5Then the people of Nineveh believed in God; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them.
6When the word reached the king of Nineveh, he arose from his throne, laid aside his robe from him, covered himself with sackcloth and sat on the ashes.
7He issued a proclamation and it said, "In Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let man, beast, herd, or flock taste a thing. Do not let them eat or drink water.
8"But both man and beast must be covered with sackcloth; and let men call on God earnestly that each may turn from his wicked way and from the violence which is in his hands.
9"Who knows, God may turn and relent and withdraw His burning anger so that we will not perish."
10When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it.
Last week, Jonah, finding his prophet's voice, had just uttered in verse 4, that Nineveh would be overthrown. This week, one verse later, "Then, the people of Nineveh believed in God." What a transformation! And not only do they believe on a surface level, but their actions of fasting and adorning sackcloth--from the least member of the city to the king himself--indicate a full forward motion toward repentance.
As I've said here before, the way God has crafted this book for us makes for a fascinating journey. Again, we are not given verse after verse of Scripture as to what Jonah said nor what the Ninevites' exact sins were. But we are witness to God's working in Jonah and in this people, who, obviously, were "great" to God. I really think God wants us to understand the concepts of His Word and the bigger picture. Just loving this aspect of the book!
My study Bible and some alternate translations suggest that Jonah got personal with the people and shared of his experience in the belly of the fish. Surely, crowds of fish god and goddess worshipers would listen with rapt attention in hearing of God's saving of the man before them. As for the king, he heard of God's anger with his people and the consequences He presented to Jonah. Still, for an entire city the size of Nineveh to be converted into believers, God was working not just in Jonah, but in the hearts of each and every citizen. I need a minute to let that sink in, because He is just as capable of working such a miracle today!
There's a marvelous parallel between what happens in Nineveh and what happened on the boat with the sailors.
The sailors recognized God in the midst of their stormy circumstances. The king of Nineveh sees this as well, and calls for a proclamation to be made for his whole kingdom, including the animals (which was Persian custom in the day). They wear sackcloth as in mourning and fast (which brings to mind the words of the prophet Joel over the Israelites' situation with their famine; see verse 2:14). They know they're in trouble.
For there to be true repentance, there needs to be an understanding that God is holy, and sin cannot co-exist in that relationship. One needs to understand the presence of sin, and the king of Nineveh was convicted of that. He told his people to turn away from their wickedness and violence (the Hebrew word also suggesting "wrong or unjust gain" [Strong's]). God's "terms" would be to repent and sin no more. Yet, it is God who determines who has truly repented in his heart.
Verse 10 confirms that the Ninevites were faithful in meeting God's terms. God saw what they did and knew that they had repented. In turn, He relented. I don't know how often we think about God changing His mind, but that's the idea behind 'relent'. God had a plan to bring "a calamity" upon the Ninevites. They were deserving of a calamity, just as Jonah was deserving of his consequences. Yet, in His mercy, God retreats from His plans. Under no circumstances does this say God "gave in." All along, He wanted His people to come back to Him--but it had to be on His terms, which, from this passage, happened.
As I've said here before, the way God has crafted this book for us makes for a fascinating journey. Again, we are not given verse after verse of Scripture as to what Jonah said nor what the Ninevites' exact sins were. But we are witness to God's working in Jonah and in this people, who, obviously, were "great" to God. I really think God wants us to understand the concepts of His Word and the bigger picture. Just loving this aspect of the book!
My study Bible and some alternate translations suggest that Jonah got personal with the people and shared of his experience in the belly of the fish. Surely, crowds of fish god and goddess worshipers would listen with rapt attention in hearing of God's saving of the man before them. As for the king, he heard of God's anger with his people and the consequences He presented to Jonah. Still, for an entire city the size of Nineveh to be converted into believers, God was working not just in Jonah, but in the hearts of each and every citizen. I need a minute to let that sink in, because He is just as capable of working such a miracle today!
There's a marvelous parallel between what happens in Nineveh and what happened on the boat with the sailors.
"...Get up, call on your god. Perhaps your god will be concerned about us so that we will not perish."--Jonah 1:6, the sailors speaking
"Who can tell, God may turn and revoke His sentence against us [when we have met His terms]...."--Verse 9, Amplified Bible
For there to be true repentance, there needs to be an understanding that God is holy, and sin cannot co-exist in that relationship. One needs to understand the presence of sin, and the king of Nineveh was convicted of that. He told his people to turn away from their wickedness and violence (the Hebrew word also suggesting "wrong or unjust gain" [Strong's]). God's "terms" would be to repent and sin no more. Yet, it is God who determines who has truly repented in his heart.
Verse 10 confirms that the Ninevites were faithful in meeting God's terms. God saw what they did and knew that they had repented. In turn, He relented. I don't know how often we think about God changing His mind, but that's the idea behind 'relent'. God had a plan to bring "a calamity" upon the Ninevites. They were deserving of a calamity, just as Jonah was deserving of his consequences. Yet, in His mercy, God retreats from His plans. Under no circumstances does this say God "gave in." All along, He wanted His people to come back to Him--but it had to be on His terms, which, from this passage, happened.
Let the wicked forsake his way
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
And let him return to the LORD,
And He will have compassion on him,
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon.--Isaiah 55:7
Unfortunately, though, this is not the end of the story of Jonah. Hold on to your hats, folks, as we find the prophet in Chapter 4 "displeased and angry" (vs. 1)!?!? .... 'Til next Wednesday!
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Next week: Jonah 4:1-4
Note: I read from the New American Standard Bible translation,
specifically, The MacArthur Study Bible (NASB).
I will quote other sources if used in a post.
I also use Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible
(with notes from the King James Version).
Note: I read from the New American Standard Bible translation,
specifically, The MacArthur Study Bible (NASB).
I will quote other sources if used in a post.
I also use Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible
(with notes from the King James Version).
What a wonderful verse that is in Isaiah! If people would only grasp that God is a loving God who truly cares about them and who knows them better than they know or understand themselves. The things He requires of us are for our own good. Such a just and holy God who is worthy of our praise and our worship! Good post, Sue.
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