Choose Life!

Why Die?

Her name was Eiesha...

He was an active service man ...

He was just a nine year old boy

These people were not famous; they did not get any publicity or international condolences like Robin, William, Anthony Boudain, Don Cornelius

For some of us, perhaps most of us, we ask the question? Why would anyone choose death? Why would anyone take their own Life? Does the Bible have anything to say about suicide?

Yes. glad you asked because that is what this sermon will briefly focus on.

Let me say from the start that there is only one main point in this sermon and it is the title of this sermon: Choose Life. Choose life!

For some of us that is easier said than done. I want to encourage you on the basis of God’s Word, that no matter what you may be going through it is always better to choose life, rather than death.

What Is Suicide?

The clinical definition of suicide is...

One of the most famous cases in the Bible is of course, Judas Iscariot, Mt. 27.

The second is the more controversial one, the death of King Saul. This appears to be an assisted suicide.

OUR TEXT

But I want to focus your attention on a text that is not often cited for this issue—the story of Jonah. Jonah 4:1-11 to be specific. Everyone knows the story of Jonah and the big fish that swallowed him up for three days

Show photo recent man almost swallowed by a whale.

. Most people know that Jonah was told by God to go to Ninvah, but he ran off to Tarshish.

But a few remember that Jonah actually wanted to die. He asked God to kill him. So let’s look at our text. We will consider:

Jonah’s emotions: v. 1 Jonah was displeased exceedingly and he was angry

Explain these words and why Jonah was angry. This is the first time Jonah is angry, but not the last time.

Feature the emphasis of this issue. The people and the king of Ninevah choose life and not death and destruction at the hand of the Lord. Yet, this action angers Jonah. Is Jonah angry at the people or angry at God?

Jonah’s prayer: v. 2-3 Jonah seeks to justify his own words and actions of disobedience.

Yet, remarkably, Jonah knows something about God.

Feature each one of these wonderful words of description.

Yet, in spite of this confession, Jonah gets it all wrong.Kill me! This is the second time Jonah wants to die.

...”for it is better for me to die, than to live.” No, No, No! Choose life!

The Lord’s response: v. 4 God questions Jonah right to be angry. He does not condemn Jonah. He does not answer his prayer.

But God is not done with Jonah yet. vs.5-11

Why does Jonah leave the city? Did he think God would change His mind and destroy Ninevah? Is there any significance to going east of the city? Garden of Eden? Coming of the wise men? And he make a booth, sit and waits to see what happens. Booths are use in festivals, remembering the goodness of God in the wilderness.

The Lord uses this time to teach Jonah the goodness of life. v. 6. Do you not see the great compassion of God for Jonah. The man had just said he wanted to die, but instead, God give him comfort from the heat of the day, his discomfort.

And so Jonah, just like us is very glad for this plant, exceedingly glad. When God take care of us in our times of discomfort, we are very glad!. We seem to forget all our troubles. All we can think about is how so much better we are. But did Jonah really think where this plant came from? This blessing from the Lord? Did he focus on the gift, and not the giver? What happen to, “for it is better for me to die than to live?” And where did this plant come from. Notice the phrase, “God appointed...”

Explain the word: appointed, here used three times:

God appointed a plant...

God appointed a worm...

God appointed a scorching east wind and the sun...

Did you know that God makes appointments?

You has not been pit on this earth by mistake! God has an appointed time and times for all of our lives. Everything that has happened in your life and will happen in your life is by God’s appointment. And even when you try to do a Jonah, do you thing God is thrown off; like He does not know what will happen and what to do next?

Jonah tried to flee from the presence of the Lord, but he could not, and neither can you. the Pslamist said, Whether can I goo from the presence of the Lord.

There is no where to run, no where to hide?

But God has more for Jonah to learn:

These appointments of God have not been without purpose. And God uses the plant to make a point about Jonah’s misguided compassion and hypocritical attitude toward the plant, and the people of Nineveh.

This final section of chapter 4:5-11 is unique to the story of Jonah. We need to pay special attention to this section as this may focus on the main point of this account.

V. 5: Jonah leaves the city and stops just outside of the city limits to the east. Was he waiting to see if God would in fact judge the city like he did Sodom and Gomorrah? Did he think God was not going to keep his word even though the king and the people had repented?

And he made a booth for himself there.

You may remember that the people of Israel were commanded to make booths for each family, in remembrance of and celebration for the mighty act of God who delivered the out of Egypt, out of slavery, the curse. It was a whole week to have a festival in celebration of life in God.

Give background from Lev. 23:33-44; Neh. 8:15

But this is not why Jonah built his booth. He simply wanted to get out of the blazing heat of the sun. He was both physically hot, and emotionally heated. He was angry again. So, he sat in the shade, waiting to see what was going to happen to the city.

We don’t know how long Jonah waited, but we know that he was angry.

Have you ever just sat around, angry about something; what God did or did not do for you? Angry about your situation? Angry about other people, and how they have prospered while you have suffered? Angry because you are all along, and God does not seemed to hear your prayer for a friend, a companion, perhaps a spouse? Angry because your diagnosis did not not come out clear, and your healing has been delayed.

Did you ever stop and say, perhaps even shout: What in the world is God doing to me?

Jonah sits there waiting to see what would become of the city.

v. 6: And then we see something truly remarkable. God, the Lord God of the universe, steps in and sends a plant to cover this angry prophet, and save him from his discomfort.

This is not the first time God “appointed” something to help Jonah. Chapter 1: 17 says that the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. What you thought Jonah was just going to float in the water. There was a raging sea going about . He was was going to die. Jonah wanted to die. Jonah deserved to die.

But God had other plans. He appointed a fish.

Speak to A personally about the attempt, but God sent her help. He has a purpose for you. Choose life! Do exactly what Jonah did: Call out to the Lord in your distress. He will hear your prayer; He will hear your voice; He will bring you out of the pit. Remember the Lord. Do not forsake His steadfast love. Why?

Because as Jonah said in the that belly of the fish: Salvation belongs to the Lord! Choose Life.Choose Life!

Jonah received some shade from the Lord in the gift of a plant. You will want to receive some shade from the Lord.

As you might expect—Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant.

And we are just like that, Mad crazy and self consumed in our discomfort, but if God gives us a gift, and relieves our discomfort, we are ready to shout hallelujah! exceedingly angry, now exceedingly glad. As long as our needs are met.

But God is not done with teaching Jonah a lesson. Not only did God appoint a plant, but he appointed a worm.

Say something about the possible worm.

v.7: the worm attacked the plant and caused it to wither. At the news of the death of all of his children and all of his wealth.Job said in 1:20-21 The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

But wait there’s more.

v. 8: the sun came up and God also appointed a scorching east wind and burned Jonah’s head, (But God can bring a shadow to cover our times of burning). Jonah became faint and once again Jonah wanted to die. He asked God again to let him die. “It is better for me to die than to live.”

And once again Jonah’s anger returns. We are so much like Jonah. Happy when God blesses, but angry when we go through hard times.

And once again God questions Jonah about his anger, but this time it is not about the people of Nineveh, but about the plant.

“God asks: “Do you do well to be angry about the plant”.

And Jonah is ready with his answer,” Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die.”

To die? To die? Choose life!

Jonah is so angry about the loss of this plant that he wants to die. He is self righteous. He seeks to justify his angry. Jonah doesn’t get it. Jonah is outraged because of the loss of a plant, his shade, his discomfort, yet he seems to have no compassion for the loss of people. And God get the final word.

read the verse: 10-11

You pity a plant that you had nothing to do with, yet you get angry with God when he shows pity to a lost people who turn and repent, and worship the Lord. 120,000. and animals. Where is your compassion Jonah?

And where is our compassion for the lost? God showed compassion first for the saliors. They lived. They repented and turned to the Lord. They did not die.

God showed compassion for Jonah. Although he was thrown into a tremptuous stormy sea, he lived. He did not die. Oh you better be be happy when God doesn’t answer some of your prayers cause some of your prayers are misguided. Jesus said , You ask a missed! God appointed a fish.

And yes Jonah did finally did go and preach repentance and the forgiveness of God to the lost people of Nineveh.

And God showed his great compassion for the people of Nineveh when he did not destroy that city. They did not die. They repented and lived , and had now a life to worship the true God of the universe!

As we enter now into a new year, 364 days more to go, Let us choose life, not death, Let us celebrate life, not death, for ourselves, and more importantly, for others, especially the lost. Let tis be year of great compassion for the lost, who “do not know their right hand from their left.”

This is our joyful task people of God. Knowing this, we can only choose life, because he first chose us.

Praise God from whom all blessing flow. amen!