The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-11-20
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER 2
JONAH A MISSIONARY TO
NlNEvEH.
EssoN TExT-Jonah s:1.1o.

GOLDEN TEST-Go ye therefore, and
make disciples OF all nations, baptislug
them into the name OF the Father and OF
the Son and Of the Holy Spirit; teaching
them to observe all things whatsoever
command you: and 10. I am with you al
ways. even unto the end OF the world.-.
Matt. 2s:1s. 20 r. ".
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
volyed. This time only one reference
Is used and that for the purpose Of It's
missionary teaching. I'VE accept the
record of the book literally because
similar facts are recorded in profane
history but chiefly because OF the ties,
timony and the usage made OF 1t by
Jesus tsee Matt. 1870; 1874 and
Luke 11:3e).
!. The Prophet Proclairnlns, w. IA.
Jonah paid the fare" Q:3) and "out
Of the depths FPS. 1sO:1) God de-
iiyered him thst he might fulfill his
God.appointed task. Even SO the na.
tion of Israel is today crying from out
of the depths OF its woe among the
nations and will certainly be ''deliy.
cred when the king comes, that II
may take its rightful place and fulfill
Its God.appointed tasks. 1t is a won.
derful testimony Of Gods grace tyi)
that Gods word came to Jonah "sec.
ond time Once he ran from Gods
command but God is the God of the
gospel Of Second chance" and q
third II only we repent and do his
commands. but God does not give a
second chance" to the unrepentant
Mum. 14:4045). Verse two explicitly
sets forth the message Jonah is to do.
liver even SO we are to proclaim the
Gospel tsee Cor. 1914 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 foolishness Of
preaching men will be saved. The
word preach literally means TO cry
out" or "call OUT and implies that
earnestness and inststence needful for
a true advocate or witness OF God.
But the power is not in US; It is not
the word Of God mingled with the the
cries Of men, or with such added to
the word. Tho Bible is the soul win.
ners truo stan. Nineveh, vast magnif.
scent and.wealthy could not atone
for its wickcdness; its greatness only
aggravated Its condition. Jonah did
not spend any time to acquaint him.
self with conditions or to 60 sight.
seeing but cried. yet forty days, and
Nlneveh shall be overthrow" When
he explicitly and infinitely obeyed
and delivered Gods message he at
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 harmonic 1t with "cur.
rent thought" nor give It a mod.
ern expression" He was blunt
and without compromise but gave an
opportunity for repentance.
Il. Tho People Penitent, w. $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 q result they were
saved: ~ They believed, believed
God" ". 81. All true repentance is
conditioned upon accepting God at
his word John 1890. t2) They
evidenced humiliation ". 81. 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 1t and by taking
q proper place in his sight be deliv.
cred from the penalty Of their Just
deserts. (3) They prayed ". 81; CT.
so. Their prayer was intense. This
kind OF prayer that counts with God
must also count upon God, and God
is slow to anger. and plenteous in
mercy" (Neh. s:1D. Prayer that Is
effective is ta) grounded upon the
word of God tb) forsakes sin and tc)
obeys. the will Of God. Games 1923;
2:1D. az They made sacrifice ty.s).
Mere humiliation and prayer does not
effect remedy unless there is a mer.
CHESS judgment executed upon sin.
Did Jonah fail in his mission? No!
for Gods predictions OF ruin are not
absolute and unconditional Ger.
ls:7.1o. Chapter four Is the record
Of Jonah's petulance and Of Gods Low.
ing-kindness.
Nineyeh continued for nearly 200
years subsequently but Il was then 50
completely destroyed that for nearly
1000 years its location was unknown
and disputed though now yielding q
rich harvest for the archeologlst and
Bible student. &C., gl;ss
Can nation be stirred today? For
answer witness Mott and Eddy in
China. In "a Of china's chief cities
during three months Of 1918, 2 900 Of
the leaders Of that nation enrolled as
lnquirers.
Have your class read carefully and