STUDIES IN THE BOOK OF JONAH-part 12

                              9/28/03

 

Chapter 4, verse 2- take notice of the word, “kindness” which is chesed in the Hebrew.  The word is frequently translated “kindness, mercy, favor” in the OT.  It is a word connected with the idea of ‘covenant loyalty’ or loyal love.  It wonderfully conveys the faithfulness

of the LORD God to His covenant relation with the people of Israel.

  Jonah, as the representative of the nation of Israel functioning as a

mediator of truth, is the means of extending such divine favor to the undeserving Ninevites.

 

Chapter 4, verse 3-Jonah now requests that his life be ended.  This

evidences his depression and sounds much like Elijah in I Kngs.19:4.

It may be that Jonah feels that he has been “betrayed” in that his preaching does not appear to have been fulfilled; that is, Nineveh did not experience God’s judgment.

  As was pointed out earlier, it may also be that Jonah simply resents the goodness of God to pardon the Ninevites.

  The compulsion of self-destruction or self-negation may accompany severe depression.  The depression experienced by Jonah relates to his resentment toward the LORD.  This is self-induced misery; not related to obedience, but disobedience.  It is a consequence of such

transgression by Jonah, not chastisement by the Lord.

  

 

Chapter 4, verse 4- the response by the LORD toward Jonah is evidence of God’s great patience with his erring servant.  The Lord

does not rebuke him directly, but instead inquires whether Jonah’s response is rational (NIV “Have you any right to be angry?”).

   Rather than ratcheting the argument higher with an emotional

rebuke, (see Prov. 15:1)  the Lord shifts the discussion to a more appropriate level.  There must be a return to rationality when someone is snared in their own negative emotional revolt.  The question will be rephrased in verse 9 to include the vine.

   Clearly, there is no ground or basis for Jonah’s anger.  It does not rest upon justice. [note that Jesus had justifiable anger in Mark 3:1-5.]  Anger, based upon incorrect thinking or the perception of injustice, is useless and merely exhausting.  Such misplaced anger is a waste of energy. 

 

 

 

 

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Chapter 4, verse 5- the narrative describes Jonah’s activity related to this anger.  Perhaps this action by Jonah indicates his curiosity as to

What God is going to do now---withhold judgment further or re-initiate His wrath.   “Went out…sat…” seems to point out Jonah’s reluctance to actually leave Nineveh, yet his ongoing frustration with how things have turned out.

  “booth” is like a primitive shelter from the relentless Middle Eastern sun.

 

Chapter 4, verse 6- we are again told of God “preparing”—here, it is a gourd.  It’s identity is unclear and not necessary to the study.

  Observe the use of “LORD God”—a change from LORD previously in this book.  This is the compound name of deity using Yahweh (LORD)

and Elohim (God).  Earlier, the name ‘God’ had been used with the

LORD’s dealing with Nineveh—now it is used for His dealing with Jonah.  With the growth of the gourd,  Jonah is said to be “exceedingly

glad”.  This unusual positive response by Jonah shows that some of his emotional anger has been reduced and he is sufficiently recovered to return to the capacity of appreciation.

   However, Jonah’s “joy” is short lived as verse 7-8 reveal.  Jonah appears to be a person who lives more in the “moment” than with a view to larger issues.  It suggests a sanguine personality (like Peter).

God’s tenderness to patiently work with His servant Jonah shows the wonder of divine patience with fallen humanity.