I Will Deepen Your Love

Context

Sermon Series: Trust the Promise.

Last week: Elijah: I Refresh You

This week: Jonah: I will deepen your love

About Jonah

A prophet. Disciple of Elijah. Speaks the word of the Lord to the people in general, and especially to rulers.

In 2 Kings: Jonah had preached in Israel. King repented. Peace ensued. Enlarged territory. and God had spared. God’s compassion.

In the Biblical book. Again Jonah is tasked. Go to Nineveh of Assyria. Preach to them.

the enemy. they will repent. Expand borders?

Jonah does the opposite. Flee the land where god can self reveal. The ship. The storm. The Great Fish.

Goes to Nineveh. Great city. Preaches. 40 days and Nineveh will be overthrown. They repent. Heard of the Jewish God. Convicted by Jonah’s dire warning. Sack cloth and ashes. Even on the animals. God relents. Jonah 3:10. We pick up the story

Text

Jonah 4:1–11 ESV

But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” And the Lord said, “Do you do well to be angry?” Jonah went out of the city and sat to the east of the city and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, till he should see what would become of the city. Now the Lord God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant. But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered. When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. And he asked that he might die and said, “It is better for me to die than to live.” But God said to Jonah, “Do you do well to be angry for the plant?” And he said, “Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die.” And the Lord said, “You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?”

Introduction

birds of a feather

do I silo tribe my own kind only.

or something more?

Ancient Problem

Jonah preached his message.

The people repent. A miracle.

Walking around and seeing all this repentance. People restoring goods. Making amends.

Day comes, day 39, day 40. No destruction.

The people rise and celebrate? They ask him to pray for them? Assure them?

Jonah was angry. They could see that.

He dislike the Ninevites. mind on Israel. Now they will attack? Could have been destroyed.

He prayed and expressed his anger:

Jonah 4:2. I knew you were merciful and compassionate. Quoting from the LORD’s self-description to Moses. Relenting from disaster.

I said destruction. It didn’t happen. This is what I said to you when I was still in my own country!

THAT is why I fled to Tarshish.

You are a God gracious, slow to anger....

I am angry because you sent me to pronounce destruction, but then you forgave. Just Iike I knew you were going to do!

now the enemy will prosper. Now I look like a traitor. now my own people. Own values are in danger. Pagans with swords and horses!

Just take my life

maybe he learned that from his master, Elijah! Being a prophet is too hard!

God asks a question: Are you right to be angry?

is it right that you should want me to obliterate them? Kill and destroy?

Jonah does a storm off. Doesn’t even answer. he knows it is not right, but cant won’t say it.

Jonah makes a booth and sits to see what will happen. Till he should see what would become. God, I”m not taking no for answer: I want to see some smiting!

Object lesson. Something smaller scale.

Jonah in the sun. Irritated skin from the inside of the fish. God provides a plant to shield him. Jonah relieved. Exceedingly glad.

The next day, a worm and then a scorching wind. Destroys the plant. He was faint. Again to die.

you are judging and afflicting me.

Now they have it out again.

Do you do well to be angry about the plant?

Yes! angry enough to die!

you pity the plant…angry that i destroyed it.

Just a plant, Here to today and gone tomorrow. You didn nothing to plant it, tend it, grow it.

really: mad because it makes you suffer. you are getting a sunburn. railing agsinst me, like an enemy!

I should have pity on you! and I have been! didn’t strike you down. Didn’t strike down the sailors, didn’t let you drown. I have been nothing but patient with everyone. including you…

should I not care about Nineveh, a great city, 120,000 people, families.

People who are wicked, yes, but are morally and spiritually ignorant. Don’t deserve to be smited because they are like children. Plus don’t forget the cattle. Lots of them too.

you are being hostile to me, and you know better. Compassionate toward you. Should I not be compassionate to all of the Ninevites?

I love you, shall I not love them? Is that right?

Interpretation

heart of prophetic ministry. Israel’s ministry.

election FOR

on the one hand. Yes love us we are special. Chosen son. Egypt etc.

on the other hand..abram will bless all the nations. Set like a light on the hill.

love for one’s own, AND love for others?

love for others good in theory, it hard in real life. Jonah getting a real experience. of gods expansive love in action.

god actually does love nineveits. Doesn’t want to destroy them…wants them to live and worship him and be blessed!

must be true, since god is god of whole world and all people and there is no other god!

God so loved the Ninevites that he sent his prophet, Jonah, so that any who believe would not perish but have life…

john 3:16.

Jesus is the real subject of that verse. Jesus said those words.

His ministry shows God’s merciful love toward sinners. God’s merciful love for the great, sinful city, of mankind.

The leaders said, why does he spend his time with tax collectors, prostitutes, and sinners.

It is not the well who need a physician, but the sick. I have come to call the sinners to repentance.

Jesus directly compared himself to Jonah.

Jesus said this evil generation wants signs and miracles. Only one sign: Jonah.

Jonah came preaching and the repentant Ninevites were spared.

I have come not to condemn the world, but to save it.

One greater than Jonah is here. Message not just for Ninevites, but the whole world. John 3:16.

He was hung on a cross and buried for three days. Like Jonah in the belly of the sea monster for three days.

But on the 3rd day he arose. With forgiveness for all.

But all who believe in him are not condemned but have life.

especially his enemies

To his mockers in the crucifixion. Forgive them they know not! They don’t know their left hand from their right.

Jesus shows the heart of God.

Later disciples would remembers his teaching — you have heard it said, love your friends, hate your enemies. But i say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. You must be like your heavenly father...

Still later, Paul the apostle to the gentiles, kind of like Jonah was an apostle to the gentiles, said, Paul - We have all been hostile toward God. while we were enemies Christ died for us. Once we were estranged, hostile in mind. But God in the great love with which he loved us has reconciled us to himself.

God so loved his people. God so loved his enemies. God so loved the world. that he sent Christ. So that they might have life.

Jonah sat on the hill outside. Watching to see what would happen. Hoping for a smiting. God worked on his heart. To deepen his love. To rejoice in the expansive love of God…not for some, but for all. Not just for those who love him, but those who don’t.

Jesus is waiting to see what will happen. His hope and prayer is that all will repent. That the whole world will repent. And have life.

Application

The book of Jonah ends on a question. Is it right that I should not have compassion on these sinful people?

As if to put the question to us. What is our prayer? What are waiting and watching for? Is it destruction of our enemies…or the salvation of our enemies. Judgment on our enemies or mercy for them?

Not an imaginary world, the real world. This world. Evil like Nineveh. Evil generation like in Jesus’ day.

Do you do well to be angry? The question is posed to us.

I get upset about a car we gain and lose. A house. A job. Our health. God you should be having mercy on me, saving me, forgiving me, redeeming me.

But then I see someone else — an other — person not in our tribe — and I am quick to say, God should smite that person. A person for whom Christ died!

There someone who needs to be smited…there’s another one....there’s a program, agenda, and ideology…that needs to be smited.

Is that the spirit of God? Not according to the Bible.

God is the God of the whole world. All people. Loves all people. Given me a place in that.

God has given us the ministry of reconciliation and the love of God compels us!

We who know God, and especially knowing Jesus, should have a specific stance. Love. The desire for mercy and redemption for others.

Other = those who are not like us. not just in appearance, but in every way and in deep ways, ways that we would even say threaten our well-being. Like Assyria threatened Israel.

Jesus: pray for your enemies do good to those who persecute you. Bless do not curse.

I can’t do that with this great enemy, this one who has hurt me or threatens me!

I understand. I have that too.

Let’s not focus on what we can’t do, ask what we can do.

Can’t do it all, doesn’t mean I can’t do anything.

Big task. He offers the promise. I will deepen your love.

God worked with Jonah he will work with us.

Asking the question: is it right, and leads us deeper.

Small steps. Pray for the enemies you can. Commercial, newsfeed, person on the street, waving the sign, pushing your button...

Lord, bless them as you have me. Forgive them as you have me.

Do this not when you are triggered, but when you are at peace. What are the things, people who are your enemies....when at peace, look, listen, pray. Then, that prayer will also come to mind when the triggering event occurs.

as we spend time with Jesus then deeper and deeper forms of love will emerge.

God I want to know the expansiveness and depth of your love…keep asking the question, keep working with me.

The fact that they can be so wrong should not provoke our wrath, but our pity. Or did they not know their left hand from their right?

so we need to check our hearts. When we look around the world...Are our hearts full of love or anger?

CHISEN FOR THE WORLD!

Conclusion

Birds of a feather.

something more!

Prayer of Intercession

We praise and thank you, O Lord, that you have fed us with your Word [and at your table]. Grateful for your gifts and mindful of the communion of your saints, we offer to you our prayers for all people.

God of compassion, we remember before you the poor and the afflicted, the sick and the dying, prisoners and all who are lonely, the victims of war, injustice, and inhumanity, and all others who suffer from whatever their sufferings may be called. [Silence]

O Lord of providence holding the destiny of the nations in your hand, we pray for our country. Inspire the hearts and minds of our leaders that they, together with all our nation, may first seek your kingdom and righteousness so that order, liberty, and peace may dwell with your people. [Silence]

O God the Creator, we pray for all nations and peoples. Take away the mistrust and lack of understanding that divide your creatures; increase in us the recognition that we are all your children. [Silence]

O Savior God, look upon your church in its struggle upon the earth. Have mercy on its weakness, bring to an end its unhappy divisions, and scatter its fears. Look also upon the ministry of your church. Increase its courage, strengthen its faith, and inspire its witness to all people, even to the ends of the earth. [Silence]

Author of grace and God of love, send your Holy Spirit’s blessing to your children here present. Keep our hearts and thoughts in Jesus Christ, your Son, our only Savior, who has taught us to pray: [Lord’s Prayer]

Faith Alive Christian Resources; Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. The Worship Sourcebook, Second Edition . Faith Alive Christian Resources. Kindle Edition.