Key Themes . Yet will I look again toward Thy holy temple. Text. 6. and he answered me;. NIV, Storyline Bible, Comfort Print: Each Story Plays a Part. The leading feature of the story is that of one man sacrificed for the rest of the crew: it is the execution of the culprit, in arrest of judgment on the innocent. And Jonah went out of the city and sat on the east of the city. “It 3 will not leave even a root or branch. 4 1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. (5-11) Commentary on Jonah 4:1-4 (Read Jonah 4:1-4) What all the saints make matter of joy and praise, Jonah makes the subject of reflection upon God; as if showing mercy were an imperfection of … All rights reserved worldwide. I knew(B) that you are a gracious(C) and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love,(D) a God who relents(E) from sending calamity. See what our creature-comforts are, and what we may expect them to be; they are withering things. But it — The divine forbearance in sparing Nineveh; displeased Jonah exceedingly — “Seeing that what he had foretold against the Ninevites did not happen, he was afraid lest he should pass for a false prophet and a deceiver, his ministry be despised, and his person exposed to the violence of the Ninevites. He sat under it in the shade, till he should see what would become of the city. 4 But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. And murmurers shall be made to understand, that how willing soever they are to keep the Divine grace to themselves and those of their own way, there is one Lord over all, who is rich in mercy to all that call upon him. 6 Then the Lord God provided(K) a leafy plant[a] and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. (1-4) He is taught by the withering of a gourd, that he did wrong. (F) 3 Now, Lord, take away my life,(G) for it is better for me to die(H) than to live.”(I), 4 But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?”(J), 5 Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. So angry, he says in Jonah 4:3 that it would be better for him to die. And he made himself a booth there and sat under it in the shade, until he might see what would happen to the city. 10 And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land. 9 And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? There appeared in Jonah remains of a proud, uncharitable spirit; and that he neither expected nor desired the welfare of the Ninevites, but had only come to declare and witness their destruction. Some would rejoice and some would leave! 4 1 “For indeed the day 2 is coming, burning like a furnace, and all the arrogant evildoers will be chaff. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd. That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. 10 Then said the LORD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night: 11 And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle? They were a vicious and violent people (as were most nations in those days). He was not duly humbled for his own sins, and was not willing to trust the Lord with his credit and safety. The precise identification of this plant is uncertain; also in verses 7, 9 and 10. (1-4) He is taught by the withering of a gourd, that he did wrong. Can I justify it? In this frame of mind, he overlooked the good of which he had been an instrument, and the glory of the Divine mercy. 2 Then Jonah prayed to the L ord his God from the belly of the fish, 2 saying,. Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil. Persons of strong passions are apt to be cast down with any trifle that crosses them, or to be lifted up with a trifle that pleases them. The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures is published by Jehovah’s Witnesses. 3 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” 3 Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. See how tender God is of his people in their afflictions, even though they are foolish and froward. He wanted to die,(M) and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.”, 9 But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?”(N), “It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.”, 10 But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. The story of a fish swallowing a man and the man living sounds impossible, and since most liberal scholars deny the possibility of the supernatural, they reject the book of Jonah as anything but a fairy tale. 2 And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Do we do well to be angry at that which is for the glory of God, and the advancement of his kingdom? Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. 11 And should I not have concern(O) for the great city of Nineveh,(P) in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”. What God really prepared was a person, a prophet. loss of power], Accusations of a lack of authenticity, Concerns about changes that might affect personal comfort levels, or Divisions between the old and new members. In fact, now that God has been compassionate on Nineveh, Jonah would rather die. 1). It is a great encouragement to hope we shall find mercy with the Lord, that he is ready to show mercy. The deepest remorse has its remedy in a return to duty. Jon 4:5 JONAH WENT OUT AND SAT DOWN AT A PLACE EAST OF THE CITY. 7 But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered. Thepeople were very glad. The Question of God (Jonah 4:4-8) Jonah 4:4. Jonah 2:1 "Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish's belly," "Then Jonah prayed": When he was in the fish's belly. He is probably seen as a traitor in Israel, and God was now blessing the people that he saw as the scum of the earth. One soul is of more value than the whole world; surely then one soul is of more value than many gourds: we should have more concern for our own and others' precious souls, than for the riches and enjoyments of this world. As with chapter 3, grace is a major theme in the Book of Jonah's final chapter. 3 Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live. Nevertheless, the real work of preparation happened in Jonah. Jonah repines at God's mercy to Nineveh, and is reproved. NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Perhaps creature-comforts are continued to us, but are made bitter; the creature is continued, but the comfort is gone. He wishes for death: this was the language of folly, passion, and strong corruption. Jonah is one of the most ridiculed books by liberal scholars. This was the real reason why Jonah decided … The original text was written in … Jonah’s Prayer. It is just that those who love to complain, should never be left without something to complain of. Let the conversion of sinners, which is the joy of heaven, be our joy, and never our grief.5-11 Jonah went out of the city, yet remained near at hand, as if he expected and desired its overthrow. Do I well to be angry at the mercy of God to repenting sinners? And the LORD said, “Is your anger rightly kindled in you?” 5. Now Jonah had left the city and found a place east of the city. 1:4, 11, 13, 15; 4:8), and he prepared a sea-creature, a vine, and a worm to do his bidding (Jon. Jonah 4:6, "[~Yahweh] ['Elohiym]," the compound name of God found in the Book of Genesis. Jonah 4:1-11—Read the Bible online or download free. The first movement is (in verses 2-4). (5-11)1-4 What all the saints make matter of joy and praise, Jonah makes the subject of reflection upon God; as if showing mercy were an imperfection of the Divine nature, which is the greatest glory of it. God prepared a wind to make Jonah feel the want of the gourd. 8:15] made a booth for himself there. (Jon 4:4; Jon 4:9) 2 And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? Jonah 2:4. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. 4 Then said the LORD, Doest thou well to be angry? 2 He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at homeThat is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. Jonah 4:3 And now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live." Unfortunately, he did not share those characteristics, preferring to see his enemies destroyed rather than experience redemption. 2 But for you who respect my name, the sun of vindication 4 will rise with healing wings, 5 and you will skip about 6 like calves released from the stall. What would happen in the church if God moved in a mighty way? Jonah Resented God’s Compassion (4:2) It may seem strange that Jonah was unhappy that God wanted to forgive the Assyrians until we remember what an enemy Assyria was to Israel. The coming day will burn them up,” says the Lord who rules over all. (5-11)1-4 What all the saints make matter of joy and praise, Jonah makes the subject of reflection upon God; as if showing mercy were an imperfection of the Divine nature, which is the greatest glory of it. 13 Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. Now l Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, 1 three days’ journey in breadth. 1:17; 4… (Nelson’s NKJV Study Bible). We are mistaken if we believe that all of God's people will celebrate the moving of God. 5 So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city. b all your waves and your billows. z and you heard my voice.. 3 a For you cast me into the deep,. But Jonah was very annoyed. THERE HE MADE HIMSELF A SHELTER, SAT IN ITS SHADE AND WAITED TO SEE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THE CITY: "In high dudgeon he went out of the city (on its east side because there was high ground, and on the west Calah abutted on the wide fast-flowing Tigris). into the heart of the seas,. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. Jonah 4:6 And the LORD God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. Jonah 4:5 So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city. 7 But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered. He tried to stop it by fleeing (ch. New International Version (NIV). Jonah 4 English Standard Version Jonah’s Anger and the Lord’s Compassion 1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, [1] and he was angry. The least creatures may be great plagues, or great comforts, as God is pleased to make them. Do I well to be so soon angry, so often angry, so long angry, and to give others ill language in my anger? 8 And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live. (1-4) He is taught by the withering of a gourd, that he did wrong. Jonah 4 is the fourth (and the last) chapter of the Book of Jonah in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. It merely begins with an … Jonah 4:5 Then Jonah left the city and sat down east of it, where He made himself a shelter and sat in … That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before. 5 Jonah went out of the city and sat to the east of the city and # [Neh. x “I called out to the L ord, out of my distress,. 14 Then they cried out to the Lord, “Please, Lord, do not let us die for taking this man’s life.Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, Lord, have done as you pleased.” 15 Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. He made a booth there and sat under it in the shade, until he should see what happened to the city. We should often ask ourselves, Is it well to say thus, to do thus? Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. https://www.insight.org/resources/bible/the-minor-prophets/jonah The Jewish people hated, loathed, and feared them. Jonah repines at God's mercy to Nineveh, and is reproved. 6 ו See How They All Connect. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. Lessons--1. As Jonah waited for the destruction of Nineveh, God provided what to shade him. (A) 2 He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? He was not going to destroy their city and everybody in it. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan. Let us study our own hearts and ways; let us not forget our own ingratitude and obstinacy; and let us be astonished at God's patience towards us.Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710. And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death. 4. Jonah 4:8, "[~'Elohiym]," the personal God, sends the worm. A small worm at the root destroys a large gourd: our gourds wither, and we know not what is the cause. A gourd in the right place may do us more service than a cedar. The second movement is (in verses 5-6) and the third movement is (in verses 7-9). (L) 8 When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. 4 But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. Jonah understood some of the depth of God's grace and mercy. “A gourd”: This seems to be a fast growing plant which in hot climates grows rapidly to … The backslider’s vow. Why did God not punish thesecruel and evil people? That was Jonah's crime. The LORD prepared a wind (Jonah 4:8). When afflicting providences take away relations, possessions, and enjoyments, we must not be angry at God. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd." A thing small in itself, yet coming seasonably, may be a valuable blessing. In Jonah 2:1-10, Jonah is trapped in the belly of the great fish.He prays for salvation, and in the end, after this terrible trial, he is vomited forth onto dry land. ii. For that matter, we might hear some of the following: Complaints about the influx or type of people coming into the church [i.e. According to one tradition, Jonah was the boy brought back to life by Elijah the prophet in 1 Kings 17. So Jonah was angry with God. 2 And he prayed to the LORD and said, “O LORD, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? When God called him the first time, Jonah suspected that God wastoo kind to punish Nineveh. Sin and death are very dreadful, yet Jonah, in his heat, makes light of both. What should especially silence discontent, is, that when our gourd is gone, our God is not gone. 6 And the LORD God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. y out of the belly of Sheol I cried,. Those who have fretful, uneasy spirits, often make troubles for themselves, that they may still have something to complain of. Verses 1-2 The anxious people of Nineveh waited for the 40 daysto end. Upgrade to Bible Gateway Plus, and access the, NIV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, Red Letter Edition: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture, NIV, Beautiful Word Bible Journal, Luke, Comfort Print, NIV, Beautiful Word Bible Journal, Romans, Comfort Print, NIV, Story of Jesus: Experience the Life of Jesus as One Seamless Story. and the flood surrounded me;. The Lord controlled the elements of weather (Jon. Jonah’s Anger at the Lord ’s Compassion. Jonah is identified as a prophet and servant of God during the reign of King Jeroboam II of Israel (2 Kings 14:24-25)—between 792 and 753 B.C. When nothing happened, they knew that God had heard their prayers toforgive them. Do we wonder at the forbearance of God towards his perverse servant? Jonah 4:6 "And the LORD God prepared a gourd, and made [it] to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. Jonah thought that they deserved it. Jonah’s name means “dove”; and his commission, as recorded in the book of Jonah, was to convey a message from God to the Assyrian capital of Nineveh.The book of Jonah gives no indication of his prophetic activity in the land of Israel. 1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. The book of Jonah demonstrates the sovereignty of the Almighty as he employs his creation to accomplish the divine plan. This book contains the prophecies attributed to the prophet Jonah, and is a part of the Book of the Twelve Minor Prophets. The Book of Jonah (Yonah יונה) is one of the twelve minor prophets included in the Tanakh. Jonah 4:9, "[~'Elohiym]," the Ruler of Nature sends the east wind. Most of those statemen… Jonah 4:1-2. Jonah Goes to Nineveh. Jonah 4:1-3. Before a new church -- either a state of good and truth with a group of people, or a new state of good an truth in ourselves - can come into existence, a period of temptation, of struggle, must occur. Jonah acknowledged God’s sovereignty (verses 1-3), and submitted to it (verses 4-9). 3 Then the word of the L ord came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2 “Arise, go to l 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 L ord. Jonah Goes to Nineveh. It is to his sparing, pardoning mercy, we all owe it that we are out of hell. Jonah 4:1 Jonah, however, was greatly displeased, and became angry.