:33:01.399 James 5.16 says, 00:33:01.659 --> 00:33:02.519 Therefore, confess your sins 00:33:02.519 --> 00:33:03.099 to one another 00:33:03.099 --> 00:33:04.839 and pray for one another 00:33:04.839 --> 00:33:06.859 that you may be healed. 00:33:07.639 --> 00:33:08.700 This should be, 00:33:09.079 --> 00:33:10.480 by and large, 00:33:10.539 --> 00:33:12.440 the activity of the church. 00:33:12.940 --> 00:33:14.259 Not coming together 00:33:14.259 --> 00:33:15.980 and posturing 00:33:15.980 --> 00:33:17.819 our false perfection, 00:33:18.700 --> 00:33:20.419 but rather coming together 00:33:20.419 --> 00:33:22.180 and admitting our failure. 00:33:22.779 --> 00:33:24.460 We need to be propping 00:33:24.460 --> 00:33:26.599 one another up. 00:33:26.599 --> 00:33:28.240 You have heard in criticism 00:33:28.240 --> 00:33:28.939 of Christianity 00:33:28.939 --> 00:33:30.079 or religion in general 00:33:30.079 --> 00:33:31.059 that it's a crutch. 00:33:31.919 --> 00:33:32.899 It's not a crutch. 00:33:33.419 --> 00:33:34.159 It's not a crutch. 00:33:34.219 --> 00:33:35.219 It's my wheelchair. 00:33:35.959 --> 00:33:37.559 I need you guys. 00:33:37.919 --> 00:33:39.099 You're a grace to me. 00:33:39.759 --> 00:33:41.679 I need to confess to you. 00:33:41.759 --> 00:33:42.659 I try to lead 00:33:42.659 --> 00:33:44.639 as an example in that. 00:33:45.299 --> 00:33:46.399 Also on your bulletin, 00:33:46.679 --> 00:33:47.559 Paul David Tripp wrote, 00:33:47.659 --> 00:33:48.959 The church is not 00:33:48.959 --> 00:33:50.459 a theological classroom. 00:33:51.179 --> 00:33:52.619 It is a conversion, 00:33:53.099 --> 00:33:53.659 confession, 00:33:53.660 --> 00:33:54.840 repentance, 00:33:55.620 --> 00:33:56.240 reconciliation, 00:33:57.040 --> 00:33:57.519 forgiveness, 00:33:57.940 --> 00:33:59.460 and sanctification center 00:33:59.460 --> 00:34:01.080 where flawed people 00:34:01.080 --> 00:34:02.580 place their faith in Christ, 00:34:03.080 --> 00:34:03.980 gather to know 00:34:03.980 --> 00:34:05.019 and love Him better, 00:34:05.200 --> 00:34:07.200 and learn to love others 00:34:07.200 --> 00:34:08.760 as He designed. 00:34:08.760 --> 00:34:11.300 We ought to confess 00:34:11.300 --> 00:34:12.640 to each other 00:34:12.640 --> 00:34:14.780 when it's warranted 00:34:14.780 --> 00:34:15.460 and it's appropriate. 00:34:16.160 --> 00:34:17.060 Notice the confession 00:34:17.060 --> 00:34:17.720 of our characters 00:34:17.720 --> 00:34:18.220 in the story. 00:34:18.740 --> 00:34:19.680 We see the mariners 00:34:19.680 --> 00:34:21.740 expanding on 00:34:21.740 --> 00:34:25.400 verse 16 of chapter 1. 00:34:26.400 --> 00:34:27.060 Then the men feared 00:34:27.060 --> 00:34:27.940 the Lord exceedingly 00:34:27.940 --> 00:34:30.800 and they offered 00:34:30.800 --> 00:34:31.940 a sacrifice 00:34:31.940 --> 00:34:33.100 to the Lord. 00:34:33.540 --> 00:34:34.500 They made sacrifice 00:34:34.500 --> 00:34:35.720 for the confession 00:34:35.720 --> 00:34:37.180 of their sin. 00:34:37.179 --> 00:34:39.359 The Ninevites, 00:34:39.699 --> 00:34:41.059 picking up in verse 5 00:34:41.059 --> 00:34:41.879 of chapter 3, 00:34:42.480 --> 00:34:43.859 and the people of Nineveh 00:34:43.859 --> 00:34:45.559 believed God. 00:34:46.440 --> 00:34:47.619 They called for a fast 00:34:47.619 --> 00:34:49.179 and put on sackcloth 00:34:49.179 --> 00:34:49.799 from the greatest of them 00:34:49.799 --> 00:34:50.419 to the least of them. 00:34:51.019 --> 00:34:51.579 The war reached 00:34:51.579 --> 00:34:52.159 the kingdom of Nineveh 00:34:52.159 --> 00:34:52.960 and he rose from his throne, 00:34:53.039 --> 00:34:53.519 removed his robe, 00:34:53.619 --> 00:34:54.819 covered himself with sackcloth 00:34:54.819 --> 00:34:55.599 and sat in ashes. 00:34:56.339 --> 00:34:57.359 And he issued a proclamation 00:34:57.359 --> 00:34:58.239 and ploverished through Nineveh 00:34:58.239 --> 00:34:59.019 by the decree of the king 00:34:59.019 --> 00:34:59.579 and his nobles. 00:35:00.079 --> 00:35:01.019 Let neither man nor beast, 00:35:01.099 --> 00:35:01.719 herd nor flock, 00:35:01.899 --> 00:35:02.480 taste anything. 00:35:02.980 --> 00:35:04.259 Let them not feed or drink. 00:35:04.500 --> 00:35:05.219 Let man and beast 00:35:05.219 --> 00:35:06.519 be covered with sackcloth 00:35:06.519 --> 00:35:07.699 and let them call out 00:35:07.699 --> 00:35:09.579 mightily to God. 00:35:09.659 --> 00:35:10.699 All of these things, 00:35:10.860 --> 00:35:11.340 fasting, 00:35:11.539 --> 00:35:12.980 the covering in sackcloth, 00:35:13.039 --> 00:35:14.300 which you can think of burlap, 00:35:14.519 --> 00:35:15.880 like itchy cloth, 00:35:16.440 --> 00:35:18.380 and sitting in ashes 00:35:18.380 --> 00:35:20.259 were all signs of repentance. 00:35:20.579 --> 00:35:21.920 These were all outward signs 00:35:21.920 --> 00:35:24.500 of sorrow over sin. 00:35:25.559 --> 00:35:27.900 So the Ninevites confessed 00:35:27.900 --> 00:35:28.960 in this way. 00:35:30.000 --> 00:35:30.900 And then Jonah, 00:35:31.340 --> 00:35:32.920 to bring you to a particular text, 00:35:33.039 --> 00:35:34.139 chapter 2, verse 9, 00:35:34.139 --> 00:35:36.759 But I, with the voice of thanksgiving, 00:35:36.859 --> 00:35:38.960 will sacrifice to you 00:35:38.960 --> 00:35:41.079 what I have vowed I will pay. 00:35:41.500 --> 00:35:44.400 Salvation belongs to the Lord. 00:35:44.699 --> 00:35:45.819 This admission, 00:35:46.339 --> 00:35:47.639 as we've come to this point 00:35:47.639 --> 00:35:48.259 in this prayer, 00:35:48.799 --> 00:35:50.000 that he found himself in this place 00:35:50.000 --> 00:35:51.299 because of his rebellion, 00:35:51.759 --> 00:35:52.699 and now he turns 00:35:52.699 --> 00:35:54.279 to offer sacrifice to God 00:35:54.279 --> 00:35:56.259 with the voice of thanksgiving. 00:35:57.379 --> 00:35:59.339 So to repent properly, 00:35:59.460 --> 00:36:00.679 we must experience conviction. 00:36:00.679 --> 00:36:03.739 Our conviction necessarily leads 00:36:03.739 --> 00:36:05.039 to confession, 00:36:05.500 --> 00:36:07.919 and repentance ends 00:36:07.919 --> 00:36:10.099 with conformity. 00:36:11.500 --> 00:36:12.879 Obedience, if you prefer, 00:36:13.919 --> 00:36:15.119 brings up the rear 00:36:15.119 --> 00:36:16.659 of repentance. 00:36:17.199 --> 00:36:19.159 It is the final evidence 00:36:19.159 --> 00:36:21.259 of the penitent heart. 00:36:21.940 --> 00:36:24.339 You cannot have true repentance 00:36:24.339 --> 00:36:27.460 apart from obedience. 00:36:27.460 --> 00:36:30.460 And so many of us do this. 00:36:30.559 --> 00:36:32.340 So many of us repent so poorly 00:36:32.340 --> 00:36:34.840 because we recognize the sin, 00:36:35.420 --> 00:36:37.280 we see it as wrong and evil, 00:36:37.280 --> 00:36:38.460 and we ask for forgiveness 00:36:38.460 --> 00:36:39.220 from the sin, 00:36:39.420 --> 00:36:41.220 and then we stay there. 00:36:41.760 --> 00:36:43.240 And so often turn back 00:36:43.240 --> 00:36:44.039 to the same sin 00:36:44.039 --> 00:36:45.659 rather than turning away from it 00:36:45.659 --> 00:36:47.320 and toward God. 00:36:48.659 --> 00:36:50.019 I have two sons. 00:36:50.280 --> 00:36:50.880 You don't know me well. 00:36:50.900 --> 00:36:51.740 I have a five-year-old 00:36:51.740 --> 00:36:52.579 and a three-year-old. 00:36:52.639 --> 00:36:54.240 My oldest, his name's Cade. 00:36:54.239 --> 00:36:56.679 And if Cade is disobedient 00:36:56.679 --> 00:36:58.119 and I correct him 00:36:58.119 --> 00:36:59.419 and he tells me that he's sorry 00:36:59.419 --> 00:37:00.579 for being disobedient 00:37:00.579 --> 00:37:02.159 and he doesn't turn to do 00:37:02.159 --> 00:37:03.519 the thing I asked him to do, 00:37:03.819 --> 00:37:05.179 is he really sorry 00:37:05.179 --> 00:37:07.179 for not being obedient? 00:37:07.379 --> 00:37:08.379 Or is he just sorry 00:37:08.379 --> 00:37:09.319 that I caught him 00:37:09.319 --> 00:37:10.879 in his disobedience? 00:37:11.619 --> 00:37:13.979 There must be a proper response 00:37:13.979 --> 00:37:15.959 to a fleeing away 00:37:15.959 --> 00:37:17.819 from the evil 00:37:17.819 --> 00:37:19.099 that we've committed. 00:37:20.699 --> 00:37:22.299 Ezekiel 14.6 00:37:22.300 --> 00:37:25.900 Therefore, say to the house of Israel, 00:37:26.460 --> 00:37:28.060 Thus says the Lord God, 00:37:28.680 --> 00:37:30.600 Repent and turn away 00:37:30.600 --> 00:37:31.360 from your idols 00:37:31.360 --> 00:37:33.880 and turn away your faces 00:37:33.880 --> 00:37:36.980 from all your abominations. 00:37:37.460 --> 00:37:38.960 Turn away from it. 00:37:39.260 --> 00:37:41.840 Put it off and put on. 00:37:42.660 --> 00:37:44.019 In Ephesians 4, 00:37:44.539 --> 00:37:45.740 after Paul's talked about 00:37:45.740 --> 00:37:46.960 the Gentiles 00:37:46.960 --> 00:37:48.220 and the way they fulfill 00:37:48.220 --> 00:37:49.920 the desires of their flesh, 00:37:50.380 --> 00:37:51.519 he says in verse 20, 00:37:51.519 --> 00:37:53.300 But that is not the way 00:37:53.300 --> 00:37:55.579 you learned Christ. 00:37:56.039 --> 00:37:56.980 Assuming that you have 00:37:56.980 --> 00:37:57.739 heard about him 00:37:57.739 --> 00:37:59.420 and were taught him in him 00:37:59.420 --> 00:38:01.480 as the truth is in Jesus. 00:38:01.559 --> 00:38:02.019 So he's saying, 00:38:02.420 --> 00:38:04.199 if you were found in Christ, 00:38:04.920 --> 00:38:05.960 this is what you've learned. 00:38:06.679 --> 00:38:08.019 To put off your old self, 00:38:08.619 --> 00:38:09.599 which belongs to your 00:38:09.599 --> 00:38:10.679 former manner of life 00:38:10.679 --> 00:38:11.280 and is corrupt 00:38:11.280 --> 00:38:12.320 through deceitful desires. 00:38:12.820 --> 00:38:13.759 And to be renewed 00:38:13.759 --> 00:38:15.460 in the spirit of your minds 00:38:15.460 --> 00:38:16.360 and to put on 00:38:16.360 --> 00:38:17.800 the new self, 00:38:18.320 --> 00:38:19.639 created after the likeness of God 00:38:19.639 --> 00:38:20.539 in true righteousness 00:38:20.539 --> 00:38:21.859 and holiness. 00:38:22.859 --> 00:38:23.779 So many of us 00:38:23.779 --> 00:38:25.059 so often put off things 00:38:25.059 --> 00:38:26.480 and then we stand around naked. 00:38:27.480 --> 00:38:28.259 And we don't know 00:38:28.259 --> 00:38:29.159 what to do with ourselves 00:38:29.159 --> 00:38:30.199 and so we put back on 00:38:30.199 --> 00:38:30.980 the old thing. 00:38:31.379 --> 00:38:32.759 And we cycle through sin 00:38:32.759 --> 00:38:33.879 in that way. 00:38:34.299 --> 00:38:35.319 Put off the old thing 00:38:35.319 --> 00:38:36.199 and then put on 00:38:36.199 --> 00:38:37.559 the new thing. 00:38:38.420 --> 00:38:39.420 If you're a believer, 00:38:39.539 --> 00:38:40.859 you are clothed 00:38:40.859 --> 00:38:41.859 in the righteousness 00:38:41.859 --> 00:38:43.019 of Christ. 00:38:43.679 --> 00:38:44.579 Turn away from your 00:38:44.579 --> 00:38:45.599 old manner of living 00:38:45.599 --> 00:38:48.420 and walk in that new reality. 00:38:49.139 --> 00:38:50.179 Away from the sin 00:38:50.179 --> 00:38:51.599 and to God. 00:38:52.299 --> 00:38:52.739 There's going to be 00:38:52.739 --> 00:38:53.619 a counterpoint 00:38:53.619 --> 00:38:54.960 and an obedience 00:38:54.960 --> 00:38:56.059 required of you 00:38:56.059 --> 00:38:57.940 in response to the disobedience. 00:38:57.980 --> 00:38:58.619 That's going to vary 00:38:58.619 --> 00:39:00.400 across so many sins 00:39:00.400 --> 00:39:02.559 in so many ways. 00:39:03.319 --> 00:39:04.839 Let's look briefly 00:39:04.839 --> 00:39:05.539 at the examples 00:39:05.539 --> 00:39:06.980 in our text. 00:39:07.519 --> 00:39:08.860 First, the mariners. 00:39:09.500 --> 00:39:10.599 The end of verse 16. 00:39:11.719 --> 00:39:12.339 So the men feared 00:39:12.339 --> 00:39:13.119 the Lord exceedingly 00:39:13.119 --> 00:39:14.360 and they offered 00:39:14.360 --> 00:39:15.480 a sacrifice to the Lord 00:39:15.480 --> 00:39:16.780 and they did what? 00:39:17.960 --> 00:39:18.820 They made vows. 00:39:19.140 --> 00:39:20.300 They made promises 00:39:20.300 --> 00:39:21.640 for the way they will live. 00:39:21.700 --> 00:39:23.120 Now, we don't see 00:39:23.120 --> 00:39:23.660 that they actually 00:39:23.660 --> 00:39:24.360 kept the vows. 00:39:24.440 --> 00:39:25.200 And I hope they did. 00:39:25.260 --> 00:39:26.240 It's probably not the best 00:39:26.240 --> 00:39:27.980 example of this. 00:39:28.440 --> 00:39:29.099 Just to show you 00:39:29.099 --> 00:39:29.620 that they took 00:39:29.620 --> 00:39:31.140 at least a step 00:39:31.140 --> 00:39:31.940 in that direction. 00:39:32.440 --> 00:39:33.900 They said to the Lord, 00:39:34.380 --> 00:39:35.420 the one true God, 00:39:35.880 --> 00:39:37.519 we will do something 00:39:37.519 --> 00:39:38.340 different from what 00:39:38.340 --> 00:39:39.519 we have done. 00:39:39.519 --> 00:39:40.539 And I hope that they 00:39:40.539 --> 00:39:42.120 proceeded in that. 00:39:43.420 --> 00:39:43.960 The Ninevites. 00:39:44.880 --> 00:39:46.039 Second half of verse 8 00:39:46.039 --> 00:39:47.240 of chapter 3 through 10. 00:39:47.900 --> 00:39:49.599 The decree of the king 00:39:49.599 --> 00:39:50.940 that everyone turn 00:39:50.940 --> 00:39:51.900 from his evil way 00:39:51.900 --> 00:39:53.360 and from the violence 00:39:53.360 --> 00:39:54.380 that is in his hands. 00:39:55.240 --> 00:39:56.019 Who knows? 00:39:56.660 --> 00:39:57.660 God may turn, 00:39:57.780 --> 00:39:58.079 relent, 00:39:58.200 --> 00:39:58.760 and turn from 00:39:58.760 --> 00:39:59.380 his spirit's anger 00:39:59.380 --> 00:40:00.460 so that we may not perish. 00:40:00.700 --> 00:40:01.180 So he says, 00:40:01.420 --> 00:40:02.280 he sends out a decree, 00:40:02.640 --> 00:40:03.460 turn away from evil. 00:40:03.559 --> 00:40:04.360 And then verse 10 says, 00:40:04.740 --> 00:40:06.300 when God saw what they did, 00:40:06.800 --> 00:40:07.880 how they turned 00:40:07.880 --> 00:40:08.860 from their evil way, 00:40:09.340 --> 00:40:09.900 God relented 00:40:09.900 --> 00:40:10.460 of the disaster 00:40:10.460 --> 00:40:10.920 that he had said 00:40:10.920 --> 00:40:11.539 he would do to them 00:40:11.539 --> 00:40:13.519 and he did not do it. 00:40:13.519 --> 00:40:15.019 So you see that the obedience, 00:40:15.380 --> 00:40:16.579 the conforming, 00:40:16.920 --> 00:40:17.820 brings up the end 00:40:17.820 --> 00:40:18.780 of their repentance. 00:40:19.099 --> 00:40:20.500 God sees this was true 00:40:20.500 --> 00:40:21.800 and proper repentance 00:40:21.800 --> 00:40:22.539 and he relents 00:40:22.539 --> 00:40:23.800 of the disaster. 00:40:24.880 --> 00:40:25.860 And then in Jonah, 00:40:26.159 --> 00:40:26.900 and this is the most 00:40:26.900 --> 00:40:28.300 classic way 00:40:28.300 --> 00:40:29.440 that we see this 00:40:29.440 --> 00:40:30.420 in the text 00:40:30.420 --> 00:40:31.039 at the beginning 00:40:31.039 --> 00:40:32.139 of chapter 3. 00:40:33.139 --> 00:40:34.059 Then the word of the Lord 00:40:34.059 --> 00:40:34.619 came to Jonah 00:40:34.619 --> 00:40:35.440 the second time 00:40:35.440 --> 00:40:35.920 saying, 00:40:36.099 --> 00:40:36.759 Arise, 00:40:37.320 --> 00:40:38.219 go to Nineveh, 00:40:38.599 --> 00:40:39.619 that great city, 00:40:39.619 --> 00:40:41.279 and call out against it 00:40:41.279 --> 00:40:41.960 the message 00:40:41.960 --> 00:40:43.480 that I tell you. 00:40:43.960 --> 00:40:44.159 Now, 00:40:44.239 --> 00:40:44.920 before we read 00:40:44.920 --> 00:40:45.400 the first part 00:40:45.400 --> 00:40:46.000 of verse 3, 00:40:46.139 --> 00:40:47.259 I just want to bring you 00:40:47.259 --> 00:40:48.319 back to the first part 00:40:48.319 --> 00:40:50.039 of chapter 1. 00:40:51.199 --> 00:40:52.159 So verse 2, 00:40:52.259 --> 00:40:52.759 Arise, 00:40:52.819 --> 00:40:53.259 go to Nineveh, 00:40:53.319 --> 00:40:54.000 that great city, 00:40:54.079 --> 00:40:55.420 and call out against it, 00:40:55.859 --> 00:40:56.819 for their evil 00:40:56.819 --> 00:40:58.079 has come up before me. 00:40:58.119 --> 00:40:58.539 And then the beginning 00:40:58.539 --> 00:40:59.579 of verse 3 says, 00:41:00.000 --> 00:41:01.619 But Jonah 00:41:01.619 --> 00:41:03.639 made a different decision 00:41:03.639 --> 00:41:04.199 altogether. 00:41:04.480 --> 00:41:05.119 He flees 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:06.739 in the opposite direction, 00:41:07.259 --> 00:41:08.400 tries to get away 00:41:08.400 --> 00:41:09.079 from the presence 00:41:09.079 --> 00:41:10.260 of the Lord. 00:41:10.780 --> 00:41:12.059 But then in chapter 3, 00:41:12.160 --> 00:41:13.000 beginning of verse 3, 00:41:13.079 --> 00:41:13.440 it says, 00:41:14.099 --> 00:41:15.260 So Jonah 00:41:15.260 --> 00:41:17.599 arose and went to Nineveh 00:41:17.599 --> 00:41:19.559 according to the word 00:41:19.559 --> 00:41:20.000 of the Lord. 00:41:20.960 --> 00:41:21.780 Now we're going to find out 00:41:21.780 --> 00:41:22.539 later that he does so 00:41:22.539 --> 00:41:23.099 begrudgingly, 00:41:23.340 --> 00:41:24.099 and he's not too pleased 00:41:24.099 --> 00:41:24.680 with the result. 00:41:25.099 --> 00:41:26.280 We'll look at that next week 00:41:26.280 --> 00:41:27.280 and his regret. 00:41:27.840 --> 00:41:28.660 But he goes, 00:41:28.900 --> 00:41:30.079 disobedient, 00:41:31.200 --> 00:41:32.300 brought to repentance, 00:41:32.860 --> 00:41:33.700 and now obedient 00:41:33.700 --> 00:41:34.800 to the thing that God 00:41:34.800 --> 00:41:36.059 has commanded him 00:41:36.059 --> 00:41:37.300 to do. 00:41:38.400 --> 00:41:39.619 And so true repentance 00:41:39.619 --> 00:41:41.840 consists of conviction, 00:41:42.880 --> 00:41:43.360 confession, 00:41:43.980 --> 00:41:45.619 and conformity. 00:41:46.400 --> 00:41:47.160 And so in closing, 00:41:47.240 --> 00:41:48.039 I have a few questions 00:41:48.039 --> 00:41:48.579 for you. 00:41:49.619 --> 00:41:50.860 Have you ever 00:41:50.860 --> 00:41:52.559 confessed your sin? 00:41:53.200 --> 00:41:54.539 Have you ever been brought 00:41:54.539 --> 00:41:55.539 to the realization 00:41:55.539 --> 00:41:57.380 that you need to? 00:41:57.660 --> 00:41:58.720 That you've had a sight 00:41:58.720 --> 00:41:59.139 far out 00:41:59.139 --> 00:42:00.220 and you're sorrowful 00:42:00.220 --> 00:42:01.180 over it? 00:42:01.220 --> 00:42:01.960 That you recognize 00:42:01.960 --> 00:42:03.420 that there is a holy God 00:42:03.420 --> 00:42:04.920 who has a holy standard 00:42:04.920 --> 00:42:06.480 that you have failed 00:42:06.480 --> 00:42:07.639 to keep? 00:42:08.320 --> 00:42:09.380 No one in this room 00:42:09.380 --> 00:42:12.719 is impervious to this. 00:42:13.380 --> 00:42:14.780 We all are under 00:42:14.780 --> 00:42:16.860 the curse of sin 00:42:16.860 --> 00:42:17.940 apart from Christ. 00:42:18.059 --> 00:42:18.900 Have you ever 00:42:18.900 --> 00:42:20.119 confessed your sin 00:42:20.119 --> 00:42:21.139 to the Lord? 00:42:21.960 --> 00:42:23.079 Do you identify 00:42:23.079 --> 00:42:24.699 with the mariners 00:42:24.699 --> 00:42:26.300 or the Ninevites? 00:42:26.860 --> 00:42:27.980 They were worshippers 00:42:27.980 --> 00:42:28.880 of false gods. 00:42:28.960 --> 00:42:29.619 They were ultimately 00:42:29.619 --> 00:42:30.199 worshippers 00:42:30.199 --> 00:42:31.340 of themselves. 00:42:31.340 --> 00:42:34.180 And do you need 00:42:34.180 --> 00:42:35.059 to do that today? 00:42:35.140 --> 00:42:36.180 And I hope that you will 00:42:36.180 --> 00:42:36.960 if you do. 00:42:38.260 --> 00:42:39.720 And if you have confessed 00:42:39.720 --> 00:42:40.420 your sin 00:42:40.420 --> 00:42:41.760 for that first time, 00:42:42.079 --> 00:42:43.180 God has changed 00:42:43.180 --> 00:42:43.760 your heart. 00:42:44.180 --> 00:42:45.200 He's made you aware 00:42:45.200 --> 00:42:45.780 of this. 00:42:46.220 --> 00:42:47.340 You are a follower 00:42:47.340 --> 00:42:48.800 of Jesus Christ. 00:42:49.380 --> 00:42:50.700 You've had your sins 00:42:50.700 --> 00:42:52.300 fully and finally 00:42:52.300 --> 00:42:53.440 forgiven for all eternity 00:42:53.440 --> 00:42:54.180 because they were punished 00:42:54.180 --> 00:42:55.079 in Him. 00:42:55.640 --> 00:42:56.360 We're still meant 00:42:56.360 --> 00:42:56.960 to be a people 00:42:56.960 --> 00:42:57.579 that confess. 00:42:58.019 --> 00:42:58.440 We're still meant 00:42:58.440 --> 00:42:59.059 to be a people 00:42:59.059 --> 00:43:00.460 that go to our God, 00:43:00.539 --> 00:43:01.519 our gracious God, 00:43:01.579 --> 00:43:02.099 who loves us 00:43:02.099 --> 00:43:03.179 in spite of what we do. 00:43:03.480 --> 00:43:04.759 There's no thing 00:43:04.759 --> 00:43:05.400 we've done 00:43:05.400 --> 00:43:06.420 as followers of God 00:43:06.420 --> 00:43:08.139 that casts us 00:43:08.139 --> 00:43:08.860 out of His sight 00:43:08.860 --> 00:43:10.599 because He sees Christ 00:43:10.599 --> 00:43:12.019 when He sees us. 00:43:12.500 --> 00:43:13.099 We're still meant 00:43:13.099 --> 00:43:13.539 to confess. 00:43:14.360 --> 00:43:14.719 So do you have 00:43:14.719 --> 00:43:15.659 unconfessed sin? 00:43:16.519 --> 00:43:17.659 You harbor some sin 00:43:17.659 --> 00:43:18.099 in your heart. 00:43:18.179 --> 00:43:18.719 There's that thing 00:43:18.719 --> 00:43:20.440 you just don't want 00:43:20.440 --> 00:43:21.900 to let go of. 00:43:22.039 --> 00:43:23.079 You find too much 00:43:23.079 --> 00:43:24.539 temporal joy in it. 00:43:24.759 --> 00:43:25.940 You fail to realize 00:43:25.940 --> 00:43:28.299 that it is so offensive 00:43:28.300 --> 00:43:29.940 to our holy God. 00:43:30.460 --> 00:43:32.280 You treasure it up 00:43:32.280 --> 00:43:33.740 in a way that you shouldn't. 00:43:34.560 --> 00:43:35.200 Do you have 00:43:35.200 --> 00:43:38.860 any unconfessed sin? 00:43:39.400 --> 00:43:40.200 Let's pray together.