The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-11-19
INTERNATIONAL
SUNMSQOoL
LESSON
Ry E. o. SELLERS. Acting Director o3
Sunday School Course OF Moody Bible
Institute OF Chicago.l
(Copyrisht. lsls. Western Newspaper union->
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER q
JONAH A MISSIONARY TO
NlNEvEh.

NSHS $500 ~ I'M tAA> @As0 NJ
the Son and Of the Holy Spirit: teaching
them to observe all things whatsoever I
you; and 10. I am with you al
ways. even unto the end of the world
Matt. 2S:19. 20 r.. ".
The story Of Jonah is n Of the
mos famous and most interesting i'm
the Bible. In former series OF lessons
more extended use has been made Of
the book giving time to discuss its
historicity and other questions In
volved. This time only one reference
is used and that for the purpose Of its
missionary teaching. We accept the
record OF the book literally because
similar facts are recorded in profane
history but chiefly because of the tes.
timony and the usage made OF it by
Jesus (see Matt. 12:4O; 1874 and
Luke 1880.
!. The Prophet Proclaimine, w. -.
Jonah paid the fare (1:3) and out
OF the depths" FPS. 130:1) God de-
hvered him that he might fulfill his
God-app0inted task. Even SO the IA
ton of Israel il today crying from out
Of the depths OF it's woe among tho
nations and will certainly be "deliv-
cred" when the king comes, that It
may take its rightful place and fulfil
its Go~d-appointed tasks. 1t is a won
derful testimony Of Gods grace (vi)
that Gods word came to Jonah q 'sec-
Ond time" Once he ran from Gods
command but God is the God of tho
gospel of q second chance" and q
third II only we repent and do his
commands, but God does mo- give 4
second chance" to the unrepentant
(Num. ~14:40-45). Verse two explicitly
sets forth the message Jonah ia to de-
liver even so we are to proclaim tho
Gospel (see 1 Cor. 1910 not the spec
ulations OF men nor the subtleties OF
philosophy. The messenger of God
will find his message in the word of
God and will declare it. 1t is the
word which reveals Gods love, his
plan OF salvation, and the destiny OF
the saints. by the f~oolishness OF
preaching" men will be saved. The
word preach" literally means Ito cry
out" or call OUT and implies that
earnestness and insistence needful for
a true advocate or witness OF God.
But the power IL not in US; It is not
the word of God mingled with the the
cries OF men, or with such added TO
the word. The Bible IL the soul win
ners true star. Nineveh. vast magnif-
icent and wealthy could not atone
for Its wickedness; it's greatness only
a~gyTavated It's condition. Jonah did
not spend any time to scquaint him
self with conditions Or to do sight
seeing but cried. yet forty days. and
Nineveh shall be overthrown." When
he explicitly and infinitely obeyed
and delivered Gods message he at
once aroused and arrested the atten-
ton of the city. He did not attempt
to present Credentials" nor explain
or defend his message. He did not
seek to harmonic it with cur
rent thought" nor give it a mod
ern expression" He was blunt
and without compromise but gave an
opportunity for repentance. 1t is such
preaching that always wins lisa.
51:11; Luke 1870. Warning and an
opportunity for repentance usually
precede the judgments of God duke
1889. Jonah appealed to fear as
we must at times and declaring the
whole counsel of God his message was
effective der. 1:17; Acts 20:2O.
u. The People Penitent, wv. $40.
Nineveh paid immediate heed to the
man who did not slur over Gods warn
ing. Had the city continued in sin. it
had not been delivered. Nineveh did
four things and as a result they were
saved: (D They believed, believed
God" ". 81. All true repentance is
conditioned upon accepting God at
his word John 1920. (2) They
evidenced humiliation ". g.. They
gave such evidence by humbling them
selves in the sight of God from the
king upon the throne to "even the
least" There was NJ apparent attempt
to qualify or to evade Gods decree.
but rather to accept it and by taking
q proper place in his sight be deliv-
cred from the penalty of their just
deserts. CD They prayed ". 8: CT.
6, y. Their prayer vas intense. The
kind OF prayer that counts with God
must also count upon God, and God
lis slow to anger, and plenteous in
mercy" (Neh. 9:17). Prayer that is
effective is Gay grounded upon the
word of God (b) forsakes sin and (c)
obeys the will of God. flames 1872:
2:17). ca They made sacrifice ". 81.
Mere humiliation and prayer does not
effect q remedy unless there is q mer-
CHESS judgment executed upon sin.
The essence of repentance is to turn
away from sin. lisa. $3.50, u. God
saw their works that they turned
from their "evil way" ". 1O). not
ways. and he did not execute the
threatened judgment upon the city.
God did not change. He hated their
sin and would surely have executed
his penalty. but they changed. hence
their deliverance.
Their changed attitude was accept
able to him.
Did Jonah fail In his mission? No!
for Gods predictions Of ruin are not
absolute and unconditional (Jer.
lS.7-101. Chapter four is the record
Of Jonah's petulance and Of Gods low
ing-kindness.
Nineveh continued for nearly 200
years subsequently but II was then 20
completely destroyed that for nearly
1000 years its location was unknown
and disputed though now yielding .
rich harvest for the a~rcheologist and