I. Introduction
The book of Jonah can be used to postulate a number of different theological suppositions. For those that want to press their position on the sovereignty of God, then it easy to use Jonah for the way God manipulates the wind, the sea, the whale, the sun, and even the worms! For those that want to point out the debilitating effects of disobedience and its consequential effects toward depression, then Jonah is a good case study. This man begs God to take his life three times in the short narrative. What makes a man more concerned with the fear of living over the doom of dying? For those that want to use the book of Jonah to springboard their theological position on the doctrine of election, then the unimpressive sermons of Jonah …show more content…
His prayer is a reflection of how he feels about his desperation and where his security and protection lie. He mentions the temple twice (2:4 and 2:7) in his reflection on getting to that ‘safe place’ where he connects the presence of God. The temple is one of the major cultural markers of their society. The temple represents the most holy place where God had dwelt among them. The temple had become their idol leading them to forsake their loyalty to God. It is interesting that Jonah was not aware of his own hypocrisy criticizing those that ‘pay regard to vain idols’ (2:8). Religion and culture make strong bonds that can hold people hostage. God had sent many prophets to intervene to warn the Israelites that their destruction is coming, but His message was not received. Often those prophets were ostracized and beaten for their words against their traditions and sacred …show more content…
They refused to be that prophetic voice to those nations that needed their council. When the Ninevites heard the message of destruction, they were quick to repent and cry out to God for salvation. Even the king acted on what little revelation he knew, but he humbled himself and made a decree that all people and animals should call out to God (3:7). The result is that he and the people were spared (3:10). Instead of Jonah rejoicing with God over their repentance, he sat under a tree asking God to kill him. He was despondent that God had spared them even though they had been the people that had destroyed their temple and carried them off their homeland. Jonah gives us lessons on the compassion of God on all people, even those that are characterized by wickedness. One of prophetic community’s dangers is to limit God by developing a superiority complex. We don’t get to define how God will use our voice to bring change. God has promised to be with us, provide for us, be our security, be he has not promised His presence for a people unwilling to listen and obey His
The book of Jonah can be used to postulate a number of different theological suppositions. For those that want to press their position on the sovereignty of God, then it easy to use Jonah for the way God manipulates the wind, the sea, the whale, the sun, and even the worms! For those that want to point out the debilitating effects of disobedience and its consequential effects toward depression, then Jonah is a good case study. This man begs God to take his life three times in the short narrative. What makes a man more concerned with the fear of living over the doom of dying? For those that want to use the book of Jonah to springboard their theological position on the doctrine of election, then the unimpressive sermons of Jonah …show more content…
His prayer is a reflection of how he feels about his desperation and where his security and protection lie. He mentions the temple twice (2:4 and 2:7) in his reflection on getting to that ‘safe place’ where he connects the presence of God. The temple is one of the major cultural markers of their society. The temple represents the most holy place where God had dwelt among them. The temple had become their idol leading them to forsake their loyalty to God. It is interesting that Jonah was not aware of his own hypocrisy criticizing those that ‘pay regard to vain idols’ (2:8). Religion and culture make strong bonds that can hold people hostage. God had sent many prophets to intervene to warn the Israelites that their destruction is coming, but His message was not received. Often those prophets were ostracized and beaten for their words against their traditions and sacred …show more content…
They refused to be that prophetic voice to those nations that needed their council. When the Ninevites heard the message of destruction, they were quick to repent and cry out to God for salvation. Even the king acted on what little revelation he knew, but he humbled himself and made a decree that all people and animals should call out to God (3:7). The result is that he and the people were spared (3:10). Instead of Jonah rejoicing with God over their repentance, he sat under a tree asking God to kill him. He was despondent that God had spared them even though they had been the people that had destroyed their temple and carried them off their homeland. Jonah gives us lessons on the compassion of God on all people, even those that are characterized by wickedness. One of prophetic community’s dangers is to limit God by developing a superiority complex. We don’t get to define how God will use our voice to bring change. God has promised to be with us, provide for us, be our security, be he has not promised His presence for a people unwilling to listen and obey His