Download - Week 2
In The News …
• IRS targeting of conservative groups• DOJ watching the Associated Press• NSA data collection on Verizon cell
phones within US
What is similar about these scandals?Why are they so surprising?
Give some examples of the way people behave differently from what we expect
Note how the book of Jonah is a study in opposites of what is to be expected
Telling the Jonah Story
Mary Margaret, 6 Years OldFather Mapple sermon from Moby Dick
WHO?
Quick Review from Last Week …
Jonah = Dove = Israel
• Jonah’s name means “dove”• Dove signifies someone who is – Easily frightened– Double-minded in his ways– Lacking discernment – Not faithful or truthful
• Only Jonah knew all the facts contained in this book
• He likely wrote it late in his life as his confession• This book offers his mature reflection on the
triumph of God’s grace
WHAT?
Genre: Classification of Jonah• While it is clear that Jonah differs from other prophetic
books, it is not clear how its genre should be classified• Biblical scholars classify Jonah in a multitude of ways:
MidrashAllegoryDidactic Fiction
SAGAParableLEGEND
FolkloreDidactic HistoryPhilosophical
Treatise
TRAGEDY
IronicShortStoryNovella
COMEDYParody
Fact or Fiction?• The book itself gives no good reason for taking it as
other than historical• Tendency to view Jonah as fictional is a relatively
recent development• Vast majority of early Jewish and Christian writers
adopted the view that the events recorded in the narrative actually occurred – Book of Jonah included in the canon of Scripture– Most ancient references to it in Jewish literature suggest
that it was always understood as historical• Jesus’ references to incidents in the book of Jonah
are indicative that He understood it to be historical
Genre Identification• Each genre has its own set of “generic signals” • The author uses them to influence the way in
which the reader/hearer is to interpret his work• Ended last class with a used bookstore example:– Murder at Marplethorpe– The Life and Times of David Marplethorpe
• Now … Week 2
Genre Signals• The first words of the text –
“Now the word of the LORD came” – is a genre marker
• This frequent Hebrew phrase is the Old Testament’s way of signaling an historical account– See Joshua 1:1; Judges 1:1; 1 Samuel 1:1; Ruth 1:1
• Thus, the very beginning of the book Jonah tells the reader/hearer that this account is intended to be treated as factual
• For this class, I will proceed with the understanding that the genre of Jonah is narrative history
Genre Signals• This expression (“Now the word of the LORD came” ) is also
used in the OT only when contexts and circumstances regarding the prophet and his mission are already established in previous statements– When Elijah enters the stage, this phrase becomes the
standard by which he receives all divine messages (1 Kings 17:2, 8; 21:17)
– This is true in many occasions in Jeremiah (14:1; 16:1)– This phrase begins sections of other historical narratives
involving prophets (1 Kings 16:1; Ezekiel 3:16; Haggai 1:3)• Therefore, this phrase signals that the narrative begins
prior to Jonah 1:1, making the brief description of Jonah in 2 Kings 14 the starting point
• We will look at this historical context in the next few weeks
Jonah As Satire and Irony
Literary Tone of Jonah• The book of Jonah is satire with irony for a specific
purpose• Though subtle, satire is pointed and powerful• It has the following general characteristics:
1. It has a definite target2. It is characterized by indirect attack and subtlety; the
charge comes from the flanks rather than head-on3. It attacks inferior excesses; hypocrisy is one classic and
familiar example4. It is usually external in viewpoint; that is, the actions of
the character being satirized are emphasized rather than his or her inner thoughts
What is satire?
Satire: How Do We Know?• Face-to-face verbal satire is usually not difficult to determine
– They may wink or smile; or exaggerate their tone– May modify their manner in countless ways to signal that the words do
not themselves speak the whole truth• However, the presence of satire in a written text is not easily
proven
– Writers don’t give immediate indicators of satire– It may often seem a “safer” choice to take a writer’s words literally,
rather than risk a reading between the lines that is necessary to a satiric interpretation
– Signals of satire are often difficult to detect because the essence of satire is to be indirect
– A straightforward satirical statement would be a contradiction in terms
How does a speaker reveal he is being satirical?
Why is written satire so hard to determine?
Are You Serious?• How do authors signal to their audience that they are
speaking satirically? • The key is to be alert to the text’s context• By paying attention to the context and narrative of Jonah
we will see that the book is filled with satiric irony• Irony is the means by which satire is communicated• Irony is a figure of speech in which
1. The intended meaning is the opposite of that which is stated, or
2. An event or statement occurs or is used in a way that is just the opposite of what would be expected
• Irony serves to point out inconsistencies in a situation between what is and what ought to be
Note: This question is not in a white box with red lettering … The teacher must be asking a rhetorical question here. I can relax knowing he is going to give us the answer in the next bullet statement
Irony in Jonah: Expectations of a Prophet
1. Jonah abandons the task Yahweh calls him to do (1:3)2. Jonah sleeps during the storm while the unbelievers pray
(1:5)3. The unbelieving captain has to urge a believing Israelite –
Jonah – to pray (1:5)4. Jonah appears to remain unrepentant until the end of
chapter four; on the other hand, the unbelieving sailors (1:16) and Ninevites repent and believe (3:5)
5. Jonah’s anger over the conversion of Nineveh (4:1) occurs precisely when Yahweh turns his anger away (3:10)
6. The sailors and Ninevites perform classic acts of Israelite piety (making vows, sacrificing, clothing themselves with sackcloth 1:16; 3:6-8), while Jonah does none of this even though he promises to do so (2:10)
Irony in Jonah: Inconsistent Actions
1. Jonah flees from Yahweh, yet confesses him as Lord (1:9)2. Jonah recognizes that Yahweh sent the storm due to his disobedient
behavior (1:12), yet he does not repent3. Jonah’s overwhelming success in such a wicked city and with such meager
efforts (3:3-4)4. Jonah’s joy over the gift of extra shade (4:6) at the same time he is twice
expressing his desire to die (4:3, 8)5. Jonah’s joy over his own deliverance (2:10) and his anger over Nineveh’s
deliverance (4:1)6. Jonah’s wish for death (4:3, 8) upon his success7. Jonah’s anger to the point of death over the destruction of such an
unimportant plant (4:8)8. Jonah, in seeking to avoid the task of a missionary, ends up being Yahweh’s
vessel in converting both the sailors and the Ninevites (1:16; 3:5)9. The psalm (2:3-10) is unexpected with its emphasis on thanksgiving,
because it is surrounded with a narrative that rarely shows Jonah in a favorable light
Purpose of Satire in Jonah• The narrator combines irony and satire in his
factual account of history for several reasons:– To expose that not only Jonah but also the audience for
which the narrative was written have deviated in some ways from Yahweh
– To restore the audience to repentance and true faith in Israel’s God
– To strengthen the missionary outreach of God’s people• The author wants to lead the audience to recognize
its own similar hypocrisy, repent of it, and return to Yahweh in renewed and sincere faith that confesses the enormity of His grace toward all people
The Structure of the Book of Jonah
Chapters 1-2 (At Sea)• Word of God to Jonah 1:1• Content of the Word 1:2 • Response of Jonah 1:3 • Gentile Response 1:5 • Action of Captain 1:6 • Sailors and Jonah 1:7-15 • Disaster Averted 1:15c • Response of Sailors 1:16 • God and Jonah 2:1-11 • God’s Response 2:11
Chapters 3-4 (At Nineveh)• Word of God to Jonah 3:1• Content of the Word 3:2• Response of Jonah 3:3-
4a • Gentile Response 3:5 • Action of King 3:6-9 • Ninevites and God 3:10 • Disaster Averted 3:10c• Response of Jonah 4:1• God and Jonah 4:2-3• God’s Response 4:6-11
Depicts Yahweh’s power beyond Israel’s territory and across the sea
Depicts Yahweh’s power beyond Israel’s territory … into Nineveh
The Structure of the Book of Jonah Scene 1: Jonah’s First Call (1:1-3)
Scene 2: The Storm at Sea (1:4-16)
Scene 3: Jonah’s Deliverance & Prayer (1:17 – 2:10)
Scene 4: Jonah’s Second Call (3:1-3a)
Scene 5: Jonah’s Preaching Converts (3:3b-10) Nineveh & Yahweh Changes His Verdict
Scene 6: Jonah’s Response to Yahweh’s (4:1-3)Change of Verdict to Save Nineveh
Scene 7: Yahweh’s Provisions and (4:4-11)Jonah’s Response
WHY?
Too Focused on Big Fish …• In the book of Jonah:– The “great fish” is subject of only 3 verses (6% of text)The name Yahweh is mentioned 22 timesElohim or El (once) is said 13 timesAnd the combination Yahweh Elohim is used 4 timesThere is a total of 39 references to the deity in four
chapters, while the word “Jonah” is used only 16 times• This is clearly a story about the God of Abraham, Isaac
and Jacob and his accepting grace for all people, even their animals!“Men have been looking so hard at the great fish that they have failed to see the great God.”-- Campbell Morgan
Main Message• We find here a most intriguing confrontation
between Yahweh, the God of heaven and earth, and Jonah, his rebellious prophet
• The central message of the book of Jonah is that “Salvation comes from the Lord” – Salvation is not the exclusive possession of any one group,
nor does it guarantee their continued existence at the expense of others
– To those who appeal, on the basis of their special relationship with God, for the overthrow of their enemies, the book of Jonah voices a stern rebuke
– God's mercy may extend to the most unlikely of people, and who can tell what the consequences may be?
Sub-Themes in Jonah1. About Repentance (Respond to God like the heathen sailors and Ninevites)
A. To encourage Israel to repent B. To show the possibility of repenting C. To identify repentance as the correct response to prophecy
2. About Unfulfilled Prophecy A. To discuss prophetic non-authentication B. To offer justification for unfulfilled prophecy C. To consider the problem of conditional vs. unconditional prophecy
3. About Israelite Attitudes Toward Gentiles (Don’t Act Like Jonah)A. To encourage a missionary concern B. To condemn Israelite exclusivism (i.e., the reforms of Ezra and Nehemiah) C. To condemn Israel’s reaction against God’s forgiving the Gentiles
4. About The Problem of Evil (Whatever the Lord does is Right)A. To affirm God’s freedom to act graciously B. To explore the relationship between mercy and justice; are God’s compassionate actions just?
Topics We Will Explore
• Missions/Evangelism• True Repentance• Salvation & Election• Sanctification• Questioning God• Prayer• Death in General (Suicide in
Particular)• Discerning God’s Will• Law and Gospel• Rebels of God• Purpose of Troubles
• True & False Prophecy• Sovereignty of God• Divine Justice vs. Mercy• Forgiveness• Our Struggles with the Grace
of God• Compassion Towards the Lost• Presumptions of Being Elect• Dangers of Self-Absorption• Responding to God’s
Interruptions in Our Lives
So What?
Look In the Mirror• The book of Jonah is like a mirror
… “I AM JONAH!”• During our study of this book you
will see the struggles and problems of your own inner life
• Jonah was a mature believer who had given his life to ministry …
… but he battled with the impulses of his own self-interest and self-centeredness
• “My heart is desperately wicked”
Look Out the Window• The book of Jonah is like a
window … it reveals the heart of God
• Let’s discover what Jonah did about the grace of God– His redeeming love– His extraordinary
patience– His relentless pursuit of
lost people and rebellious saints
WHERE?
Nineveh, a major city of the Assyrian Empire in Jonah’s time
Jerusalem, capital of Judah(Southern Kingdom)
Samaria, capital of Israel (Northern Kingdom)
Joppa, the only natural harbor in Israel south of Acco, and
probably the closest one available to the fleeing prophet
550 miles
Geography of JonahWhere in the world is … Jonah, son of Amittai?
The LORD told Jonah to go to Nineveh, about 550 miles northeast of Israel. Instead, Jonah goes to Joppa and
boards a ship bound for Tarshish in the opposite direction
The LORD told Jonah to go to Nineveh, about 550 miles northeast of Israel. Instead, Jonah goes to Joppa and
boards a ship bound for Tarshish in the opposite directionSo where is Tarshish?
Nineveh, a major city of the Assyrian Empire in Jonah’s time
Jerusalem, capital of Judah
Samaria, capital of Israel Joppa, the only natural harbor
in Israel south of Acco, and probably the closest one
available to the fleeing prophet
Tarshish, believed by many to have been a seaport or region in southern Spain
Geography of Jonah
Tarsus
WHEN?
Although the story related in the book of Jonah took place in the eighth century B.C., it actually began about a thousand years earlier with one man in the city of Ur of the Chaldeans
Old Testament History
• 2090 – 1876 BC: The Patriarchs • 1876 – 1446 BC: Egyptian Captivity• 1476 – 1406 BC: The Exodus and
Wilderness Wanderings• 1406 – 1375 BC: Conquest of Promised Land• 1375 – 1050 BC: The Period of the Judges• 1050 – 931 BC: United Monarchy• 931 – 750: Divided Kingdom to Time of Jonah
God’s Call and Promise • The descendants of Noah had spread out, multiplied and
populated the earth and they had again abandoned the God who created them
• Yet God had not abandoned mankind • He called one man, Abram, and told him that if he would leave
his country and go to a land God would show him, He would make of Abram a great nation
• God would give him that land and through him all the world would be blessed … this was the Abrahamic covenant
• It would be through Abram’s descendants that the Savior of the world would come … in faith Abram obeyed God
• He was the world’s first monotheist
God calls 75-yr old Abram out of Ur (c. 2090 BC)
Abram leaves Haran after Terah dies (c. 2085 BC)
Helping God Keep His Promises• Roughly twenty years after the original message from
God, Abram decides to give the promise a helping hand
• He borrows Sarai’s servant Hagar as a second and unofficial wife, promising Sarai that any child of Hagar’s would be officially considered her offspring
• But God’s promise of a new nation had been specific not just to Abram, but to Abram and Sarai together
• After the episode with Hagar, God repeats His promise to Abram and renames him Abraham, showing his divine ownership of this man and his descendents
Abraham Fathers the Arab Peoples• Through Hagar a son is born and named Ishmael • It is through this son whom the Arab peoples trace their
heritage• According to the Qur’an, Abram-Ibrahim (in Arabic spelling)
was the first to worship Allah, the one God, rather than the stars, the moon, or the son
• When grown, Ishmael went with Ibrahim down into Arabia, to the city of Mecca, and together they build the Ka’ba, the first house for the worship of Allah
• To this house, the Qur’an orders all of Allahs’s followers (the People of the Book”) to turn:
“Wherever you are,” the Qur’an says, “turn your faces in that direction. From wherever you start forth, turn your face in the direction of the Sacred Mosque; wherever you are, turn your face there.”
Sons of Abraham• When he is 100 years old, Abraham has a son, Isaac, to
whom the promise/covenant was given (c. 2065 BC)• He in turn had a son, Jacob, to whom the promise/
covenant was given• Jacob, whose name God changed to Israel, had 12 sons• When Jacob was an old man he, his sons and their
families (70 people in all) went into Egypt to escape starvation during a great famine
• One of the sons, Joseph, was already there and in great power; he was second only to the Pharaoh serving as Prime Minister (1885 – 1805 BC)
• Because of Joseph’s position, he was able to take care of his family
Joseph and his brothersc. 1800 BC
Gen 37: 1-36Facing a famine that threatenedto wipe them out, Abraham’sdescendents moved down to
well-watered Egypt where theysettled in the north and prospered
Egyptian Sojourn(c. 1876 – 1446 BC)
• However generations passed and the descendants of Israel grew in numbers
• A new pharaoh arose (“one who did not know Joseph”) and was fearful (along with all of Egypt) of this great number of foreigners living within the borders of his land
• To protect himself and his country, he placed the Israelites in bondage and pressed them into labor for his many building projects
• The Hebrews remain in bondage for 430 years• As always God was faithful, and in His time He raised up a man
named Moses to lead His people• With great and mighty miracles God delivered the Israelites
from the Egyptians and led them to the land He had promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
1. Born in Egypt to slave parents , Moses spends his
youth in Pharaoh's household in Thebes; flees to Midian after
killing an Egyptian guard
2. In Midian, spent 40 years as shepherd; had a dramatic
encounter with God in the burning bush
3. Returned to Egypt to lead God’s people out of captivity; led people into the wilderness
known as Sinai Peninsula
4. Led people of Israel during their 40 years of
wandering in these wilderness areas while God prepared them to enter the
land of Canaan
5. Received the Law, including 10 Commandments, directly
from God on Mt. Sinai
6. Appointed Joshua as his successor; died on Mt. Nebo overlooking land of Canaan
Exodus From Egypt
(c. 1446 – 1406 BC)
Boundaries of Promised Land
Basic CampaignStrategy
“Conquest” of Canaan under Joshua
(c. 1406 – 1375 BC)
1. Upon crossing the Jordan, Joshua camped at Gilgal, then moved to take Jericho and Ai
2. Joshua made peace with Gibeon, then
moved thru Valley of Aijalon; defeated the
five Amorite kings
12
3
4
3. From Makkedah, Joshua launched a southern campaign
against Lachish, Hebron, Debir, & Gaza
4. In a northern campaign, Joshua
moved from Gilgal all the way to Hazor
The Judges of Israel(c. 1375 – 1050 BC)• The time between
Joshua's death (Judges 1:1) and the coronation of Saul (1 Samuel 10)
• Era of frightful social/religious chaos; moral and spiritual declivity
• The book of Judges teems with violent invasions, apostate religion, unchecked lawlessness, and tribal civil war
Othniel
Ehud,Deborah
Shamgar
Barak
Gideon
Tola
Jair
Jephthah
Ibzan
Elon
Abdon
Samson
Treacherous Behavior of Israel
OthnielCycle
EhudCycle
BarakCycle
GideonCycle
JephthahCycle Samson
Cycle
Degreeof
Devotionto
YHWH
Time
Death Spiral of Judges• As Book of Judges progresses there is a change in:
– Nature of deliverers who are sent– The deliverance God's people receive
• The first judge, Othniel, is an idealized good leader• The last judge, Samson, systematically undermines our
expectations of what a deliverer ought to be – Called to be a Nazirite at birth, separated for God from defiling influences,
he systematically breaks every vow that was made on his behalf – Instead of avoiding contact with everything dead, he scoops honey from
the corpse of a lion – Instead of avoiding contact with the Philistines, he wants to marry one – Instead of avoiding fermented drinks, he participates in a drinking party
with his future Philistine in-laws– Samson ends his life bringing judgment on God's enemies, but establishing
no rest for God's people
Summary statement of Judges
“In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in their own eyes.” (Judges 17:6; 21:25)
• The people of Israel had the perfect government with the Lord Himself as King, and the Law of the Lord as the law of the land, yet they weren’t satisfied
• They wanted to be like the nations round about them; they wanted a man as their king … so God granted their desire