A genuine repentance

Jonah  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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Jonah’s psalm recap

not an essential chapter…story is complete w/o it
gives depth and character to the book
consistent style/flow of psalms of thanksgiving from adversity
Developed an understanding of Sheol…a continuum of separation from God.
going deep in allows us to experience the extent of God’s mercy and reach to pull us out.
interesting verse 8
Jonah 2:8 NKJV
8 “Those who regard worthless idols Forsake their own Mercy.
Question: What is the most challenging part of repentance for you? Or Why do you think repentance is so challenging?

Commissioned

Jonah 3:1–2 NKJV
1 Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you.”
Jonah is recommission to go to Nineveh, appropriately so because he had renewed his vow to be obedient to the Lord.
Compare to the first commission…What is different
Jonah 1:2 NKJV
2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.”
There is greater instruction on what is to be said to Nineveh. God is a God of second chances, but it is always in-line with His purpose.
When there is a history of rebellion, greater instruction and guidance is needed.
Remember, the ministry behind the ministry.
Jonah’s journey
projected travel time of about a month with camel/caravan…much longer on foot.
Jonah eventually arrives and begins to share God’s message
Jonah 3:3–4 NKJV
3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three-day journey in extent. 4 And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk. Then he cried out and said, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”
There is a lot of speculation as to the reality of Nineveh and what is given in scripture.
Was Nineveh so big it took 3 days to walk it?
Were the 3 days indicative of the the process a visitor would go through to reach the king?
Is it just Nineveh or the surrounding areas as well.
Jonah 3:5 NASB95
5 Then the people of Nineveh believed in God; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them.
The beginning of change was a grass roots movement. The people heard the warning and began to respond.
eventually the movement of the people, Jonah’s message and Jonah made it to the king.
Jonah 3:6 NKJV
6 Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes.

The beginning of Repentance

What is repentance?
The turning of our minds to God
metonia is an action that characterizes our return to God
submitting my will (the seat of my will is in my mind) to His
What is the significance of the actions of the Ninevites with respect to repentance?
fasting and sackcloth
departure from the pleasures and lusts of this world
imposing of physical discomfort
taking on a state of humility…especially for the king
Are these actions sufficient enough for repentance? Why?
Jonah 3:7 NKJV
7 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water.
Jonah 3:8–9 NKJV
8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. 9 Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?
What is the key to repentance in these verses?
The turning from their evil ways and violence.
Physical expressions are only a beginning part to repentance. The goal is a change in the life lived thereafter.
Isaiah 58:3–5 NKJV
3 ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and You have not seen? Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?’ “In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, And exploit all your laborers. 4 Indeed you fast for strife and debate, And to strike with the fist of wickedness. You will not fast as you do this day, To make your voice heard on high. 5 Is it a fast that I have chosen, A day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, And to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Would you call this a fast, And an acceptable day to the Lord?
Isaiah 58:6–8 NKJV
6 Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh? 8 Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
God desires a change in us that is evident by the life we lead.
Jonah 2:8 NKJV
8 “Those who regard worthless idols Forsake their own Mercy.
So, Did God change his mind?
Jonah 3:9–10 NKJV
9 Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish? 10 Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.
Key point, God told Jonah to preach, not prophecy of destruction. Preaching that destruction will come without change is more along the lines of a warning of an impending consequence.
ex. “…forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us...”
There is an inherent warning with consequences if we choose not to forgive.
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