What was a prophet? An individual who received from God a message to share with a person/people. He was God’s spokesman.
Who was a prophet? A prophet was usually a man, but sometimes a woman {Miriam, sister of Moses, Deborah (Book of Judges); Huldah (II Chronicles ch. 34); Isaiah’s wife; and Ana (Luke ch. 2)} We know very little about the biography of the prophets. They often came from obscurity, shared God’s message, and went back into obscurity. Of the few prophets we do know some back story, they came from various backgrounds – Isaiah was an educated scribe; Ezekiel was a priest; Amos was a shepherd.
How did one become a prophet? II Peter 1:20-21 - Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
One became a prophet when they received a message from God and then God told him/her to share this message with the people. A prophet received the message verbally – “The word of the Lord came to …”, ex. Jonah, Micah, Haggai, or in a vision – the prophet not only heard from God, but also saw God and/or coming events, ex. Isaiah, Ezekiel, Nahum.
For an example of God calling a person to be a prophet read Jeremiah chapter 1.
What did a prophet do? Share God’s message to a person/people. While most prophecy was directed to the people as a whole sometimes it was aimed at the leaders (kings, priests, and false prophets), ex. Haggai.
What was the message? The messages of prophets took two forms.
1. Forthtelling - declarations from God. God’s declarations can be summed up by the following –
Condemnation – God through his prophets exposed people’s wickedness and immorality (idolatry, sexual sins, greed, pride, violence, etc.) as well as hypocrisy and condemned it.
Hosea 4:1-2, 7-8, 10
Hear the word of the LORD, you Israelites, because the LORD has a charge to bring against you who live in the land: “There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land. There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed …
The more the priests increased, the more they sinned against me; they exchanged their Glory for something disgraceful. They feed on the sins of my people and relish their wickedness … (The people) consult a wooden idol and are answered by a stick of wood. A spirit of prostitution leads them astray; they are unfaithful to their God.
Exhortation - God through his prophets strongly encouraged people to be holy, righteous, obedient, humble, compassionate, etc.
Micah 6:6-8
With what shall I come before the LORD and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Repentance – God through his prophets called on people to abandon their evil ways and return to God.
Joel 2:13-14
Even now," declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning." Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and bounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing…
Judgment – God through his prophets warned people of God’s wrath if they refused to repent. God’s judgment was often referred to as the Day of the Lord.
Zephaniah 1:14-18
The great day of the LORD is near, near and coming quickly. Listen! The cry on the day of the LORD will be bitter, the shouting of the warrior there. That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness, a day of trumpet and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the corner towers. I will bring distress on the people and they will walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their entrails like filth. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the LORD's wrath. In the fire of his jealousy the whole world will be consumed, for he will make a sudden end of all who live in the earth.
Homework assignment for next Sunday. Read Isaiah chapter 1 and Amos chapter 5. Identify examples of condemnation, exhortation, repentance, and judgment in Isaiah’s message to the Southern Kingdom of Judah and Amos’ message to the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Jonah Chapter 4
Read Jonah 4:1-4
Jonah is in the city when he prays this prayer. He is watching the response of the Ninevites to God’s message. Jonah learns from God that He has decided not to destroy the city.
1) How did Jonah respond to God’s decision to show compassion for the Ninevites and not
destroy them? Greatly displeased and became angry. A more appropriate translation of angry would be furious. Jonah was ticked off. With whom was Jonah displeased/angry? God.
2) Put in your own words Jonah’s prayer to God in verses 2 and 3. Point out Jonah is still in the
city when he prays this prayer.
I knew this would happen. When you first told me back in Israel to go to Nineveh and cry against it. I knew this would happen. That’s why I fled to Tarshish, to delay this. I know you God. You are gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, full of mercy, and one who does not seek to destroy. Now kill me.
3) From reading Jonah’s prayer, why was he angry at God? He chose to show compassion/mercy towards Nineveh rather than wipe out every single man, woman, and child in the city. Read how Jonah describes God. God showing such qualities to Nineveh should have made Jonah feel how? Rejoicing, excited, partying mood. Instead he’s angry at God. Do you get the impression that Jonah makes God’s mercy, compassion, etc. sound as if they are faults? Jonah in a way was telling God - Nineveh does not deserve Your mercy/compassion/love. The city deserved Your anger/wrath. The city deserves what YOU told me to tell them. The city deserved to be blown off the face of the planet. Why? From Jonah’s point of view why? They are evil, cruel, violent people. They are Israel’s number one enemy. They are Gentiles. How did Israelites view Gentiles? Godless, wicked, depraved, fuel for fires of hell. Beneath contempt. Again, this attitude stemmed from the Israelites’ egotistical/monopolistic view of their relationship with God. God’s blessings, his mercy, love, compassion should be limited to them. Jonah had this attitude regarding the Ninevites. If you were to ask Jonah, “Hey Jonah, don’t you remember that God recently showed compassion and mercy towards you? Remember when the Gentiles pagans attempted to spare your life by not throwing you off the boat? How God sent the big fish to save you from drowning? Remember the words of your prayer inside the big fish - Salvation comes from the Lord?” What do you think Jonah’s response might have been? I am an Israelite. I’m not surprised God would show me mercy. These people are Gentiles. They deserve to be destroyed. Therefore, when God showed mercy to the Ninevites, it angered Jonah to the point where he rather be dead than live in a world where God shows mercy to Gentiles. Again, it is not up to us humans to decide who deserves God’s mercy and who deserves His wrath. Homosexuals, Muslims, Osama bin Laden, do not deserve eternal salvation. They deserve eternal damnation. That is not our choice to make. It’s God’s.
4) Why did Jonah want to die? Jonah would rather die than live in a world where Gentiles are shown mercy by God. Or, he may have been afraid of what might happen to him if his fellow Israelites learn of how God used him to save Nineveh from destruction.
5) Read verse 4. How did God respond to Jonah? Did God strike him dead? No. He asked Jonah a question. Have you any right to be angry? Can you justify your anger towards me because I chose to spare Nineveh? What was Jonah’s response? Silence.
6) Read vs. 5. What did Jonah do? Jonah went outside the walls of the city, built a shelter from the bright sun, and waited to see if God might change His mind again and wipe out Nineveh.
7) Read vs. 6-8. What all did God do to Jonah in these verses? What were Jonah’s reactions? God caused a huge vine to grow to protect Jonah from the blazing sun. Keep him cool/comfortable. What was Jonah’s reaction to this? Happy; thrilled. God once again shows compassion for Jonah. The next morning what did God do? God allowed a worm to eat the vine to the point it withered and died. Jonah no longer had protection from the hot sun. Furthermore, God made it even more uncomfortable for Jonah by having a scorching wind from the east to blow at Jonah. The hot wind combined with the blazing sun made Jonah extremely uncomfortable. His reaction? He wanted to die.
8) Read vs. 9-11. What did God ask Jonah? “Do you have a right to be angry about the vine?” Jonah said “Yeah! I’m so ticked off I want to die.” Why was Jonah so angry? Jonah loved the vine. It provided him with shade and comfort. Now it had been taken from him. The death of the vine upset Jonah greatly to the point where he once again wanted to die.
9) What was God’s purpose for doing what He did in vs. 6-8? To once again teach Jonah a lesson in mercy/compassion. If Jonah could show compassion for a plant which he had nothing to do in growing, that grew one day and died the next, should not God show compassion for the people of Nineveh, and its animals, which God did create? The Ninevites were God’s creation. He formed each in the womb. God watched them be born. God watched the Ninevites grow and mature. He watched them make poor decisions and succumb to evil. God despised what they became and yet He still felt compassion for them. Why? Because they were His creation that He had fashioned and formed with his own hands. And so, God sent Jonah to warn them of what He would happen in hopes that the Ninevites would repent. They did. On the other hand, Jonah felt more pity for a plant than he did for human beings created by God.
10) What was Jonah’s response? Silence. No “God you are right. How could I continue to be so hard-headed?” Just silence.
APPLICATION:
Why was Book of Jonah included in Scripture? What did God want Israel to learn from Book of Jonah? God’s love is not confined to one nation. God loves all peoples. He shows compassion for all peoples. His redemptive plan was for all peoples. By showing compassion/mercy to Assyrians, God was showing Jonah and Israel He loved all peoples/enemies. Did Jonah get it? No. Did Israel? No. Their enmity towards Gentiles continued well into the New Testament era.
What does God want us to learn from the Book of Jonah? Same as above. Also Jonah 2:8 - Salvation comes from the Lord. We do not have the authority to determine who deserves eternal salvation and who deserves eternal damnation.
Jonah is in the city when he prays this prayer. He is watching the response of the Ninevites to God’s message. Jonah learns from God that He has decided not to destroy the city.
1) How did Jonah respond to God’s decision to show compassion for the Ninevites and not
destroy them? Greatly displeased and became angry. A more appropriate translation of angry would be furious. Jonah was ticked off. With whom was Jonah displeased/angry? God.
2) Put in your own words Jonah’s prayer to God in verses 2 and 3. Point out Jonah is still in the
city when he prays this prayer.
I knew this would happen. When you first told me back in Israel to go to Nineveh and cry against it. I knew this would happen. That’s why I fled to Tarshish, to delay this. I know you God. You are gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, full of mercy, and one who does not seek to destroy. Now kill me.
3) From reading Jonah’s prayer, why was he angry at God? He chose to show compassion/mercy towards Nineveh rather than wipe out every single man, woman, and child in the city. Read how Jonah describes God. God showing such qualities to Nineveh should have made Jonah feel how? Rejoicing, excited, partying mood. Instead he’s angry at God. Do you get the impression that Jonah makes God’s mercy, compassion, etc. sound as if they are faults? Jonah in a way was telling God - Nineveh does not deserve Your mercy/compassion/love. The city deserved Your anger/wrath. The city deserves what YOU told me to tell them. The city deserved to be blown off the face of the planet. Why? From Jonah’s point of view why? They are evil, cruel, violent people. They are Israel’s number one enemy. They are Gentiles. How did Israelites view Gentiles? Godless, wicked, depraved, fuel for fires of hell. Beneath contempt. Again, this attitude stemmed from the Israelites’ egotistical/monopolistic view of their relationship with God. God’s blessings, his mercy, love, compassion should be limited to them. Jonah had this attitude regarding the Ninevites. If you were to ask Jonah, “Hey Jonah, don’t you remember that God recently showed compassion and mercy towards you? Remember when the Gentiles pagans attempted to spare your life by not throwing you off the boat? How God sent the big fish to save you from drowning? Remember the words of your prayer inside the big fish - Salvation comes from the Lord?” What do you think Jonah’s response might have been? I am an Israelite. I’m not surprised God would show me mercy. These people are Gentiles. They deserve to be destroyed. Therefore, when God showed mercy to the Ninevites, it angered Jonah to the point where he rather be dead than live in a world where God shows mercy to Gentiles. Again, it is not up to us humans to decide who deserves God’s mercy and who deserves His wrath. Homosexuals, Muslims, Osama bin Laden, do not deserve eternal salvation. They deserve eternal damnation. That is not our choice to make. It’s God’s.
4) Why did Jonah want to die? Jonah would rather die than live in a world where Gentiles are shown mercy by God. Or, he may have been afraid of what might happen to him if his fellow Israelites learn of how God used him to save Nineveh from destruction.
5) Read verse 4. How did God respond to Jonah? Did God strike him dead? No. He asked Jonah a question. Have you any right to be angry? Can you justify your anger towards me because I chose to spare Nineveh? What was Jonah’s response? Silence.
6) Read vs. 5. What did Jonah do? Jonah went outside the walls of the city, built a shelter from the bright sun, and waited to see if God might change His mind again and wipe out Nineveh.
7) Read vs. 6-8. What all did God do to Jonah in these verses? What were Jonah’s reactions? God caused a huge vine to grow to protect Jonah from the blazing sun. Keep him cool/comfortable. What was Jonah’s reaction to this? Happy; thrilled. God once again shows compassion for Jonah. The next morning what did God do? God allowed a worm to eat the vine to the point it withered and died. Jonah no longer had protection from the hot sun. Furthermore, God made it even more uncomfortable for Jonah by having a scorching wind from the east to blow at Jonah. The hot wind combined with the blazing sun made Jonah extremely uncomfortable. His reaction? He wanted to die.
8) Read vs. 9-11. What did God ask Jonah? “Do you have a right to be angry about the vine?” Jonah said “Yeah! I’m so ticked off I want to die.” Why was Jonah so angry? Jonah loved the vine. It provided him with shade and comfort. Now it had been taken from him. The death of the vine upset Jonah greatly to the point where he once again wanted to die.
9) What was God’s purpose for doing what He did in vs. 6-8? To once again teach Jonah a lesson in mercy/compassion. If Jonah could show compassion for a plant which he had nothing to do in growing, that grew one day and died the next, should not God show compassion for the people of Nineveh, and its animals, which God did create? The Ninevites were God’s creation. He formed each in the womb. God watched them be born. God watched the Ninevites grow and mature. He watched them make poor decisions and succumb to evil. God despised what they became and yet He still felt compassion for them. Why? Because they were His creation that He had fashioned and formed with his own hands. And so, God sent Jonah to warn them of what He would happen in hopes that the Ninevites would repent. They did. On the other hand, Jonah felt more pity for a plant than he did for human beings created by God.
10) What was Jonah’s response? Silence. No “God you are right. How could I continue to be so hard-headed?” Just silence.
APPLICATION:
Why was Book of Jonah included in Scripture? What did God want Israel to learn from Book of Jonah? God’s love is not confined to one nation. God loves all peoples. He shows compassion for all peoples. His redemptive plan was for all peoples. By showing compassion/mercy to Assyrians, God was showing Jonah and Israel He loved all peoples/enemies. Did Jonah get it? No. Did Israel? No. Their enmity towards Gentiles continued well into the New Testament era.
What does God want us to learn from the Book of Jonah? Same as above. Also Jonah 2:8 - Salvation comes from the Lord. We do not have the authority to determine who deserves eternal salvation and who deserves eternal damnation.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Jonah Chapter 3
1) Why do you think God told Jonah a second time to go to Nineveh? Didn’t Jonah already know he was supposed to go to Nineveh? This was God’s way of giving Jonah a do over/a clean slate. Let’s start over Jonah.
2) What was Jonah told to do? Go to Nineveh and proclaim the message I will give you.
3) What did Jonah do? Jonah went to Nineveh. Jonah had learned his lesson.
During Jonah’s journey to Nineveh, let’s say he stopped off at a tavern for a meal. He sits down by a fellow traveler. They strike up a conversation. The traveler asks Jonah where he is going. Jonah tells him Nineveh. He is going there to deliver the citizens of that city a message from God. Traveler – “Don’t you know how cruel the Ninevites are? What they will do to you if you speak against them? Aren’t you afraid?” Jonah’s response – “Afraid to go to Nineveh in the will of God? Let me tell you, I’d be more afraid not to go to Nineveh. It is far more dangerous to be out of the will of God. I’m not afraid of Nineveh.”
4. When did Jonah begin to proclaim to the Ninevites the message God gave him? Soon as he walked through the city gates.
5) What was the message God gave Jonah to proclaim to Nineveh? 40 days and Nineveh will be overthrown. May have said more. But that was the heart of the message. It could be summarized in one sentence. Stick in people’s minds. Notice, countdown for Nineveh’s punishment began not from when Jonah first received the message in Jonah chapter 1 or the second time in Jonah chapter 3. The countdown began when Nineveh first received the message. An example of God’s justice. He was not going to destroy the city without a warning.
6) What did the people of Nineveh learn from Jonah’s message? 40 days and city will be overthrown.
7) How would you characterize Jonah’s sermon? Fire and brimstone. Not a kum-by-yah sermon. Not a sermon that you walk away from feeling good about yourself and the world.
8) What was the purpose of such a sermon? To convince the Ninevites to repent. How? To make real God’s anger for their iniquity. To make real God’s anger for their evil ways and violence. The Ninevites got an image of God’s wrath ready to be poured upon them. There is a verse in the Book of Hebrews in the New Testament that says “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of an angry God.” Nowhere is there mention in God’s message to the Ninevites about grace, mercy, compassion, love. It was not an uplifting/encouraging message, only a fearful expectation of judgment. Why? What was God seeking to do by having Jonah proclaim such a message? God wanted to instill in thr people’s hearts a fear of God. God wanted to let the Ninevites know how much He abhors sin. How serious He is in dealing with sin in hopes that they would repent.
9) How did the Ninevites respond to God’s message? They did not turn to their gods for deliverance/salvation. They believed God. Not Jonah. The Ninevites put their belief in God. The word “believe” here in Hebrew means “have trust”, “have confidence”. It is the same word used by Abraham in Genesis after God told him he would be the father of many nations. Abraham believed and it was counted to him as righteousness. That’s amazing considering these people are Gentiles who did not have the same heritage of worshipping God as Jonah and the Israelites did.
The Ninevites’ belief were followed by works (fasting, wearing sackcloth – both are symbols of humility/repentance) which gave credibility to their repentance. James chapter 2 in the New Testament tells us that faith without works is dead. If the Ninevites only gave lip service to their repentance … showed no outward evidence of their repentance but continued to do evil and harbor evil in their hearts … what would that have shown God and you about how much they believed God’s words? Their belief/faith was non-existent.
10) Why were they so receptive to Jonah’s message? It was a message the Assyrians could relate to. What do you remember about their culture/reputation in the world? Violence – destruction – conquest – other peoples feared them. The Assyrians had no concept of mercy, compassion, grace. Such words were not in their vocabulary. In His message to the Assyrians, God spoke in a language they understood/were familiar with. He instilled fear in their hearts just as the Assyrians instilled fear in other peoples. If God been filled with words such as peace, love, compassion, mercy, the Assyrians might have been so receptive.
What else may have convinced the Ninevites to believe God? Jonah’s appearance. He was a living example of both God’s wrath and God’s mercy/compassion. Also, Jonah’s story was similar to an Assyrian myth about a battle between their great god Asshur and Tiamat, a goddess that resembled a sea beast. Like their god Asshur, Jonah survived his encounter with the sea beast, but he did so because His God commanded the sea beast/was more powerful than the sea beast. Recall the Assyrians are very religious/superstitious people. Therefore, it was not a coincidence that God used a big fish to swallow Jonah. He had a purpose – a tool to reach the Assyrians.
11) When word of God’s message reached the king what all did he do? He took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. All acts of repentance/contrition. What impression do you think that made on his subjects? It was huge. Recall the influential role the king played in Assyrian society. He was a political leader and a religious leader. What might have happened if the king had rejected God’s message? Called it nonsense? The people of Nineveh might have followed his example and God would have destroyed the city. The fact that the king believed God’s message encouraged/convinced the people to follow his example.
12) What did the proclamation he issued to the people say? Read verses 7-9 How serious were they about seeking repentance? Even animals were to fast and wear sackcloth.
Let all men call on God earnestly/urgently and turn from wickedness and violence. In other words cry out to God for mercy with all you strength. The people placed their faith in God – they repented of their evil ways – followed up repentance with action/works that gave credence to their belief.
13) What was the king’s hope? That God would have compassion and spare the city from destruction. Did he guarantee that God would not overthrow the city? No. Read verse 9.
14) When God saw the response of the Ninevites to his message how did He respond in
turn? God showed compassion/mercy to the cruelest people on the face of the earth. He did not destroy the city. Why? Grace. Remember what Jonah said in chapter 2:8. Like Jonah, the people of Nineveh in a moment of desperation renounced their gods. They did not pray to Asshur for salvation. They prayed to God. They did not cling to their idols, they clung to God and hoped for his mercy. Like Jonah, the city deserved to be destroyed but just as He did with Jonah, God showed mercy/compassion for Nineveh. He showed mercy/compassion for Gentiles just as He did for a Hebrew/Israelite, one of the Chosen People. All because of grace.
Was the Ninevites’ repentance genuine? In Matt. 12:38-41, Jesus gave testimony to the Ninevites’ repentance.
Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, "Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you." He answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here.
Jesus is telling the Jewish religious leaders that the people of Nineveh – GENTILES! –repented at the preaching of Jonah and yet Jesus, who is greater than Jonah because He is the Son of God, is preaching repentance to the Jews of his generation, God’s chosen people, and they reject His message. Consequently, on Judgment Day, who will be accepted by God and who will be condemned? Accepted – Ninevites (GENTILES!); Condemned – Jews of Jesus’ day. Moreover, the Ninevites will condemn the Jews for rejecting Jesus.
Jesus’ references to Jonah and to the Ninevites being present at Judgment Day give authenticity to the Book of Jonah. It is historical, not fiction.
15) What do you think Jonah’s thoughts are regarding the Ninevites’ response to the
message he delivered? Perhaps skepticism. They don’t mean what they’re saying/doing. It’s all an act. What are Jonah’s thoughts regarding God’s decision to show compassion to Nineveh and not destroy the city? The answer is in chapter 4.
2) What was Jonah told to do? Go to Nineveh and proclaim the message I will give you.
3) What did Jonah do? Jonah went to Nineveh. Jonah had learned his lesson.
During Jonah’s journey to Nineveh, let’s say he stopped off at a tavern for a meal. He sits down by a fellow traveler. They strike up a conversation. The traveler asks Jonah where he is going. Jonah tells him Nineveh. He is going there to deliver the citizens of that city a message from God. Traveler – “Don’t you know how cruel the Ninevites are? What they will do to you if you speak against them? Aren’t you afraid?” Jonah’s response – “Afraid to go to Nineveh in the will of God? Let me tell you, I’d be more afraid not to go to Nineveh. It is far more dangerous to be out of the will of God. I’m not afraid of Nineveh.”
4. When did Jonah begin to proclaim to the Ninevites the message God gave him? Soon as he walked through the city gates.
5) What was the message God gave Jonah to proclaim to Nineveh? 40 days and Nineveh will be overthrown. May have said more. But that was the heart of the message. It could be summarized in one sentence. Stick in people’s minds. Notice, countdown for Nineveh’s punishment began not from when Jonah first received the message in Jonah chapter 1 or the second time in Jonah chapter 3. The countdown began when Nineveh first received the message. An example of God’s justice. He was not going to destroy the city without a warning.
6) What did the people of Nineveh learn from Jonah’s message? 40 days and city will be overthrown.
7) How would you characterize Jonah’s sermon? Fire and brimstone. Not a kum-by-yah sermon. Not a sermon that you walk away from feeling good about yourself and the world.
8) What was the purpose of such a sermon? To convince the Ninevites to repent. How? To make real God’s anger for their iniquity. To make real God’s anger for their evil ways and violence. The Ninevites got an image of God’s wrath ready to be poured upon them. There is a verse in the Book of Hebrews in the New Testament that says “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of an angry God.” Nowhere is there mention in God’s message to the Ninevites about grace, mercy, compassion, love. It was not an uplifting/encouraging message, only a fearful expectation of judgment. Why? What was God seeking to do by having Jonah proclaim such a message? God wanted to instill in thr people’s hearts a fear of God. God wanted to let the Ninevites know how much He abhors sin. How serious He is in dealing with sin in hopes that they would repent.
9) How did the Ninevites respond to God’s message? They did not turn to their gods for deliverance/salvation. They believed God. Not Jonah. The Ninevites put their belief in God. The word “believe” here in Hebrew means “have trust”, “have confidence”. It is the same word used by Abraham in Genesis after God told him he would be the father of many nations. Abraham believed and it was counted to him as righteousness. That’s amazing considering these people are Gentiles who did not have the same heritage of worshipping God as Jonah and the Israelites did.
The Ninevites’ belief were followed by works (fasting, wearing sackcloth – both are symbols of humility/repentance) which gave credibility to their repentance. James chapter 2 in the New Testament tells us that faith without works is dead. If the Ninevites only gave lip service to their repentance … showed no outward evidence of their repentance but continued to do evil and harbor evil in their hearts … what would that have shown God and you about how much they believed God’s words? Their belief/faith was non-existent.
10) Why were they so receptive to Jonah’s message? It was a message the Assyrians could relate to. What do you remember about their culture/reputation in the world? Violence – destruction – conquest – other peoples feared them. The Assyrians had no concept of mercy, compassion, grace. Such words were not in their vocabulary. In His message to the Assyrians, God spoke in a language they understood/were familiar with. He instilled fear in their hearts just as the Assyrians instilled fear in other peoples. If God been filled with words such as peace, love, compassion, mercy, the Assyrians might have been so receptive.
What else may have convinced the Ninevites to believe God? Jonah’s appearance. He was a living example of both God’s wrath and God’s mercy/compassion. Also, Jonah’s story was similar to an Assyrian myth about a battle between their great god Asshur and Tiamat, a goddess that resembled a sea beast. Like their god Asshur, Jonah survived his encounter with the sea beast, but he did so because His God commanded the sea beast/was more powerful than the sea beast. Recall the Assyrians are very religious/superstitious people. Therefore, it was not a coincidence that God used a big fish to swallow Jonah. He had a purpose – a tool to reach the Assyrians.
11) When word of God’s message reached the king what all did he do? He took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. All acts of repentance/contrition. What impression do you think that made on his subjects? It was huge. Recall the influential role the king played in Assyrian society. He was a political leader and a religious leader. What might have happened if the king had rejected God’s message? Called it nonsense? The people of Nineveh might have followed his example and God would have destroyed the city. The fact that the king believed God’s message encouraged/convinced the people to follow his example.
12) What did the proclamation he issued to the people say? Read verses 7-9 How serious were they about seeking repentance? Even animals were to fast and wear sackcloth.
Let all men call on God earnestly/urgently and turn from wickedness and violence. In other words cry out to God for mercy with all you strength. The people placed their faith in God – they repented of their evil ways – followed up repentance with action/works that gave credence to their belief.
13) What was the king’s hope? That God would have compassion and spare the city from destruction. Did he guarantee that God would not overthrow the city? No. Read verse 9.
14) When God saw the response of the Ninevites to his message how did He respond in
turn? God showed compassion/mercy to the cruelest people on the face of the earth. He did not destroy the city. Why? Grace. Remember what Jonah said in chapter 2:8. Like Jonah, the people of Nineveh in a moment of desperation renounced their gods. They did not pray to Asshur for salvation. They prayed to God. They did not cling to their idols, they clung to God and hoped for his mercy. Like Jonah, the city deserved to be destroyed but just as He did with Jonah, God showed mercy/compassion for Nineveh. He showed mercy/compassion for Gentiles just as He did for a Hebrew/Israelite, one of the Chosen People. All because of grace.
Was the Ninevites’ repentance genuine? In Matt. 12:38-41, Jesus gave testimony to the Ninevites’ repentance.
Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, "Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you." He answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here.
Jesus is telling the Jewish religious leaders that the people of Nineveh – GENTILES! –repented at the preaching of Jonah and yet Jesus, who is greater than Jonah because He is the Son of God, is preaching repentance to the Jews of his generation, God’s chosen people, and they reject His message. Consequently, on Judgment Day, who will be accepted by God and who will be condemned? Accepted – Ninevites (GENTILES!); Condemned – Jews of Jesus’ day. Moreover, the Ninevites will condemn the Jews for rejecting Jesus.
Jesus’ references to Jonah and to the Ninevites being present at Judgment Day give authenticity to the Book of Jonah. It is historical, not fiction.
15) What do you think Jonah’s thoughts are regarding the Ninevites’ response to the
message he delivered? Perhaps skepticism. They don’t mean what they’re saying/doing. It’s all an act. What are Jonah’s thoughts regarding God’s decision to show compassion to Nineveh and not destroy the city? The answer is in chapter 4.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Jonah chapter 2
1) Describe what it must have been like for Jonah to be in the belly of a great fish for three days? Smelly; wet; dark. What do you think Jonah did during his three days inside the fish? A lot of thinking and reflection. How did end I end up in this situation? I’m still alive. I didn’t drown. God spared my life. Even after I disobeyed him. Now, how do I get out of this predicament?
2) How would you characterize Jonah’s prayer? Jonah is reflecting on what happened in the moments after he was thrown off the ship three days earlier. He was sinking like a rock into the waters. He was headed for the bottom of ocean. Read verses 4 & 7. Jonah believed his situation to be hopeless. God had removed him from His presence. He would not spare Jonah. However, Jonah chose to cry out to God in hopes that He would spare him. In both verses, Jonah references the temple. Why? Read I Kings 8:30 - Listen to the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place (the Temple); hear in heaven Your dwelling place; hear and forgive. This verse is part of a prayer spoken by King Solomon delivered at the dedication of the temple. I believe in his last moments of life, Jonah remembered the words of Solomon’s prayer. Did God hear Jonah’s cry for salvation? Yes. See verse 6. How did God save his life? Sent a big fish to swallow him. Did Jonah complain about how God saved him? No. Read verse 9. He thanked God for sparing his life. Chapter 2 is a prayer of thanksgiving from Jonah to God.
3) How did Jonah view being in the belly of the great fish? Salvation or punishment? Salvation. (see verse 9) Which did Jonah deserve? Punishment. He had blatantly disobeyed God. How long did it take for Jonah to realize the whale was God’s method of salvation and not punishment? Three days and nights have passed and he has not been digested.
4) When did Jonah remember God? Verse 7. During a moment of desperation, when he was near death. Do you think Jonah was amazed that God answered his prayer? Speaking for myself, I would be. Why? Jonah did not deserve God’s mercy. He deserved to punishment for blatantly disobeying God. Who was responsible for the state Jonah was in? My opinion: Jonah. If he had done what God told him to do, he would not have gone through a near death experience. He would not be inside a big fish.
5) Share in your own words what Jonah was saying in verse 8. Those who worship anyone or anything other than God are undeserving of grace. Grace is undeserved/unmerited favor. It is undeserved mercy and compassion. Jonah did not deserve mercy; he deserved to drown. Why did he not drown? Grace. Where does grace come from? What is the source of grace? Who is the source of grace? God. How could God show compassion to Jonah? Grace. In order to show compassion/mercy, one must have grace. For an illustration of grace, read the story of the Prodigal Son found in Luke 15:11-12.
6) When did God release Jonah from the great fish? a) After Jonah agreed to fulfill his vow to God. God, you win. I’ll carry out my mission to be a prophet. God says to a prophet “Tell the people …” A prophet was expected to go and say it.
The final words in Jonah’s prayer are “Salvation comes from the Lord.” Remember these words Jonah spoke. We’ll come back to them later in the Book of Jonah.
7) What do you think Jonah’s physical appearance was like after being in the belly of a fish for 3 days? Skin may have been bleached white from fish’s digestive fluids.
What did God teach Jonah in chapters 1 and 2? 1) You can’t run away from God. 2) A lesson in compassion and mercy. a) Jonah experienced mercy from Gentiles on the ship. They refused to immediately throw Jonah off the ship despite the fact Jonah said if they did the storm would end. They did everything they could to spare Jonah’s life. b) God showed Jonah compassion/mercy by sparing him from drowning. He sent the big fish to spare Jonah’s life despite the fact that Jonah deserved punishment for blatantly disobeying God.
2) How would you characterize Jonah’s prayer? Jonah is reflecting on what happened in the moments after he was thrown off the ship three days earlier. He was sinking like a rock into the waters. He was headed for the bottom of ocean. Read verses 4 & 7. Jonah believed his situation to be hopeless. God had removed him from His presence. He would not spare Jonah. However, Jonah chose to cry out to God in hopes that He would spare him. In both verses, Jonah references the temple. Why? Read I Kings 8:30 - Listen to the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place (the Temple); hear in heaven Your dwelling place; hear and forgive. This verse is part of a prayer spoken by King Solomon delivered at the dedication of the temple. I believe in his last moments of life, Jonah remembered the words of Solomon’s prayer. Did God hear Jonah’s cry for salvation? Yes. See verse 6. How did God save his life? Sent a big fish to swallow him. Did Jonah complain about how God saved him? No. Read verse 9. He thanked God for sparing his life. Chapter 2 is a prayer of thanksgiving from Jonah to God.
3) How did Jonah view being in the belly of the great fish? Salvation or punishment? Salvation. (see verse 9) Which did Jonah deserve? Punishment. He had blatantly disobeyed God. How long did it take for Jonah to realize the whale was God’s method of salvation and not punishment? Three days and nights have passed and he has not been digested.
4) When did Jonah remember God? Verse 7. During a moment of desperation, when he was near death. Do you think Jonah was amazed that God answered his prayer? Speaking for myself, I would be. Why? Jonah did not deserve God’s mercy. He deserved to punishment for blatantly disobeying God. Who was responsible for the state Jonah was in? My opinion: Jonah. If he had done what God told him to do, he would not have gone through a near death experience. He would not be inside a big fish.
5) Share in your own words what Jonah was saying in verse 8. Those who worship anyone or anything other than God are undeserving of grace. Grace is undeserved/unmerited favor. It is undeserved mercy and compassion. Jonah did not deserve mercy; he deserved to drown. Why did he not drown? Grace. Where does grace come from? What is the source of grace? Who is the source of grace? God. How could God show compassion to Jonah? Grace. In order to show compassion/mercy, one must have grace. For an illustration of grace, read the story of the Prodigal Son found in Luke 15:11-12.
6) When did God release Jonah from the great fish? a) After Jonah agreed to fulfill his vow to God. God, you win. I’ll carry out my mission to be a prophet. God says to a prophet “Tell the people …” A prophet was expected to go and say it.
The final words in Jonah’s prayer are “Salvation comes from the Lord.” Remember these words Jonah spoke. We’ll come back to them later in the Book of Jonah.
7) What do you think Jonah’s physical appearance was like after being in the belly of a fish for 3 days? Skin may have been bleached white from fish’s digestive fluids.
What did God teach Jonah in chapters 1 and 2? 1) You can’t run away from God. 2) A lesson in compassion and mercy. a) Jonah experienced mercy from Gentiles on the ship. They refused to immediately throw Jonah off the ship despite the fact Jonah said if they did the storm would end. They did everything they could to spare Jonah’s life. b) God showed Jonah compassion/mercy by sparing him from drowning. He sent the big fish to spare Jonah’s life despite the fact that Jonah deserved punishment for blatantly disobeying God.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)