The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1922-03-03


That the book of Jonah is histori.
cal we believe for the following req
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 il 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. u :5941). The words of
Jesus Christ are 6nal
1. Jonah's Second Commission
wv. 1. p.
When called the first time TO 20 to
Nineveh, he found the task too great
for him. The man called to do foreign
mission work was fleeing in the op-
poSite direction. The real reason he
did not desire TO go was that he was
afraid that they would repent. and he
knew if they did. Gods mercy would
be extended TO them (ch. y. For
his unfaithfulneSs. he was chastiSed.
he repented and God restored his
commission The Lord said TO him,
preach the preaching that | bid thee"
". y. God knows how he wants His
work done, therefore He gave just
the message which He desired to have
proclaimed TO the lost world. Happy is
the missionary, minister, Sunday-school
teacher who breaches Gods Word just
as He gave il.
u. Jonah's Preaching wv. 3, -.
l. His field ". b. ''Nineveh was an
exceeding great city" Not only was
the city large, but its inhabitants were
noted for their cruelty.
=. 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 Iong-suffer-
ing. not willing that any should perish,
but that all should repent (II Pet. ) :9).
Though He is mercfful. yet there is
a limitation TO it. He says, Yet forty
days.
III. The Repentance of N:neveh wv.
500.
1. They believed God ". -. SThey
believed that God was speaking to
them through the prophet about their
sins and impending judgment.
>. They proclaimed a 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 ". 81.
3. They reasoned that God would
repent ". 81. Though they had no
assurance that God would have mercy.
yet they reasoned that the sending of
a prophet and the giving of a time
before the fall of doom implied that
God would be mercifuI if they repent
ed. They were wise in so doing. We
today know that God viii have mercy
if we repent (Acts 3:19). What ut
ter folly to 90 on in sin in the face
Of the assurance that God will Judge. .
>. Gods mercy shown ". 1O). !
'GOd saw their works that they turned \
from their evil way" Gods eve is +
Wherever there Is a soul F
who is turning from sin in penftence. I
He sees No one has ever wept over F
sin unnoticed by God. God reioices I
when a sinner repents duke u 100. I
In the Book of Jonah we have por- /
-rayed the typical history of Israel:
q. Jonah was called TO a world .
and 50 was Israel. (2) Jonah I
at first refused compliance with the
divine purpose and plan, and so did
israel. 90 Jonah was punished by
being cast into the sea. and so was
israel by being dispersed among the
nations. "a Jonah was not lost, but
-ather especially preserved during this
part of his experience. and Israel is
lot being assimilated by the nations,
,ur being kept for God (5) Jonah,
-epentant and cast out by the fish is
'estOred to life and action again, and
srael, repentant and cast out by the
nations, shall be restored 10 her former
rational position. 90 Jonah, Obedient
,oes upon his mission 10 Nineveh. and
srael obedient. shall ultimately en-
rage in her original mission TO the
world. % Jonah is successful in that
IFS message is acted upon TO the
Aviation of Nineveh. so Israel shall
'e blessed in that she shall be used
o the conversion of the whole world"
DIR. Gray's Commentary.