The Raymer enterprise., 1915-11-18
INTERNATIONAL
SUNNYSQlO0L
LESSON
by Z o. SELLERS. Acting Director OF
Sunday School Course Of Moody Bible
Institute OF chleago1
Copyright 1915. Western Newspaper union.)
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER 2
JONAH A MISSIONARY TO
NiNEvEH.
son TExT-Jonah s:i-io.


Matt 2s.1s, 20 r. v.
The story OF Jonah is one Of the
most famous and most interesting in
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 II by
Jesus ftsee Matt. 1910; 1874 and
Luke ll:30l.
]. The Prophet Proelaiminq, w. "A.
Jonah paid the fare n:3l and "out
Of the depths FPS. i3o.1) God de-
livered him that he might fulfill his
lfod-appointed task. Even so the ma.
tion of Israel is today crying from out
Of the depths of its woe among the
nations and will certainly be "deliv-
cred when the king comes, that it
may take its rightful place and fulfill
its God-appointed tasks. II is a won.
ierful testimony Of Gods grace (yil
that Gods word came to Jonah a sec.
Ond time" Once he ran from God s
command but God is the God of the
gospel Of a second chance" and a
third II only We repent and do his
commands. but God does not give a
second chance" to the unrepentant
mum. IA 40-45l. Verse two explicitly
sets forth the message Jonah is to de-
liver even so we are to proclaim the
gospel see Cor Is: la not the spec
llations of men nor the subtleties OF
philosophy The messenger of God
will find his message in the word of
Tod and will declare il. 1t is the
word which reveals Gods love, his
,lan of salvation. and the destiny OF
She saints. BY the foolishness OF
preaching" men will be saved. The
word preach literally means TO cry
out or call out" and implies that
earnestness and insistence needful for
true advocate or witness of God.
But the power is not in us; it Is not
the word OF God mingled with the the
ories Of men, or with such added TO
the word. The Bible is the soul win.
ners true staff. Ninrseh. vast magnif-
lcent and wealthy could not atone
for its wickedness. its greatness only
aggravated its condition. Jonah did
not spend any time to aequaint him,
self with conditions or to do sight
seeing but cried, yet forty days. and
Nineveh shall be oyerthrown." When
he explicitly and minntely obeyed
and delivered Gods message he al
once aroused and arrested the atten.
tion of the city. He did not attempt
to present credentials" nor explain
or defend his message. He did not
seek to rarmonize IT with cur,
rent thought" nor give it mod.
ern expression" He was blunt
and without compromise but gave an
opportunity for repentance.
u. The People Penitent. w. $40
Nineveh paid immediate heed to the
man who did IDt slur over Gods warn
ing. Had the city continued in sin, j,
had not been delivered. Nineyeh did
four things and as a result they were
saved; ID They believed, believed
God" tv. 81. All true repentance ID
conditioned upon accepting God al
his word John 1920. t2) 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 no apparent attempt
to qualify or to evade Gods decree
but rather to accept it and by taking
a proper place in his sight be deliv
cred from the penalty of their just
deserts. 90 They prayed ". s; CT
6. ~. Their prayer was intense. The
kind of prayer that counts with God
must also count upon God, and God
lis slow to anger. and plenteous in
mercy" tNeh. 9:17). Prayer that Ii
effective is (a) grounded upon the
word of God (b) forsakes sin and tcJ
obeys the will Of God. James 1:22;
2:1D. (4) They made sacrifice ". 81
Mere humiliation and prayer does moi
effect remedy unless there is mer
ciless judgment executed upon sin
Did Jonah fail in his mission? No.
for Gods predictions of ruin are moi
absolute and unconditional tJer
1S:7-l0). Chapter four is the record
Of Jonah's petulance and of Gods Low
ing-kindness.
Nineveh continued for nearly 20l
years subsequently but 1t was then Sc
completely destroyed that for nearl,
1000 years its location was unknown
and disputed though now yielding 4
rich harvest for the archeologist ant
Bible student.
Can nation be stirred today? Fol
answer witness Mott and Eddy il
China. In IA Of China's chief citiei
during three months Of 1918. 1000 O
tle leaders of that nation enrolled al
inquirers.
Have your class read carefully ant