Jonah: Message Received
Notes
Transcript
VV. 1-2:
Jonah is sent:
Things really haven’t changed between the Old Testament and the New.
The role of a believer has always been the same…go
The role of a believer has always been the same…go
Matthew 28:19
Matthew 28:19
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
As we will see, the method may vary, but the role is the same.
V. 3:
The city was vast, this was no small job.
Sometimes when we are called the task seems overwhelming, but God will always equip you to carry it out.
Jonah would have traveled across the city, hitting all of the major spots to make his proclamation.
V. 4:
The message is preached:
Unless people go, no one will hear
Unless people go, no one will hear
Romans 10:14
Romans 10:14
How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
The role of a prophet:
“Jonah’s message is one of impending judgment, as is common for a prophet.
We should not confuse a prophetic role with a missionary role. The prophet in the ancient world had the task of conveying whatever message God gave him for a particular audience.
The missionary has the task of conveying God’s message of salvation given to everyone.
The prophet’s message was rarely as pleasant as the missionary’s.
In Jonah’s message there is no hint of a call to repentance or a call to put away their false gods.
There is no instruction concerning what God wants of them nor indictment of their evil deeds.
There are no conditional offers made.
The prophet in the ancient world did not come to deliver a comprehensive theology or to convert to a particular religious worldview. He came to deliver a message from God.”
God’s judgement is real, and the message is necessary.
Judgement is just as much a part of who God is as love, grace and mercy are.
Sometimes God’s love, grace and mercy are what a person needs to hear, and sometimes it is the fear of God’s judgement that sways them.
The use of fear is not wrong
The use of fear is not wrong
Jude 22-23
Jude 22-23
And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.
V. 5:
The people believed.
When the Lord speaks things happen.
His word will always have an effect, and will always accomplish its intended purpose.
The Word of God is always effective
The Word of God is always effective
Isaiah 55:11
Isaiah 55:11
So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
V. 6:
In our modern world, we often look for change from the top down.
We spend an inordinate amount of time trying to change those in leadership, as opposed to introducing the life-changing gospel to everyone else around us.
True change happens when people change, and people can only truly change through the power of Jesus Christ.
Godly leadership is important, but nothing is ever built from the top down, it’s always from the bottom up.
In this case, the people believed and repented, which eventually made its way to the king.
When society changes, everything else will change as a result, and that happens one person at a time.
VV. 7-9:
The king himself repented, and even ordered repentance.
He wasn’t taking any chances, even the animals were ordered to fast.
A cessation of the evil was ordered.
the fear of God is a powerful thing.
Fear is essential to a healthy and productive relationship with God.
Unfortunately, the “fear of God” is rarely talked about anymore.
We have toned it down so as not to offend anyone.
There is nothing wrong with a fear of God, in fact it is healthy.
It’s much the same as when you did something wrong as a child, you feared your parents.
That doesn’t mean that you didn’t love them. It means that you acknowledge their authority and their ability to punish you for what you had done.
Where there is no fear of God, there is no obedience to God, as can clearly be seen in our world today.
A fear of God is beneficial, and we should cultivate it.
Fear can be a motivator
Fear can be a motivator
Fear is a motivator for obedience.
Leviticus 25:17
Leviticus 25:17
Therefore you shall not oppress one another, but you shall fear your God; for I am the Lord your God.
Proverbs 16:6
In mercy and truth
Atonement is provided for iniquity;
And by the fear of the Lord one departs from evil.
Fear of God brings wisdom and knowledge
Fear of God brings wisdom and knowledge
The fear of God brings wisdom and knowledge.
Job 28:28
Job 28:28
And to man He said,
‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom,
And to depart from evil is understanding.’ ”
Psalm 111:10
Psalm 111:10
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
A good understanding have all those who do His commandments.
His praise endures forever.
Proverbs 1:7
Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 9:10
Proverbs 9:10
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
The fear of God is a good thing and a healthy thing.
It is beneficial to us, and it is an attitude that we must cultivate in our daily lives.
The church needs to get off of the politically correct, I don’t want to hurt anybody’s feelings bandwagon, and get back to preaching the uncompromised truth of God’s Word.
V. 10:
The people repented.
God forgave.
The Ninevites were spared God’s wrath, and in this case it was a direct result of a real fear of God.