Jonah

JonahJonah

Bible StudyBible Study

Hanging decoration in the Hvidbjerg Church in Denmark

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Jonah is the Hebrew word for Jonah is the Hebrew word for dove (Gen. 8:8-12; Song of dove (Gen. 8:8-12; Song of Solomon 1:15; 4:1, etc.). Solomon 1:15; 4:1, etc.). Hosea 7:11 is instructive; Hosea 7:11 is instructive; “Ephraim became like a “Ephraim became like a dove silly and brainless. dove silly and brainless. They called to Egypt, they They called to Egypt, they went to Assyria.”went to Assyria.”

Another view of the Hanging decoration in the Hvidbjerg Church in Denmark

An outline of JonahAn outline of Jonah

• Chapter 1 – Running away from Chapter 1 – Running away from GodGod

• Chapter 2 – Running to GodChapter 2 – Running to God

• Chapter 3 – Running with GodChapter 3 – Running with God

• Chapter 4 – Running ahead of Chapter 4 – Running ahead of GodGod

The City thatTurned back

to God

The One thatGot Away

Chapter 2Chapter 1 Chapter 3 Chapter 4

In theShip

In theFish

In Nineveh OutsideNineveh

Jonah theReluctantProphet

Jonah - A Manon Fire for God

The ProdigalProphet

The PrayingProphet

The PreachingProphet

The PoutingProphet

Babylon

Joppa

Jerusalem

Nineveh

I. Introduction

• First (Jon. 1:1-3), God speaks to Jonah the First (Jon. 1:1-3), God speaks to Jonah the prophet and calls him to a difficult foreign prophet and calls him to a difficult foreign mission. mission.

• Second (Jon. 1:4-16), we saw that Jonah’s Second (Jon. 1:4-16), we saw that Jonah’s disobedience resulted in a powerful storm that disobedience resulted in a powerful storm that placed innocent bystanders in danger. placed innocent bystanders in danger.

• Third in Jonah’s story, we learn of the three-day Third in Jonah’s story, we learn of the three-day ordeal of Jonah within the belly of the fish (1:17–ordeal of Jonah within the belly of the fish (1:17–2:10). 2:10).

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A Yahweh hurls the storm (1:4)A Yahweh hurls the storm (1:4)B The sailors pray, act (1:5ab)B The sailors pray, act (1:5ab)

C Jonah acts (lies down, sleeps – C Jonah acts (lies down, sleeps – 1:5c)1:5c)

D The captain and sailors D The captain and sailors question Jonah (1:6-8)question Jonah (1:6-8)

E Jonah speaks (1:9)E Jonah speaks (1:9) D’ The sailors question Jonah D’ The sailors question Jonah

(1:10-11)(1:10-11)C’ Jonah speaks (1:12)C’ Jonah speaks (1:12)

B’ The sailors act, pray (1:13-14)B’ The sailors act, pray (1:13-14)A’ The sailors hurl Jonah and the storm ends A’ The sailors hurl Jonah and the storm ends (1:15)(1:15)Conclusion – 1:16Conclusion – 1:16

Jonah 1:17Jonah 1:17

•1717And the Lord prepared a great fish to And the Lord prepared a great fish to

swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the stomach swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the stomach

of the fish three days and three nights.of the fish three days and three nights.

Jonah in the Belly of the FishJonah in the Belly of the Fish

•illustration in the Chludov Psalter, a illustration in the Chludov Psalter, a Byzantine psalter from the 9th centuryByzantine psalter from the 9th century

II. A Surprising Deliverance (1:17)A.A. Verse 17. Since the death of Jonah is not the Verse 17. Since the death of Jonah is not the

Lord’s objective, he prepares a big fish to Lord’s objective, he prepares a big fish to swallow Jonah, and to save him from drowning. swallow Jonah, and to save him from drowning.

B. In more ways than one, Jonah’s confinement in B. In more ways than one, Jonah’s confinement in the fish for “three days and three nights” the fish for “three days and three nights” underscores the harshness of his ordeal from underscores the harshness of his ordeal from both a physical and emotional perspective.both a physical and emotional perspective.

C. While it is true that the fish saves Jonah from C. While it is true that the fish saves Jonah from drowning, the fish itself is only a slightly less drowning, the fish itself is only a slightly less threatening environment than the open sea.threatening environment than the open sea.

III. Deliverance Produces

11And Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the And Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the

stomach of the fish, stomach of the fish, 22and said: and said:

I cried out because of my afflictionI cried out because of my affliction

unto the Lord and he heard me; unto the Lord and he heard me;

from the belly of from the belly of sheolsheol I cried; I cried;

you heard my voice. you heard my voice. 33You threw me into the deep, You threw me into the deep,

in the heart of the seas; in the heart of the seas;

and a current was surrounding me;and a current was surrounding me;

all your breakers and your waves passed all your breakers and your waves passed

over me. over me. 44And as for me, I said, “I am driven from your And as for me, I said, “I am driven from your

presence; presence;

yet I will look again upon your holy yet I will look again upon your holy

temple.” temple.”

Thanksgiving (2:1-9)

55Waters enclosed me to my life.Waters enclosed me to my life.The deep surrounded me;The deep surrounded me;

weeds wrapped around my head.weeds wrapped around my head.66To the foundations of the mountains I To the foundations of the mountains I descended; descended;

the earth, her bars closed behind me for the earth, her bars closed behind me for ever;ever;But you brought up my life from the pit, But you brought up my life from the pit,

O Lord my God. O Lord my God. 77When my life weakened within me,When my life weakened within me,

It was the Lord I remembered. It was the Lord I remembered. And my prayer came in to you, And my prayer came in to you,

into your holy temple. into your holy temple. 88They that regard worthless vanitiesThey that regard worthless vanities

abandon their covenant loyalty. abandon their covenant loyalty. 99But I, with a thankful voice, But I, with a thankful voice,

I will sacrifice to you. I will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed, I will fulfill. What I have vowed, I will fulfill.

Salvation is of the Lord.Salvation is of the Lord.

A. Verse 1, Jonah speaks. The storm did not A. Verse 1, Jonah speaks. The storm did not provoke Jonah to provoke Jonah to praypray. The sailors could not . The sailors could not force Jonah to pray; but from the stomach of force Jonah to pray; but from the stomach of the great fish, Jonah prays. the great fish, Jonah prays.

B. Verse 2, Jonah gives B. Verse 2, Jonah gives thanksthanks. We expect to hear . We expect to hear Jonah crying out to the Lord for help; but Jonah crying out to the Lord for help; but instead, we hear a prayer of thanksgiving that instead, we hear a prayer of thanksgiving that reports Jonah’s cries after the fact. reports Jonah’s cries after the fact.

C. In light of the fact that C. In light of the fact that sheolsheol, the abode of the , the abode of the dead, sometimes symbolizes death itself (e.g., 1 dead, sometimes symbolizes death itself (e.g., 1 Sam. 2:6; Ps. 18:5), the bringing back of a Sam. 2:6; Ps. 18:5), the bringing back of a person from person from sheolsheol is a metaphor that is a metaphor that represents a near-death experience (Ps. 18:5; represents a near-death experience (Ps. 18:5; 30:3; 49:15; 86:13; and 116:3). 30:3; 49:15; 86:13; and 116:3).

III. Deliverance ProducesThanksgiving (2:1-9)

D. Verse 3, Jonah acknowledges God’s judgment. Jonah D. Verse 3, Jonah acknowledges God’s judgment. Jonah acknowledges that although the sailors cast him into acknowledges that although the sailors cast him into the sea, the Lord bears responsibility for the deed. the sea, the Lord bears responsibility for the deed.

E. Jonah describes the sensation of being carried and E. Jonah describes the sensation of being carried and tossed about by the “current,” the “breakers” and the tossed about by the “current,” the “breakers” and the “waves,” all of which are under the control of the “waves,” all of which are under the control of the Lord.Lord.

F. Verse 4, Jonah speaks in faith. Jonah, convinced that F. Verse 4, Jonah speaks in faith. Jonah, convinced that the Lord has heard his prayer (v. 2), declares the Lord has heard his prayer (v. 2), declares confidently that he will return to the temple, that is, confidently that he will return to the temple, that is, to the presence of God. to the presence of God.

G. Verse 5, Jonah shares his pain. Jonah felt imprisoned G. Verse 5, Jonah shares his pain. Jonah felt imprisoned and shackled as the depths of the sea surrounded him and shackled as the depths of the sea surrounded him and as sea weed wrapped around his head.and as sea weed wrapped around his head.


H. Verse 6, Jonah goes down. Sinking deeper and H. Verse 6, Jonah goes down. Sinking deeper and deeper in the sea, Jonah tells us that he went deeper in the sea, Jonah tells us that he went down “to the foundations of the mountains.” down “to the foundations of the mountains.”

I.I. Verse 7, Jonah remembers God. At his lowest Verse 7, Jonah remembers God. At his lowest point of despair, Jonah “remembered” the Lord; point of despair, Jonah “remembered” the Lord; and although Jonah was far from Jerusalem, his and although Jonah was far from Jerusalem, his prayer reached the Lord in his “holy temple.” prayer reached the Lord in his “holy temple.”

J. Verse 8, Jonah rejects idolatry. In light of his J. Verse 8, Jonah rejects idolatry. In light of his experience, Jonah rebukes those who practice experience, Jonah rebukes those who practice vanities. vanities.


K. Verse 9, Jonah promises to be faithful. Unlike K. Verse 9, Jonah promises to be faithful. Unlike those who would act unfaithfully, Jonah those who would act unfaithfully, Jonah promises to serve the Lord with sacrifices and promises to serve the Lord with sacrifices and with the fulfillment of his vows.with the fulfillment of his vows.

L. The thanksgiving prayer of Jonah ends with the L. The thanksgiving prayer of Jonah ends with the powerful assertion that “salvation is of the powerful assertion that “salvation is of the Lord.”Lord.”

M. Jonah’s statement that “salvation is of the M. Jonah’s statement that “salvation is of the Lord” also testifies to his own experience of the Lord” also testifies to his own experience of the Lord’s mercy and grace. Lord’s mercy and grace.


3:1-33:1-3

• God gives Jonah same God gives Jonah same commandcommand

• This time Jonah obeysThis time Jonah obeys– But not told yet the But not told yet the

exact messageexact message

• NinevehNineveh– A huge city, 3 days to A huge city, 3 days to

walk all its streetswalk all its streets– The palace covered 5 The palace covered 5

acresacres

Some lessonsSome lessons

• Repentance doesn’t change need Repentance doesn’t change need to make right the past wrongsto make right the past wrongs

• Obedience doesn’t require Obedience doesn’t require knowing everything up frontknowing everything up front

3:4-103:4-10

• A simple message of punishment A simple message of punishment for sinsfor sins

• Fast for people and animalsFast for people and animals– No water eitherNo water either– All (even animals) wore sackclothAll (even animals) wore sackcloth– All people prayed for forgivenessAll people prayed for forgiveness

• God forgave themGod forgave them

More lessonsMore lessons

• God prefers salvation to punishmentGod prefers salvation to punishment• God can forgive anyoneGod can forgive anyone

– God can set requirements on His God can set requirements on His forgivenessforgiveness•Jer 18:5-10Jer 18:5-10

• Sometimes the best prospects are Sometimes the best prospects are the least godly peoplethe least godly people– Israel did not repent despite years of Israel did not repent despite years of

prophets foretelling their doom.prophets foretelling their doom.

• Fasting and prayerFasting and prayer

:

A Repentant City and a Merciful God

4:1-34:1-3

• Jonah’s angerJonah’s anger– Expressed to God in prayerExpressed to God in prayer– Knew God’s character and didn’t Knew God’s character and didn’t

want it for his enemieswant it for his enemies– Desires to die rather than see Desires to die rather than see

himself as a traitor to his countryhimself as a traitor to his country

More lessonsMore lessons

• Prayer is an appropriate way to Prayer is an appropriate way to deal with angerdeal with anger

• Knowing God’s character and Knowing God’s character and practicing it are two different practicing it are two different thingsthings

• God’s people are in trouble when God’s people are in trouble when they forget where their true they forget where their true loyalty lies (Mt 6:33)loyalty lies (Mt 6:33)

4:4-114:4-11

• God questions Jonah’s reasoningGod questions Jonah’s reasoning

• The plant, worm, and scorching The plant, worm, and scorching windwind

• Jonah still doesn’t understandJonah still doesn’t understand

• God explains why He saved God explains why He saved NinevehNineveh

Why Nineveh was sparedWhy Nineveh was spared

• The plant lived and died at God’s The plant lived and died at God’s desiredesire

• 120,000 young children (also 120,000 young children (also animals)animals)– Probably 600,000 total populationProbably 600,000 total population– The children were not Jonah’s enemiesThe children were not Jonah’s enemies

•They had done nothing wrongThey had done nothing wrong

– Shouldn’t God be concerned about Shouldn’t God be concerned about them?them?

Some more lessonsSome more lessons

• God expects us to be reasonable in God expects us to be reasonable in our decisions, and even our our decisions, and even our emotionsemotions

• Saving lost souls should motivate usSaving lost souls should motivate us– If not, then consider the following If not, then consider the following

generationsgenerations– If you don’t help save your friends, If you don’t help save your friends,

family, neighbors, and coworkers, family, neighbors, and coworkers, •Then their children, perhaps your children’s Then their children, perhaps your children’s

friends, will also be lostfriends, will also be lost

ConclusionConclusion

• Never decide who is worth saving – all areNever decide who is worth saving – all are

• Don’t try to avoid responsibility to teach Don’t try to avoid responsibility to teach the lostthe lost

• Don’t forget you are a ChristianDon’t forget you are a Christian FIRST FIRST• God loves everyone and wishes to save God loves everyone and wishes to save

themthem

• God has made salvation available to allGod has made salvation available to all– Through His Son (Matthew 12:41)Through His Son (Matthew 12:41)

Jonah

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Transcript of Jonah