The Prophet Jonah (10): Nineveh Repents! (Jonah 3:4-9) by Rev. Angus Stewart
I. The Message It Heard
II. The Effect It Produced
What does the name "Jonah" mean? In what ways was Nineveh "that great city"? What did Jonah preach to them? What was the significance of Nineveh being warned that her destruction would come in "40 days"? What activities went along with Nineveh's repentance? Did Nineveh really and spiritually repent? What lessons do we learn from all this about the power of God, of the Word, and of preaching?
Rev. Carl Haak on Jonah 3: "Arrogance has created the notion that God's Word is unsophisticated. It is irrelevant, it is erroneous, it is time-bound, it is something that a minister has to apologize for. It conveys notions and prejudices against women and other things, they say. Then, not only is the content of the Bible put under question, but also the preaching of the Bible, the authoritative declaration. Oh, no, says man. What we want is some sharing. We want some analysis. We want some dialogue. Would to God the church-world would insist on preaching. Prophets, ministers are to come with the Word of God and to preach the preaching that God bids. A prophet in the Old Testament did not come to God's people and say, 'Well, I believe, by the cultivation of my inner life (my spiritual life), I have come to a heightened sense of spiritual awareness. Will you come with me and will you listen as I share with you something of the fruits of my spiritual sensitivity?' Not on your life would a prophet try that. Preach the preaching that I bid thee! The minister is to take the Word of God as he finds that Word, exactly as he finds it, and to press it down upon the conscience of God's people, to explain it clearly, to set it forth in the light of all the Scriptures, and to preach the Word of God."