Title: Jonah
Contents
[Old Testament Prophets] - Jonah
Jonah - The Prophet Chosen for the Salvation of Nineveh
1. Personal information
① Jonah means ‘dove’. ② Son of Amittai (Jon 1:1).
③ A prophet from Gathheber, northern Israel (2 Kings 14:25).
④ Ministry from 793-753 B.C. during the reign of Jeroboam XI (2 Kings 14:25).
⑤ The first prophet sent to the Gentile nation of Assyria and the capital Nineveh (Jon 3:1-10).
2. Historical background
The northern kingdom of Israel at the time Jonah was active reached Hamath, a land that enjoyed prosperity comparable to that of the unified kingdoms of Solomon and David. Meanwhile, at that time, Assyria was ruled by kings such as Shalmaneser III (783-773 BC), Assuldan III (773-755 BC), and Assuninari II (755-745 BC). It was a time when the national power was somewhat weakened compared to the era of their rule. The main reason for this is that the war with Ararat, a new country in the north, has been prolonged, but to make matters worse, around 765-759 BC, a great plague spread and killed many people. It was because the public sentiment was greatly disturbed by the ominous omen being enveloped in the same darkness. But, conversely, before the prophet Jonah preached the message for just one day, Nineveh had already become a so-called “white field” suitable for harvest (John 4:35).
3. Major Life
before repentance
birth
Called to go to Nineveh, the capital of Assyria.
B.C. 793-753
Jon 1:12
He disobeyed his calling and fled to Tarshish.
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Jon 1:3
Thrown into the sea and swallowed by a large fish
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Jon 1:11-17
3 days in the belly of a fish
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Jon 2:1-9
after repentance
coming out of the fish stomach
B.C. 793-753
Jon 2:10
Judgment warning message proclaimed in Nineveh
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Jon 3:1-10
Complaining about God's judgment of Nineveh
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Jon 4:1-3
Realizing God's love through gourd
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Jon 4:4-11
the book of Jonah
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Jon 1:1-4:11
death
4. character
① Despite God's calling, he disobeyed it because it did not fit his will and fled in the opposite direction from Nineveh, the place of his vocation, as a person of stubbornness and disobedience.
② A person who not only disliked preaching the gospel to the Gentile city of Nineveh, but also had a narrow and exclusive idea of the chosen people that was widespread among the people of Israel at that time (Jon 4:1 1) 3).
③ The fact that he confessed that he was the cause of the storm only after being chosen by lot reflects his timidity, but he is honest, considering that he did not deny his sin even though he knew that the cost of his sin was death (Jon 1:22).
④ A person who is very hot-tempered when he sees that his mental state changes from time to time, such as praising God in the belly of meat, and resenting the Nineveh priests after seeing them repent.
5. Redemption Historical Status
① The first person who received the mission for Gentile missions (Jon 1:2).
② He who played a mediator role in fostering reconciliation between God and the Gentile people of Nineveh by making the people of Nineveh repent through the proclamation of the judgment message (Jon 3:1-10).
③ The fact that Jonah came out of the belly of the fish after 3 days and 3 days in the belly of the fish symbolizes the resurrection of Jesus Christ after 3 days in the tomb (Matthew 12:40).
④ A person who became the model of all chosen sinners who received the grace of restoration and salvation through God's unconditional grace despite disobeying God's command and doing his will (Jon 2:10; 3:1,2).
6. Mistake
① Disobeying and disobeying God's commands (Jon 1:3).
② Possessing a narrow knowledge of knowing God only as the God of Israel, the chosen people, with no relation to the Gentiles.
③ Complaining to God because Nineveh is not plagued (Jon 4:1-3).
7. Assessment and lessons learned
① God's plan is being fulfilled despite any human interference. Even if the person entrusted with the mission rejects it, God has the right to obey the missionary even if it is not understood by human reason. Because God is absolutely good who works all things together for good (Romans 8:28).
② Just as Jonah, who fled to Tarshish from the presence of God, met with a storm and was devoured by fish (Jon 1:15,17), so those who disobey God’s will in the sea of life cannot escape the torment. none. Therefore, it is the wisest way for those who want a prosperous life to entrust everything into the hands of the Lord, who is the captain of their lives (Proverbs 16:3,9).
③ The reason Jonah disobeyed God's command and went to Tarshish was because of his narrow and exclusive sense of people who knew God as the God of the chosen people of Israel. As such, human prejudice and selfishness sometimes cause great obstacles to God's work. Therefore, believers should always be zealous in meditating on the Word and possess abundant knowledge about what God wants and who God is.
④ After God gave Jonah a gourd, he took it again. This was to help Jonah understand the true will of God, but Jonah only complained (Jonah 4:6-11). Therefore, in this case, that is, when the blessings they enjoyed were lost, the saints of today must find out what is the reason for taking away the blessings that God has given them, put them before God and confess them (Hebrews 12:5,6).
8. Key Scriptures
“The Lord had already prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah, so Jonah was in the boat for three days and three nights (Jonah 1:17).