JONAH

Jonah was a “PK”, or prophet’s kid who followed in the footsteps of his father. His ministry began well before we are introduced to him in the book that bears his name, and he seems to be well liked among his people. Everyone likes to receive good news, and the prophets who bore that news often enjoyed relative success in their careers. Such was the case for Jonah, who prophesied in 2 Kings 14:25 “He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gath-hepher.”

This book also gives us one of the best examples of Old Testament missions anywhere in the Bible. It is important to recognize that “missions” is not strictly a New Testament plan. “God called Israel to be holy, separate, or distinct from other nations, but they were also to be priests to the other nations. To live among them and lead them to God was their purpose for being.”1 In Jeremiah 1:5 that prophet is called to be a “prophet to the nations.” The architecture of the temple includes a court for non-Jews to worship Jehovah, and Solomon’s prayer of dedication in 1 Kings 8 leaves little doubt that God was not content to wait until the New Testament to make Himself known to the peoples of the world.

Nineveh was one of cruelest cities known in ancient times, and also dealt with in the book of Nahum. An oft-quoted translation of an official record from the reign of Ashur-nasirpal II will serve as an example:

I stormed the mountain peaks and took them. In the midst of the mighty mountains I slaughtered them; with their blood I dyed the mountain red like wool. With the rest of them I darkened the gullies and precipices of the mountains. I carried off their spoil and their possessions. The heads of their warriors I cut off, and I formed them into a pillar over against their city; their young men and their maidens I burned in the fire! … I built a pillar over against the city gates, and I flayed all the chief men who had revolted, and I covered the pillar with their skins; some I walled up within the pillar, some I impaled upon the pillar on stakes, and others I bound to stakes round about the pillar2

This was a time of prosperity for the Northern Kingdom, as Jeroboam was able to expand his territory to their greatest extent since the time of David and Solomon.3 While Hosea and Amos would be used of God to warn Israel of His impending judgment, Jonah was sent to the very nation who would be used by God to carry out that judgment. The Assyrian empire, with Ninevah as its capital, carried Israel into captivity in 722 BC, a mere 33 years in the future.4

1 Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary. 2003 (C. Brand, C. Draper, A. England, S. Bond, E. R. Clendenen, T. C. Butler & B. Latta, Ed.) (1140). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.2 Smith, J. E. (1994). The Minor Prophets. Old Testament Survey Series (Jon 1:1–3). Joplin, MO: College Press.3 Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1985). Vol. 1: The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (1460–1461). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.4 Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1985). Vol. 1: The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (1460–1461). Wheaton, IL: Victor

o Outlinea. The disobedience of Jonah (chapters 1-2)

i. Commissioned to preach (1:1-2)ii. Rebels against God’s plan (1:3)

iii. God comes up with a second plan (1:4-2:10)b. Jonah obeys

i. The recommissioned prophet (3:1-2)ii. Obedience of the prophet (3:3-4)

iii. Repentance of Nineveh (3:5-9)1. The people respond (3:5)2. The king responds (3:6-9)3. God responds (3:10)

iv. Jonah’s attitude (chapter 4)1. Jonah’s anger (4:1-5)

Books.

2. God’s response (4:6-11)

o Introductiono Jonah first appears in II Kings 14:25. Here we find him as a servant of the Lord from

Bath Hepher. His name means “dove” He is one of only four prophets who were referred to by Christ, and the only

of the Minor Prophets that Christ likened Himself to. 5

Matthew 12:41 Luke 11:32

Jonah was a contemporary to both Hosea and Amos.

o Nineveh Nineveh had experience two plagues before Jonah arrived (765 and 759)6

The three days journey (3:3) speaks of the size of the city, and not the distance in location.

Nineveh is mentioned in Genesis 10:11 We also read about its destruction in Isaiah 10:5-19

5 Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1985). Vol. 1: The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (1460–1461). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.6 Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1985). Vol. 1: The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (1462). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

I. The disobedience of Jonah (chapters 1-2)a. Commissioned to preach

i. His authority came from the Lordii. He was to cry against the city. (3:4)

iii. This assignment would take him 550 miles away from where he was. Likely a month’s journey.

iv. It was a city well known for cruelty and arrogance.b. Rebels against God’s plan.

i. Psalm 139:7-8 “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there,”

ii. Jonah has the dubious distinction of being the only Old Testament prophet to run from God.

c. The second plan.

Study of Poetical Structure:Written in the form of a chiasmus. Examples:

In peace sons bury their fathers, but in war fathers bury their sons. Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country. "In America, you can always find a party. In Soviet Russia, The Party can always find

you!".

a. The sailors’ fright b. The sailor’s prayer to their gods c. The sailors’ unloading the ship d. The captain’s speech to Jonah e. The sailors’ word to each other f. The sailors’ question to Jonah, “Who are you?” g. Jonah’s confession (v. 9) f1 The sailors’ question to Jonah, “What have you done?” e1. The sailor’s question to Jonah, “What shall we do?” d1. Jonah’s words to the sailors c1. The sailor’s rowing of the ship b1. The sailor’s prayer to the Lorda1. The sailors’ fear of the Lord(The Bible Knowledge Commentary, page 1465)

i. The great wind. As a type of the Holy Spirit, the same wind that propels someone who is in God’s will can prevent someone who is not. (John 3:8; )

ii. The heathen approached their gods first, worked second.

1. While men feared for their lives, a Man of God slept.2. A pagan captain had to call this man to prayer.

iii. It was obviously a supernatural storm.iv. Jonah claimed to fear God even though he was not serving Him.v. Calming the sea

1. They ask this backslidden prophet for counsel2. Jonah was much more willing to save others in his death than he was

with his life.3. The sailors sought forgiveness for taking a life.4. They sacrificed to God and vowed to continue worshiping him.

vi. The great fish1. Jonah’s life was spared by God’s preparation2. Jonah’s revival

vii. God’s deliveranceII. Jonah’s Obedience

a. He is told again to go, and this time was not given a reason.b. He follows God’s directionc. His preaching began at the outskirts of the city.d. Nineveh responds

i. The people turn to God.1. Belief2. fasting3. sackcloth

ii. The king repentsiii. The king’s proclamation

1. It was universal2. Animals and herds were included.

iv. God’s mercy was soughte. God respondsf. Jonah responds

i. He did not want God’s mercy to extend to these people.ii. He requests death

g. The Lord rebukesh. Jonah’s attitude. He was still hoping for judgment.i. He, too, benefited from God’s mercyj. His ungratefulness lost him the benefit of the plant.

God expresses His reasons