The Elbert County tribune., 1915-11-19
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER 21
JONAH A MISSIONARY TO
kiNEvEH.

o
the Son and OF the Holy Spirit; teaching
them to observe all things whatsoever 1
command you; and 10. 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 10 discuss its
historictty 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. 12:40; 1874 and
Luke 11:30).
!. The Prophet Prociaimino, w. IA.
Jonah paid the fare Q:3) and ''out
Of the depths (Ps. 130:1) God de-
iivered him that he might fulfill his
God-appointed task. Even so the ma.
tion OF Israel is today crying from out
of the depths of it's woe among the
nations and will certainly be "deliv-
ered'' when the king comes. that 1t
may take its rightful place and fulfill
its God-appointed tasks. 1t is a won
derful testimony OF Gods grace (vi)
that Gods word came to Jonah a sec
ond time" Once he ran from Gods
command but God is the God of the
gospel OF a second chance" and a
third IL only we repent and do his
commands, but God does not give a
second chance" to the unrepentant
(Num. 14:40-45). Verse two explicitly
sets forth the message Jonah is to de-
liver even so we are to proclaim the
Gospel (see Cor. :1-4) 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 win 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 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 Nintyeh. vast magnif-
icent and wealthy could not atone
for its wickedness; its greatness only
aggravated its condition. Jonah did
not spend any time to acquaint him
self with conditions or to do sight
seeing but cried. yet forty days, and
Nineveh shall be overthrown." When
he explicitly and minutely 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 it with cur
rent thought" nor give it a mod
ern expression" He was blunt
and without compromise but gave an
opportunity for repentance.
u. The People Penitent, w. 5-1o.
Nineveh paid immediate heed to the
man who did not slur over Gods warn.
ing. Had the city continued in sin. 1t
had not been delivered. Nineveh did
four things and as result they were
saved: % They believed. believed
Cod ". 50. All true repentance is
conditioned upon accepting God at
his word (Jobu 1920. (2) 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 eYade Gods decree,
but rather to accept it and by taking
proper place in his sight be deliv-
cred from the penalty of their just
deserts. (3) They prayed ". 8; CT
6, ~. Their prayer was intense. The
kind ot prayer that counts with God
must also count upon God, and God
''is slow to anger. and plenteous in
mercy" (Neh. 9:17). Prayer that is
effective is (a) grounded upon the
word of God OBJ forsakes sin and (cJ
obeys the will of God. (James 1922;
2:1D. lD They made sacrifice ". 81.
Mere humiliation and prayer does not
effect a remedy unless there is mer
ciless judgment executed upon sin.
Did Jonah fail in his mission? No,
for Gods predictions of ruin are not
absolute and unconditional (Jer.
18:7-10). Chapter four is the record
Of Jonah's petulance and of Gods low
ing-kindness.
Nineyeh continued for nearly 200
years subsequently but it was then so
completely destroyed that for nearly
1000 years its location was unknown
and disputed though now yielding a
rich harvest for the archeologist and
Bible student.
Can a nation be stirred today? For
answer witness Mott and Eddy in
China. In II of China's chief eities
during three months of 1913, 1000 OF
he leaders of that nation enrolled as