The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1922-03-02


PREFERENCE MATERIAL,-Isa. @:oO-
70; ls:b-7; Jonah 1:l-2:l0; NAL ITO. IL:
John SIG
PRIMARY ToPIC-God Sends Jonah on
an Errand.t s
JUNIOR ToPIC-How God Spared
Wicked City.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
-Jonah's Missionary Adventure.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Tho Missionary Teaching OF the Book
OF Jonah.
That the book of Jonah Is histori-
cal we believe for the following rea-
sons: First, its record and use In
the Scriptures. That the writer's OF
the Bible Intended the impression of
its histOricity is without the shadow
of doubt The suggestion that 1t is
parable is absolutely gratuitous.
Second, the unbroken testimony of
tradition among the Jews is that II is
historic. Third, the testimony Of Jesus
Christ (Matt. II :39-41). The words Of
Jesus Christ are final.
I. Jonah's Second Commission
(vv. j, ~!
When called the first time to 70 to
Nineveh, he found the task too great
for him. For his unfaithfulness, he
was chastlsed. He repented and God
restored his commission. The Lord
said to him, Preach the preaching
that l bid thee" ". p. God knows
how he wants His work done. Happy
| is the missionary, minister, Sunday
school teacher, who breaches Gods
Word just as He gave it.
u. Jonah's Preaching wv. 3, ~.
1. His field ". 81. "Nlneveh was an
exceeding great city" Not only was
the city large, but Its inhabitants were
noted for their cruelty.
2. His message ". ~. "Yet forty
days and Nineveh shall be overthrown.."
This means that forty days were given
by God for repentance ere the judg-
ment would fall. God is long-suffer-
ing, not willing that any should perish,
but that all should repent III Pet 8 :9).
Though He is merciful, yet there is
a limitation to 1t. He says, "Yet forty
days"
~. The Repentance Of Nineveh wv.
5-1O).
/. They believed God ". 81. They
believed that God was speaking to
them through the prophet about their
sins and impending Judgment.
2. They proclaimed fast wv. 5-S).
The king and people Joined sincerely
In this movement. The call was for
them to turn away from their sins.
Their penitence was genuine, for they
not merely put on sackcloth. the Wis
ible sign of mourning, but they cried
to God w. 81.
3. They reasoned that God would
krepeDt ". %. Though they had no
assurance that God would have mercy.
yet they reasoned that the sending Of
prophet and the giving OF a time
before the fall OF doom implied that
God would be merciful II they repent
ed. They were wise in 80 doing. We
today know that God viii have mercy
IL we repent (Acts 3:19). What ut.
ter folly to go on in sin In the face
OF the assurance that God will judge,
8. Gods mercy shown ". 10).
"God saw their works that they turned
from their evil way" Gods eye ID
omnlsclent. Wherever there is a soul
who is turning from sin In penltence
He Sees No one has ever wept ovel
sin unnotIced by God. God rejoiceG
when a sinner repents (Luke 10: :10)
In the Book Of Jonah we have por
trayed the typical history Of Israel:
81. Jonah was called to a worlt
mission, and so was Israel. (2) Jonal
Ht first refused compliance with th'
divine purpose and plan. and so die
Israel. (3) Jonah was punished b.
being cast into the sea, and so wal
Israel by being dispersed among tn.
nations. a. Jonah was not lost. bu
rather especially preserved during thli
part OF his experience, and Israel L
: not being asslmilated by the nations
but being kept for God. (bl Jonah
repentant and cast out by the fish, Il
restored to life and action again. an,
Israel, repentaut and cast out by tn
nations, shah be restored to her fofme
national position. te) Jonah, obedient
goes upon his mission to Nineyeh. ant
Israel Obedient, shall ultimately en-
gage in her original mission to tn
world. (7) Jonah Is successful in tina
his message Is acted upon to tn
salvation OF Nineveh, so Israel shal
be blessed IN that she shall be use
/ ths, ..tl. ..Io a...s.,.la