Jonah (7)

Rev. C. Vogelaar, Covell Avenue, Grand Rapids, MI

Much fear had come upon the people of Nineveh when God’s judgments were proclaimed unto them. The king of Nineveh also heard about this. He arose from his throne, laid his royal robe from him, and covered himself with sackcloth and ashes as a token of mourning. He could have deported Jonah or put him in prison to silence the voice which disturbed the rest in his city, but no, it was the opposite; he humbled himself before the God of Israel. He published a decree, a royal proclamation. Heralds were sent through the city with the solemn message of the king.

An earnest call

In this proclamation we can hear a sense of guilt. It speaks of “his evil way” and of “the violence that is in their hands.”

a. For this reason there was the call to fast, as a token of humiliation and urgency. Even the animals were not allowed to be fed. We have sinned and committed evil in our rebellion against God who created us for His own honour and glory. Even the animals have to suffer the consequences of our fall. We read in Romans 8:22, “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.” Thus, on the town squares, in the streets, in the houses, everywhere there was mourning instead of feasting. We could say that the places of worldly entertainment, of idolatry, were closed, and everywhere cries of distress and sorrow were heard. One could even hear the groaning of animals.

Do we know of such times in our lives that we mourned about evil, about sins which have provoked the Lord? Yes, there is an essential difference between mourning because of the consequences of our sins and a grieving about sin itself because we have offended a good-doing God. Nevertheless, we might wish that our nations would still learn to mourn and fast because of the wickedness that brings the wrath of a holy, righteous God upon us.

b. There was also the call to prayer, the call to cry mightily unto God. No, the people were not to call to their own gods, their idols, but to the only true Lord, the God of Israel.

True humiliation is always accompanied with a crying to God, as we read of the poet in Psalm 130, “Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee, O Lord.” It is the cry of a humbled, undeserving sinner in great distress, fleeing unto God. The poet from this psalm has experienced that there is a God who hears the prayers of poor and guilty sinners. Cain fled from God, but here in Nineveh there was still a crying unto Him.

No, not all prayers are the same. The inhabitants of Nineveh may have cried because of slavish fear without true sorrow and real humility, but still we would desire that such a National Day of Prayer might be proclaimed in our countries. Then there would be hope that the Lord would return and look upon us in mercy. How hardened we have become and how much mockery and trampling upon God’s holy law is found everywhere. The people of Nineveh cried, and what are we doing? Are we strangers of an earnest crying unto the God whom we have offended and grieved so much?

c. There was also a call to repentance, a call to turn from their evil ways, from the violence of their hands and the injustice which they had done.

A prayer for forgiveness without repentance is mockery with God. “Let them turn every one from his evil way.” This is addressed to all the people personally, for it is necessary for each one of them. Also, God’s children need a daily conversion.

Oh, my friends, young and old, do not say, “I cannot convert myself,” but fall yet at His feet while he still proffers peace and pardon. Jonah had cried, “Yetforty days, and the city of Nineveh shall be overthrown.” Those forty days were the time of grace, of His longsuffering. God could have destroyed them immediately, but He still gave this solemn warning. Has it already become a wonder to us that He has not cast us away but that we are still in the time of grace, in the day of salvation?

Oh, that we might not waste this precious time but seek the Lord while He still may be found and call upon Him while He is near. There is still hope, like there was for Nineveh. “Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from His fierce anger, that we perish not?” There is a way of escape in Him who is more than Jonah, in Him who has carried the wrath of God and His judgments for sinners who were not better than others. These sinners also deserved to be cast away. That is the wonder of which the poet of Psalm 130 also speaks, “But there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared.” This is a wonder which will be revealed to those who learned to say with the prophet in Micah 7:9, “I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against Him.” It is not because of their bowing under God although the Lord will bring them there; no, it is only because of the bowing of the Lamb of God, the precious Mediator Christ, under the wrath of a holy Judge, that there is forgiveness and pardon for rebels and enemies.

God’s mercy

The city was humbled. It was an evidence of the power of God’s Word, brought by a prophet who had to be conquered by the Lord in order to bring this message. Even an outward repentance may be crowned with deliverance. “God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way.” No, they did not just speak a few pious words and make some superficial promises, but there came a reformation in the whole city.

What a blessing it would be if the Lord would give such a change, even an outward reformation, in our nations, our churches, and our families. In Nineveh there were not just words and promises, but fruits were seen upon the preaching of Jonah. The Lord saw them, “and God repented of the evil, that He had said that He would do unto them”

You might ask: Is God then changeable that He repents of what He has said He would do? The prophet gave a different testimony of Him in Malachi 3:6, “For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed,” and the heathen prophet Balaam said, “God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent.”

No, this was not a change in what He had determined. His counsel will stand and He will do all His pleasure. It was no human repentance; it was not regret about something that we have said or done which we would like to change. God’s will is unchangeable. His decrees are firm and unchangeable. He had decreed that Jonah’s preaching would bear fruit and that Nineveh would still receive a postponement of His judgment. King Ahab also repented outwardly and received a stay of execution. Nineveh received a delay, and the Lord showed that He is gracious, merciful, and full of compassion.

“He did it not”

What a wonder this is for a truly humbled sinner who deserves death and accepts His judgment. It is only because of Him for whom there was no escape from the wrath of God. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him. He is a precious Substitute for condemnable rebels and sinners. By His stripes we are healed. Oh, how much greater He is than Jonah. He is the willing and suitable Saviour. May many yet learn to bow under God and flee to Him. He will not cast out those that take refuge unto Him.

How terrible it will be to have neglected so great salvation as is still proclaimed to us. Ask the Lord to break your enmity and make you willing to be saved, without money and without price, by Him who came to seek and to save those who were lost. He paid the price for His people with His own precious blood and laid down His life for them. That should bring us to His feet and give an earnest desire that He may be glorified, also in us and our children.

(to be continued)

True Grace

Though true grace has various degrees, and there are some that are but babes in Christ in whom the exercise of the inclination and will towards divine and heavenly things is comparatively weak; yet, everyone that has the power of godliness in his heart has his inclinations and heart exercised towards God and divine things with such strength and vigor that these holy exercises do prevail in him above all carnal or natural affections and are effectual to overcome them. For every true disciple of Christ loves Him above father and mother, wife and children, brethren and sisters, houses and lands, yea, more than his own life.

— Jonathan Edwards

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