Middletown transcript., 1922-03-04
LESSON FOR MARCH 5
JEHovAH'S MERCY TO A HEATH
EN- CITY


JEHoVAH'S MERCY TO A HEATH
EN- CITY
LESSON TEXT-Jonah 3:1-4.11.
HoLDEN TExT-Let the wicked for.
sake his way. and the unrighteous man
.s .houghts: and let him return unto the
A.oro' ana he will have mercy upon him
and to our God, for he will abundantIv
pardon.-Isa. 55:7
REFERENCE MATERIAL-Isa. 4s.ao.
John 3:16 A'iO' ~
PRIMARY TOPIC-God Sends Jonah on
an Errand. "'' VII
JUNIOR ToPIC-How God Spared a
Wicked City.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
-1onan's Missionary Adventure.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
The missionary Teaching of the Book
Of Jonah.
nat the book OF Jonah Is histori.
we believe for the following rea.
s: First, its record and use in
scriptures. That the writer's of
BlDie Intended the impression Of
hlstoricity Is without the shadow
doubt. The suggestion that it is
parable Is absolutely gratultous.
cond, the unbroken testimony of
dition among the Jews is that II Is
toric. Third, the testimony of Jesus
rist Matt. II :39-4D. The words of
BUS Christ are final.
]. Jonah's Second Commission
". 1, p.
When called the first time to go IN
uneven, ne found the task too great
Or MN. The man called to do foreign
pisslon work was fleeing in the on
'osite direction. The real reason he
I'd not desire to go was that he was
iraid that they would repent, and he
anew If they did. Gods mercy would
pe extended to them (ch. 4 :2). For
l,ls unfaithfulness, he was chastised.
Be repented and God restored his
c1nmission. The Lord said to him.
'freach the preaching that bid thee"
". y. God knows how he wants His
work done, therefore He gave lust
he message which He desired to have
proclaimed to the lost world. Happy is
he missionary, minister Sunday-school
who breaches Gods Word lust
is He gave it..
u. Jonah's Preaching wv. 3, ~.
l. His field ". 81. "Nineveh was an
exceeding great city" Not only was
ne city large, but its inhabitants we're
loted for their cruelty.
:. His message ". ~. yet forty
lays ana Nlneveh shall be overthrown."
rms means that forty days were given
~ God for repentance ere the iudr.
hent would fall. God is long-sufrer-
hg. not willing that any should perish.
,lt that all should repent (II Pet. 3 :9).
though lie Is merciful, yet there is
limitation to it. He says, yet forty
lays" g.
lli. The Repentance of Nneveh wv
i-1O).
]. They believed God ". 81. They
,eileved that God was speaking to
hem through the prophet about their
'ins and impending Judgment.
=. Ihey proclaimed a fast wv. 5-S).
The king and people Joined sincerely
II this movement. The call was for
mem to turn away from their. sins
iIeir penitence was genuine, for they
lot merely put on sackcloth, the Wis.,
BILE sign Of mourning, but they cried
o God ". S).-
3. They reasoned that God would
'epent ". 81. Though they had no
assurance that God would have mercy
yet they reasoned that the sending of
prophet and the giving of time
before the fall of doom implied that
iod would be merclful if they repent
ri. They were wise in so doing. We
oday know that God will have mercy
we repent (Acts 3:19). What ut
er folly to go on in sin In the face
# the assurance that God will Judge.
3. Gods mercy shown ". 10Y.
God saw their works that they turned
rom their evil way" Gods eve is
Wherever there Is a soul
rho is turning from sin in penitence.
lie sees. No one has ever went over
In unnoticed by God. God reioices
'hen sinner repents Uuke 15:1O).
In the Book OF Jonah we have DOR
rayed the typical history of Israel:
Il. Jonah was called to n world |
iission, and so was Israel. (2) Jonah |
t first refused compliance with the&
ivine purpose and plan, and so di6i
'rael. (3) Jonah was punished by
eing cast into the sea, and so was
srael by being dispersed among the
ations. (4) Jonah was not lost, but
nther especially preserved during this
art of his experience, and Israel is
OF being assimilated by the nations.
ut being kept for God. (5) Jonah,
epentant and cast out by the fish. is
estored to life and action again, and
;rael, repentant and cast out by the
ations, shall be restored to her former
atiOnal position. (6) Jonah, obedient,
oes upon his mission to Nineveh, and
'rael obedient, shall ultimately en-
age in her original mission to the
orld. 90 Jonah Is successful in that
Is message is acted upon to the
,lvation of Nineveh, so ISRAEL shall
2 blessed in that she shall be used
, the conversion of the whole world"
DIR. Grays Commentary.