1 Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.” 3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey in breadth. 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!” 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. 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. 7 And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, 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. 9 Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.” 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. —Jonah 3:1-10
Introduction: As we continue our series in the book of Jonah we continue to learn about God and ourselves. We see God’s sovereign character in how He interacts with Jonah and the Ninevites in chapter 3. We also learn about ourselves as we read of Jonah’s reluctant obedience and the Ninevites response to God’s message to them.
1. God gives second chances (v. 1-2)
- a. God repeats his command
- b. God is steadfast in His mission to see Nineveh repent
c. Repentance is always a work of God (2 Timothy 2:25)
correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, —2 Timothy 2:25
d. God gives Jonah the words to say.
- e. Matthew 5:43-48 “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. —Matthew 5:43-48
2. Jonah obeys in deed but not in attitude (v.3-4)
We like
- a. Jonah announced impending doom, not a message of repentance to the God of Israel
- b. Nineveh wanted physical deliverance, not necessarily spiritual salvation
- c. The simplicity of Jonah’s message contrasts with the greatness of Nineveh.
3. Those who heard Jonah believed God (v.5)
- a. The Ninevites listened.
- b. 2 Corinthians 7:10 “Godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation”
For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. —2 Corinthians 7:10
Repentance requires
- c. The Ninevites took action to humble themselves
- d. The response of repentance crossed racial, social, political, and class lines.
4. The king heard Jonah’s message and responded(v.6)
- a. Even the powerful leaders responded.
- b. Wearing sackcloth reveals they viewed themselves as needy.
We often lack
- c. Just like the sailors, they did not want to perish.
5. The king issues a proclamation (v.7-9)
Leaders who model
- a. The delivery of God’s message became organized
- b. The proclamation called for all to participate
- c. The proclamation acknowledged God’s mightiness
- d. The proclamation called for repentance and justice
Yet while
repentance is fundamental, justice must be to it. If you have a new relationship with God, it must your other relationships. —Tim Keller
6. God is both gracious and merciful (v.10)
- a. Believe God
- b. Call on God
- c. Repent from your evil ways
- d. Receive God’s mercy and grace
- e. 2 Peter 3:9 God is “patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish”
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. —2 Peter 3:9
Our salvation is found through
Small Group Questions
What did God teach you through this passage and sermon? Share the work of God in your heart with the group.
What questions did this passage and sermon raise in your mind?
When have you experienced God graciously offering you a second chance?
In what situations would you consider fasting and/or giving up physical comfort, like the Ninevites, in order to seek God?
Spend time praying as a group for a continued commitment to repent from our sins as well as carrying God’s good news to underserving people.