1. Jonah Preaches (v.4)
As we saw last time, Jonah now obeys the word of the LORD and goes to Ninevah and preaches there. Verse 4 tells us that "Jonah started into the city (and) he proclaimed".
We may suspect from what we know of Jonah, the man and the book, that his preaching is lacklustre and dry, because his heart is not in it. But for now, we should at least acknowledge that he was obedient and delivered the message he had been given. It is always commendable to obey.
The message that Jonah preaches must be noticed, for two reasons. Firstly, there is the timespan that is mentioned: forty more days. The implication quite clearly is that there is the possibility of mercy; they are being given time to reflect on their sin, on the threatened judgement of God and to repent. This hint at the mercy of God is what Jonah has known to be present all along.
The second thing to notice is the word 'overturned'. It quite clearly implies judgement and reminds us of the situation with Sodom and Gomorrah. But there is an irony in the use of the word here, because it also carries the meaning 'turned around'. Again, there is the indirect reference to the mercy of God and his sovereignty in 'turning round' that great and wicked city.
2. Ninevah Repents (vv.5-9)
So Jonah preaches to these pagans. Many a preacher has been in a similar situation and faced derision and even danger. But here the response is not hostility but humility. The crowd that one might have expected to 'have Jonah for lunch' instead proclaim a fast.
These pagans 'believed God' (or 'believed in God'). The totally unexpected happens and happens straightaway (the 40 days were not needed)!
And this was true of all the people, from the greatest to the least. Verse 5 tells us in general what happened and verse 6-9 explain the detail. The King, in his role of leading the people and representing them, makes all the outward signs of inward repentance and leads the nation in its grief and sorrow over its sin and in its turning to God.
Now, it has been well-noted that this does not mean that the Ninevites were truly converted and turned from their idols to serve the living God (unlike the sailors in ch.1, there is no mention here of Yahweh).
However, insofar as it goes, they are genuine in their turning to God for mercy in this situation. Notice how the King calls for genuine repentance seen in a change of life: "Let them give up their evil ways and their violence".
There are many lessons to learn from this remarkable scene:
- Ninevah was a truly wicked city yet was turned around and brought to its knees by the word of God - even when it was proclaimed by a reluctant prophet! Such is the power of God at work.
- How urgent is the need for god's word to be heard today!
- The change was 'across the board'. A whole society was affected. Many genuine revivals also show the same thing when God is at work in power.
- Leaders are important in the spiritual life of the nation. They can so often set the tone and their example is a powerful one.
- It is right for those with opportunity to do so to speak prophetically to leaders of nations and those in positions of authority.
- This passage encourages us to think that their ministry could be blessed beyond their or our expectations, and to pray for that.
These lessons are a great incentive for us to pray for our land and for this world. And to do so with confidence in the word of God and in his power to turn around the worst situation.
3. The LORD Relents (v.10)
The Ninevites turned to God from their evil ways. But as with the Captain in 1:6, they acknowledge that mercy and grace are in the hand of God. Even man's repentance does not merit the grace and favour of God.
But what we see here is the character of God: slow to anger, abounding in mercy: "When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion". We have already seen divine grace and compassion at work in the life of Jonah; now it's extended to the pagan sinners of Ninevah.
This is the God we worship! This is the God we proclaim to others! And this is the grace we are to embody as we live before others the lives of forgiven men and women.
May the sign of Jonah - the sign of Jesus, crucified for our sin and raised for our justification - be seen in us. And may his word turn this world around, so that all may know his mercy, from the greatest to the least. Amen.
