JONAH

INDUCTIVE BIBLE STUDY:

BOOK OF JONAH

By Dennis Schmidt 3/2003

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This paper discusses the book of Jonah. Jonah lived in Israel at the time of king Jeroboam II. He was called to preach repentances to Nineveh the capital of Assyria. All scriptures are from the King James' version Bible.

JONAH THEME:

GOD’S MERCY & GRACE (ANOTHER CHANCE) FOR JONAH/ALL PEOPLES

Jonah 3:1-2 "And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying, {2} Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee."

Jonah 4:11 "And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand & their left hand; and <also> much cattle?"

CHAPTER THEMES & ELEMENTS

OVERVIEW	OUTLINE	TOPICS	CHAPTER(S) THEMES
I) Prophet	Introduction	Introduction	{1:1} Prophet Jonah
II) Jonah running from God.	I won’t go.	Jonah flees 1^st call, is punished, & rescued	{1:2-17} Jonah runs the wrong way & God cause storm with Jonah thrown in is saved by great fish
III) Jonah running to God.	I will go.	Jonah dies, repents, & God revives him to life	{2:1-10} Jonah prays within fish and vows to obeys God
IV) Jonah running with God.	I am available.	Jonah preaches, Nineveh repents, fasts, & God does not destroy them	{3:1-10} Jonah preaches to Nineveh which repents and fasts which God accepts
Jonah running against God.	I should not have gone.	Jonah unhappy with Nineveh’s repentance, & he is rebuked by God	{4:1-11} Jonah displeased & angry knowing God would forgive repented Nineveh

AUTHOR: Prophet Jonah DATE: 782 BC FROM: Israel TO: Nineveh, Assyria

PURPOSE:

- GOD IS MERIFUL TO ALL MAN PROVIDING ANOTHER CHANCE FOR REPENTANCE AND TO OBEY HIS COMMANDS.

Jonah 4:2 "And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, <was> not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou <art> a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and ."

KEY WORD(S)/VERSES:

Jonah 2:9 "But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD."

[ repent ] (3:9, 3:10, 4:2); [ arise ] (1:2, 1:6, 3:2, 4:8); [ prepare ] (1:17, 4:6, 4:7, 4:8); [ prayer ] (1:8, 2:1, 2:7, 4:2)

OUTLINE FOR JONAH

I) INTRODUCTION: {JONAH 1:1}

II) JONAH RUNNING FROM GOD: {JONAH 1:2-17}

A) JONAH FLEES CALL FROM GOD: {JONAH 1:2-3}

B) GOD CREATES A GREAT STORM: {JONAH 1:4-16}

C) JONAH SAVED BY LARGE FISH FROM GOD: {JONAH 1:17}

III) JONAH RUNNING TO GOD: {JONAH 2:1-10}

IV) JONAH RUNNING WITH GOD: {JONAH 3:1-10}

A) JONAH PREACHES TO NINEVEH: {JONAH 3:1-4}

B) NINEVEH REPENTS: {JONAH 3:5-10}

V) JONAH RUNNING AGAINST GOD: {JONAH 4:1-11}

A) JONAH UN-HAPPY WITH NINEVEH’S REPENTANCE: {JONAH 4:1-5}

B) JONAH DELIVERY AND REBUKE: {JONAH 4:6-11}

I) INTRODUCTION: {JONAH 1:1}

WHO: Jonah

Jonah 1:1 "Now the word of the /\ LORD /\ came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,"

See my papers: "God’s Word/Bible/Scriptures" for more information on this subject.

See my papers: "Bible Study & Interpretation Guideline" for more information on this subject.

Jonah: The name means dove. Jesus confirmed that the story is not a myth and Jonah was in a hugh fish-like-creature (not whale KJV).

The name Jonah is found 18 times within the book shown he existed.

Matthew 16:4 "A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed." Jesus: Jonah exist

The son of Amittai: The name means truth of the Lord. Only 2 places

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 Gathhepher."

II) JONAH RUNNING FROM GOD: {JONAH 1:2-17}

A) JONAH FLEES CALL FROM GOD: {JONAH 1:2-3}

WHY: Go to Nineveh

Jonah 1:2 "[ Arise ], go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before /\ me /\."

Nineveh: The name means habitation of Ninus. Possible the oldest city of the world established by Asshur in today's Iraq.

Genesis 10:11 "Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah,"

What is Israel's primary mission and was it to be evangelical?

No command in the Old Testament was for Israel to be evangelical. Some converts came in because they saw the Lord's working in Israel. After the cross all people were commanded to go forth.

Matthew 28:19 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:"

Israel was to be:

1) Custodians of revelation of one God.

Psalms 147:19-20 "He showeth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. {20} He hath not dealt so with any nation: and <as for his> judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD."

Romans 3:1-2 "What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit <is there> of circumcision? {2} Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God."

2) Separate people unto God.

Deuteronomy 7:6 "For thou <art> an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that <are> upon the face of the earth."

3) Look for the coming of Messiah.

Galatians 3:16 "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ."

WHAT: Jonah rose up to flee from the presence of the LORD

Jonah 1:3 "But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the /\ LORD /\, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the /\ LORD /\."

WAY: Jonah found a ship going the other direction to Tarshish

Jonah fled unto Tarshish: The city is the opposite direction to Nineveh. This is similar to Elijah going away from people

Went down to Joppa: A shipping port south of Gath-Hepher which was located in northern Galilee.

B) GOD CREATES A GREAT STORM: {JONAH 1:4-16}

WAY: Lord sent a great wind into the sea..ship was like to be broken

Jonah 1:4 "But the /\ LORD /\ sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken."

See my papers: "Triunity – Father, Son, & Holy Spirit" for more information on this subject.

Jonah 1:5 "Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that <were> in the ship into the sea, to lighten <it> of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep."

Mariners were afraid...Jonah was fast asleep on the ship:Jonah 1:15

These were experienced ship crews. Jonah is peacefully sleeping.

Mark 4:38 "And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?" Jesus is peacefully sleeping.

Cried every man unto his god:

No results since their gods just made of metal, wood, or stone.

Deuteronomy 4:28 "And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell."

Psalms 107:28 "Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses."

See my papers: "Just Who is God?" for more information on this subject.

Jonah 1:6 "So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? [ arise ], call upon thy /\ God /\, if so be that /\ God /\ will think upon us, that we perish not." /\ God /\

Call upon thy God, God will think upon us, that we perish not:

This is God who both allowed the storm & can save all on the ship.

Exodus 34:14 "For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name <is> Jealous, <is> a jealous God:"

See my papers: "The One God – The Shama" for more information on this subject.

WHY: Whose cause this evil <is> upon us

Jonah 1:7 "And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil <is> upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah."

So they cast lots, lot fell upon Jonah:

Proverbs 16:33 "The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof <is> of the LORD." God directs the outcome.

Jonah 1:8 "Then said they unto him, Tell us, we [ pray ] thee, for whose cause this evil <is> upon us; What <is> thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what <is> thy country? and of what people <art> thou?"

Whose cause evil on us; What is thy: occupation, country, people:

God directed the lot unto Jonah to make a confession of his God.

Jonah 1:9 "And he said unto them, I <am> an Hebrew; and I fear the /\ LORD /\, the /\ God /\ of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry <land>."

I am an Hebrew; and I fear the Lord: Jonah is a godly witness.

See my papers: "Godhead Relatonship" for more information on this subject.

Genesis 14:13 "And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these <were> confederate with Abram." Hebrew means one who passed over. The first Hebrew may of been Eber who is an off-spring of Shem.

Philippians 3:5 "Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, <of> the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;" Paul

Job 28:28 "And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that <is> wisdom; and to depart from evil <is> understanding."

See my papers: "Israel & Jewish People in God’s Plan" for more information on this subject.

Jonah 1:10 "Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the /\ LORD /\ , because he had told them."

The men knew that he fled from the Lord because he told them:

Jonah had told the crew that he was running from God's command.

See my papers: "Man’s Greatest Need – Relationship with God" for more information on this subject.

Jonah 1:11 "Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous."

What shall we do unto thee that the sea may be calm unto us:

They ask the prophet Jonah. God's man has wisdom from God.

Jonah 1:12 "And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest <is> upon you."

He said cast me forth into the sea: Jonah knows that he has sinned. He also has faith that God will not be punish others for his sin.

Jonah 1:13 "Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring <it> to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them."

Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to land..They couldn't:

Man's effort to solve problem to no avail.

Mark 6:48 "And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he

cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them."

Jonah 1:14 "Wherefore they cried unto the /\ LORD /\, and said, We beseech thee, O /\ LORD /\, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O /\ LORD /\, hast done as it pleased thee."

Let us not perish for this man's life:

Genesis 9:6 "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man."

Lay not upon us innocent blood:

Deuteronomy 21:9 "So shalt thou put away the <guilt of> innocent blood from among you, when thou shalt do <that which is> right in the sight of the LORD."

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LIST: MIRACLES: {JONAH 1:15 – 4:6}

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1) God made a storm & after Jonah was cast in sea ceased it: {Jonah 1:15}

2) God prepared a large fish creature to carry Jonah: {Jonah 1:17}

3) Jonah survived three days in the fish: {Jonah 1:17 & 2:10}

4) The 120 thousand people of the city of Nineveh repented: {Jonah 3:5-10}

5) God made a gourd to grow in a short time to protect Jonah: {Jonah 4:6}

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WHAT: They took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea

Jonah 1:15 "So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging."

They cast Jonah into the sea and the sea ceased from her raging:

Psalms 107:29 "He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still."

Luke 8:23-24 "But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled <with water>, and were in jeopardy. {24} And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm."

Jonah 1:16 "Then the men feared the /\ LORD /\ exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the /\ LORD /\, and made vows."

Men feared the Lord exceedingly..offered a sacrifice to the Lord:

No renouncement of their gods.

2 Kings 5:15 And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that <there is> no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant." Naaman

Psalms 66:13 "I will go into thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay thee my vows,"

C) JONAH SAVED BY LARGE FISH FROM GOD: {JONAH 1:17}

WHAT: LORD had prepared a great fish

Jonah 1:17 "Now the /\ LORD /\ had [ prepared ] a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights."

WAY: Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights

Lord prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah:

Psalms 104:25-26 "<So is> this great and wide sea, wherein <are> things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts. {26} There go the ships: <there is> that leviathan, <whom> thou hast made to play therein."

Amos 9:3 "And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out thence; and though they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the sea, thence will I command the serpent, and he shall bite them:"

See my papers: "Is Free Will Biblical?" for more information on this subject.

See my papers: "Some Saved and Some Lost God’s Sovereignty" for more information on this subject.

See my papers: "God Plans for His Purpose. Who Harden Pharaoh’s Heart?" for more information on this subject.

Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights:

Like Jesus, Jonah died & after three days was raised.

See my papers: "Between Jesus Death & Resurrection What Did He Accomplish?" for more information on this subject.

Matthew 12:39-40 "But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: {40} For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."

See my papers: "Jesus in the Old Testament" for more information on this subject.

See my papers: "Messianic Prophecies that Jesus Fulfilled" for more information on this subject.

III) JONAH RUNNING TO GOD: {JONAH 2:1 - 10}

WHILE: Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish's belly

Jonah 2:1 "Then Jonah [ prayed ] unto the /\ LORD /\ his /\ God /\ out of the fish's belly,"

Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish's belly:

See my papers: "Prayer" for more information on this subject.

Psalms 130:1-2 "A Song of degrees. Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD. {2} Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications."

Jonah 2:2 "And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the /\ LORD /\, and /\ he /\ heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, <and> /\ thou /\ heardest my voice."

Lord heard me; out of the belly of hell: Belly = center

See my papers: "Grace" for more information on this subject.

Psalms 18:5 "The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me."

Psalms 139:7-10 "Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? {8} If I ascend up into heaven, thou <art> there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou <art there>. {9} <If> I take the wings of the morning, <and> dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; {10} Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me."

Jonah 2:3 "For /\ thou /\ hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all /\ thy /\ billows and /\ thy /\ waves passed over me."

Thou cast me in the deep, floods compassed me, thy waves pass over:

Psalms 88:6 "Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps."

Jonah 2:4 "Then I said, I am cast out of /\ thy /\ sight; yet I will look again toward /\ thy /\ holy temple."

I am cast out of thy sight; I will look again to thy holy temple:

See my papers: "Entry Into the Holy of Holies" for more information on this subject.

Psalms 5:7 "But as for me, I will come <into> thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: <and> in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple."

Jonah 2:5 "The waters compassed me about, <even> to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head."

The waters compassed me about to the soul, weeds wrapped my head:

Jonah died in the large fish.

See my papers: "Resurrection" for more information on this subject.

Jonah 2:6 "I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars <was> about me for ever: yet hast /\ thou /\ brought up my life from corruption, O /\ LORD /\ my /\ God /\."

Thou brought up my life from corruption, O Lord my God:

Psalms 30:3 "O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit."

Jonah 2:7 "When my soul fainted within me I remembered the /\ LORD /\: and my [ prayer ] came in unto /\ thee /\, into /\ thine /\ holy temple."

See my papers: "Body, Soul, & Spirit" for more information on this subject.

Jonah 2:8 "They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy."

WHAT: I will pay that I have vowed

Jonah 2:9 "But I will sacrifice unto /\ thee /\ with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay <that> that I have vowed. Salvation <is> of the /\ LORD /\."

I will sacrifice to thee with thanksgiving. I will pay the vow:

Psalms 50:14 "Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:" Many times used in the Psalms (56:12, 61:8, 65:1).

See my papers: "Christians are not under Law, but Jews can Culturally Keep God’s Commandments" for more information on this subject.

See my papers: "Sermon on the Mount" for more information on this subject.

Salvation is of the Lord:

See my papers: "True Gospel for Salvation by the Imputed Righteousness of Jesus" for more information on this subject.

See my papers: "What Is a Born-Again & How to Become One?" for more information on this subject.

WHY: LORD spake unto the fish

Jonah 2:10 "And the /\ LORD /\ spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry <land>."

WAY: It vomited out Jonah upon the dry <land>

Lord spake, the fish vomited out Jonah upon the dry land:

Psalms 86:13 "For great <is> thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell."

IV) JONAH RUNNING WITH GOD: {JONAH 3:1-10}

A) JONAH PREACHES TO NINEVEH: {JONAH 3:1-4}

Jonah 3:1 "And the word of the /\ LORD /\ came unto Jonah the second time, saying,"

Lord came unto Jonah the second time: God's mercy & long patience.

John 21:16 "He saith to him again the second time, Simon, <son> of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep."

Acts 10:15 "And the voice <spake> unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, <that> call not thou common." To Peter 2nd

See my papers: "God’s Word/Bible/Scriptures" for more information on this subject.

See my papers: "Bible Study & Interpretation Guideline" for more information on this subject.

WHAT: Go unto Nineveh

Jonah 3:2 "[ Arise ], go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that /\ I /\ bid thee."

WHY: Preach unto it the preaching that /\ I /\ bid thee

Go to Nineveh, that great city and preach unto it that I bid thee:

See my papers: "Church Officers & Their Qualification" for more information on this subject.

Luke 11:29-30 "And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet. {30} For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation."

Prophet: A spokesman for another, as for God. Other names/titles in the Bible are as follows: Man of God; Servant of the Lord; Messenger of the Lord; and Seer (to see).

Exodus 7:1-2 "And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet. {2} Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land."

Jeremiah 1:7 "But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I <am> a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak."

Amos 3:7-8 "Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. {8} The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?"

1 Samuel 9:9 "(Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for <he that is> now <called> a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)"

See my papers: "Jesus as Prophet, Priest, & King" for more information on this subject.

TRUE & FALSE PROPHETS TESTS:

- Spoke only in the name of the Lord (Yahweh).

- His life matches his position. He did not practice divination.

- Do not assume signs and wonders prove his position.

Deuteronomy 13:1-3 "If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, {2} And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; {3} Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul."

2 Thessalonians 2:9 "<Even him>, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,"

- His message was in harmony with previous revelation.

History will confirms his authenticity.

Deuteronomy 18:21-22 "And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? {22} When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that <is> the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, <but> the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him."

- Moral quality and spiritual essence of the message.

- Inner witness to the Holy Spirit believer.

1 Corinthians 14:29 "Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge."

See my papers: "God the Holy Spirit / Ghost Scriptures & Notes" for more information on this subject.

See my papers: "Holy Spirit Baptism" for more information on this subject.

Jonah 3:3 "So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the /\ LORD /\. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey." Jonah is obedient after his chastisement.

WAY: He cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown

Jonah 3:4 "And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown."

Nineveh 3 days' journey..Jonah enter in the city a day's journey:

Three is the number of divinity and completion within.

Yet fory days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown:

Forty is the number of a generation of completeness.

B) NINEVEH REPENTS: {JONAH 3:5-10}

WHAT: The people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, put on sackcloth

Jonah 3:5 "So the people of Nineveh believed /\ God /\, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them."

Nineveh people believed God, proclaimed a fast, put on sackcloth:

Matthew 12:41 "The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas <is> here."

Fasting:

Isaiah 58:3-7 "Wherefore have we fasted, <say they>, and thou seest not? <wherefore> have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours. {4} Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as <ye do this> day, to make your voice to be heard on high. {5} Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? <is it> to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes <under him>? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? {6} <Is> not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? {7} <Is it> not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?"

Examples of fasting:

To stand in gap for people:

Deuteronomy 9:18 "And I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and forty nights: I did neither eat bread, nor drink water, because of all your sins which ye sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger."

To learn God's will:

Ezra 8:21 "Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance."

To stand in gap for healing country:

2 Chronicles 7:14 "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

To heal child for parents sin:

2 Samuel 12:16 "David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth."

To heal someone:

Matthew 17:21 "Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting."

Jonah 3:6 "For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered <him> with sackcloth, and sat in ashes."

Jonah 3:7 "And he caused <it> to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water:"

Jonah 3:8 "But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto /\ God /\: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that <is> in their hands."

Everyone turn from his evil way & violence in their hands: Repented

See my papers: "Forgiveness of Sins" for more information on this subject.

WHY: God will turn and repent, from his fierce anger, that we perish not

Jonah 3:9 "Who can tell <if> /\ God /\ will turn and [ repent ], and turn away from /\ his /\ fierce anger, that we perish not?"

God may turn and repent and from His fierce anger, & we perish not:

Jeremiah 18:8 "If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them."

WAY: God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way

Jonah 3:10 "And /\ God /\ saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and /\ God /\ [ repented ] of the evil, that /\ he /\ had said that /\ he /\ would do unto them; and /\ he /\ did <it> not."

V) JONAH RUNNING AGAINST GOD: {JONAH 4:1-11}

A) JONAH UN-HAPPY WITH NINEVEH’S REPENTANCE: {JONAH 4:1-5}

WHAT: It displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry

Jonah 4:1 "But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry."

It displeased Jonah & he was very angry: Jonah is selfish.

Matthew 20:15 "Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?"

WHY: I knew that thou <art> a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger & of great kindness

WHEN: When I was yet in my country

Jonah 4:2 "And he [ prayed ] unto the /\ LORD /\, and said, I [ pray ] thee, O /\ LORD /\, <was> not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that /\ thou /\ <art> a gracious /\ God /\, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and [ repentest ] thee of the evil."Jonah concern is his way, not God's

WAY: Repentest thee of the evil

WHERE: When I was yet in my country

Jonah 4:3 "Therefore now, O /\ LORD /\, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for <it is> better for me to die than to live."

Take, my life from me; for it better for me to die than to live:

1 Kings 19:4 "But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I <am> not better than my fathers." Elijah said the same thing.

Jonah 4:4 "Then said the /\ LORD /\, Doest /\ thou /\ well to be angry?"

Jonah's deliverance and rebuke: 4:5-4:11

Jonah 4:5 "So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city."

B) JONAH DELIVERY AND REBUKE: {JONAH 4:6-11}

Jonah 4:6 "And the /\ LORD /\ /\ God /\ [ prepared ] a gourd, and made <it> to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd."

Lord prepared a gourd to shadow Jonah and he was exceeding glad:

God is concerned even with little things in our lives.

Jonah 4:7 "But /\ God /\ [ prepared ] a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered."

God prepared a worm and it smote the gourd that it withered:

Job 1:21 "And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."

Jonah 4:8 "And it came to pass, when the sun did [ arise ], that /\ God /\ [ prepared ] a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, <It is> better for me to die than to live."

Jonah 4:9 "And /\ God /\ said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, <even> unto death."

WHY: Pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured

Jonah 4:10 "Then said the /\ LORD /\, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night:"

Lord said, thou has pity on the gourd, laboured not, neither made:

Isaiah 40:7 "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people <is> grass."

See my papers: "God the Holy Spirit / Ghost Scriptures & Notes" for more information on this subject.

WHAT: Wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons

Jonah 4:11 "And should not /\ I /\ spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand & their left hand; & <also> much cattle?"

WAY: Should not I spare Nineveh

Should not I spare Nineveh wherein are more than 60,000 persons:

Ezekiel 33:11 "Say unto them, <As> I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?"

See my papers: "Grace" for more information on this subject.

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