Jonah 3

Who knows?

Jonah 3

Jonah 3:1

Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying, (use)

Every sin, no matter how seemingly insignificant, is truly an act of treason against the cosmic King.[ch. 3]

Sproul, R.C., 2007. The Truth of the Cross.
sproul-2008-truth~c3a

Jonah 3:2

Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you. (use)

Jonah 3:4

Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he called out, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" (use)

For a Christian to talk to the unconverted about the the Lord Jesus Christ and his saving power is in itself honouring and glorifying to God.

Packer, J.I. and Dever, M., 2008. Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God.
packer-2008-evangelism~a3

'I believe in the sovereignty of God,' the Calvinist says and the Sovereign says, 'Go to every creature'; and the theologian says with such boldness, 'Ah, but God on the throne, you haven't chosen them all' - and God on the throne says, 'You GO; who are you, man, to reply against God?'

MacLeod, D., 2016. A Faith to Live By: Understanding Christian Doctrine, Reprint edition. ed. Christian Focus Adult Catalogue. pg.75
macleod-2016-a-faith~a6

Jonah 3:5

And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them. (use)

There is, therefore, no doubt but that Jonah, while crying against Nineveh, at the same time made known how wickedly the men lived, and how grievous were their offenses against God. Hence then it was that they put on sackcloth, and suppliantly fled to God’s mercy: they understood that they were deservedly summoned to judgment on account of their wicked lives.

Calvin, J., 1555. Commentary.
calvin-1555-com~jonah-3-5

Jonah 3:6

The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. (use)

The grace of God does not relieve me of my responsibility to be obedient; the grace of God makes possible my obedience.

Begg, A., 1998. Who is Doing What?.
begg-1998-who~a1

Jonah 3:8

but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. (use)

Jonah 3:9

Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish. (use)

Romans 5:8

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (use)

2 Samuel 12:22

He said, 'While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, Who knows whether the LORD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?' (use)

The question of the forgiveness of my sins is basic, fundamental, vital. It matters not that I am highly respected by a wide circle of friends if I am yet in my sins. It matters not that I have made good in business if I am an unpardoned transgressor in the sight of God. What will matter most in the hour of death is: Have my sins been put away by the blood of Christ?

Pink, A.W., 2005. The Seven Sayings of the Saviour on the Cross.
pink-2005-seven~a2

Joel 2:14

Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the LORD your God? (use)

The community of the saints is not an 'ideal' community consisting of perfect and sinless men and women, where there is no need of further repentance. No, it is a community which proves that it is worthy of the gospel of forgiveness by constantly and sincerely proclaiming God's forgiveness.

Bonhoeffer, D., 1937. The Cost of Discipleship.
bonhoeffer-1937-cost~a1

Jonah 3:10

When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it. (use)

God saw their works; he not only heard their good words, by which they professed repentance, but saw their good works, by which they brought forth fruits meet for repentance; he saw that they turned from their evil way, and that was the thing he looked for and required. If he had not seen that, their fasting and sackcloth would have been as nothing in his account.

Henry, M., 1896. Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible. UK. Jonah
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James 2:17

So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (use)

Jeremiah 18:8

and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it. (use)

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. God sent him into the world as the one and only means of saving sinners and reconciling races forever. If we deny this, we undermine the very foundation of eternal hope and everlasting unity among peoples.

Piper, J., 2004. Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die.
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Rescue the perishing, duty demands it; Strength for thy labor the Lord will provide; Back to the narrow way patiently win them; Tell the poor wand’rer a Savior has died.

Crosby, F.J., 1869. Rescue the perishing.
crosby-1869-rescue~v4

Matthew 12:41

The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. (use)

Topics and Themes

About God

Miracles

Key Verse

Jonah 3:10

When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it. (use)