Mercy is experienced in brokenness.

Jonah 3

vv.1–3—These verses are virtually identical to chapter 1:1–3, with only a few differences. The author clarifies that this is the second time God commissioned Jonah to this task. God tells Jonah to go to the city and speak the message He gives him. And then, Jonah goes to the city.

The author gives us some information about the city that is important to the story. He tells us that the city takes three days to go around.

v. 4—Jonah began to go into the city, only a day’s journey. He proclaimed a message to Nineveh—40 days, and it will be overthrown. He does not mention God’s wrath, Nineveh’s sin, or why Nineveh will be overthrown.

Forty days is a significant number, especially concerning God’s judgment. In Genesis 6, the Lord brought rain upon the earth for 40 days, flooding all the earth.

vv. 5–9—It took Jonah three days to respond to God. It only took Nineveh one.

—Everyone believed God.

—Everyone fasted, from the most important (the ruler) to the least.

—Everyone put on sackcloth. Sackcloth is an uncomfortable garment one puts on to portray mourning.

—Everyone cried out strongly/earnestly to God.

—Everyone turned from their wickedness and the violence of their hands.

—The ruler sat in ashes. He exchanged his throne (כסאcise) and his royal robes and covered (כסהcasah) himself with sackcloth and ashes.

—The animals were forced to fast and put on sackcloth because they were tied up in Nineveh’s judgment, and their hunger pains would sound like prayers, reminding the people of their desperate state.

—”Who knows?” God’s mercy is not assumed or expected. It is hoped for.

v. 10—Nineveh repents, so God relents.

—The word for “turn” is the Old Testament word for repentance. It is used in this verse and also by the ruler in verse 8.

—The word for “relented” is the same exact word as the word “turn.” God does not repent of sin (He doesn’t sin). God turned from the “disaster” He said He would bring.

—The word for “disaster” is the same exact word as the word that describes Nineveh’s deeds, “evil.” God’s deeds are not evil, but the disaster He would bring would be equal to the wickedness of Nineveh.

Jonah obeyed the

of God’s command but not the

Reveal Answer

.

Nineveh

God.

Nineveh

themselves.

Nineveh

their sinful ways.

2 Chronicles 7:14