Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-11-19
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER 21
JONAH A ISSiONARY TO
NsNEVEH.
LESSON TExT-Jonab 3:1-1o.


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 it's
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 1910; 1874 and
Luke 1880.
|. The Prophet Proclaimins, Wv. IA.
Jonah paid the fare" 1:3) and out
of the depths" FPS. 130:1) God de-
livered him that he might fulfill his
God-appointed task. Even so the ma
ton 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. 1t is won
derful testimony of Gods grace (vi)
ond time" Once he ran from Gods
command but God is the God of the
gospel of a second chance" and a
third if only we repent and do his
commands, but God does not give
second chance" to the unrepentant
(Num. 4:40-45). Verse two explicitly
sets forth the message Jonah is to de-
liver even SO we are to proclaim the
Gospel (see Cor. Is: l-4) not the spec
ulations of men nor the subtleties CT
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 ito cry
out or call out" and implies that
earnestness and insistence needful for
a true advocate or witness of God
I 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. Nineveh, vast magnif-
icent and wealthy could not atone
/ for its wickednsss; its greatness only
aggravated it's 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-
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 eur
rent thought" nor give it a mod
ern expression" He was blunt
and without compromise but gave an
opportunity for repentance. It is such
preaching that always wins lisa.
SILL; Luke 1:37). Warning and an
opportunity for repentance usually
precede the judgments of God luke
1850. Jonah appealed to fear as
we must at times and declaring the
whole counsel of God his message was
effective (Jer. la Acts 20:2D.
II. The PeoplA 7enitect, w. 5-1o
Nineveh paid immediate heed to the
man who did not slur over Gods warn
ing. Had the city continued in sin, il
had not been delivered. Nineveh did
four things and as result they were
saved: (1) They believed, believed
Cod ". 81. All true repentance is
conditioned upon accepting God al
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 no apparent attempt
to qualify or to evade 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. 80 They prayed ". s. CT
6, y. Their prayer was intense. The
kind of prayer that counts with Goo
must also count upon God, and Goo
lis slow to anger, and plenteous il
mercy tNeh. 9:17), Prayer that i:
effective is (a) grounded upon the
word of God (b) forsakes sin and lei
obeys the will of God. (James 1:a2
2:1D. (4) They made sacrifice ". 81
Mere humiliation and prayer does no
effect remedy unless there is a mer
ciless judgment executed upon sin
The essence of repentance is to turr
away from sin. lisa. 55:6. y. Got
saw their works" that they turnet
from their evil way ". 10), no
ways. and he did not execute tn.
threatened Judgment upon the city
God did not change. He hated thei
sin and would surely have executed
his penalty. but they changed. henc,
their deliverance
Their changed attitude was accept
able to him.
Did Jonah fail in his mission? No
for Gods predictions of ruin are no
absolute and unconditional (Jer
1S:7-10). Chapter four is the recor,
Of Jonah's petulance and of Gods lov
fng-kindness.
Nineveh continued for nearly 20
years subsequently but it was then s
completely destroyed that for nearl
y
and disputed though now yielding
rich harvest for the archeologist an
Bible student.
Can a nation be stirred today? Fo
answer witness Mott and Eddy i
China. In IA of China's chief citie
during three months of 1913. 1000 c
the leaders Of that nation enrolled a
inquirers.
Morrison denied any ability to max
an impression upon China but d,
clared. q expect God will.'
Savonarola and God moved Flo
ence to repentance and his task wa
even harder than that of Jonah fc
the Florentines were professedl
Christian.
Have your class read carefully an
prayerfully Psalms 2. Matt. 2S:19, z
, Golden text) and Rom. l:16.