Divided Kingdom part 2 Judah Alone

…

Divided Kingdom, part 2 Judah Alone Lesson 1 “The Prophecy of Jonah”

Some Introductory Comments… § This quarter’s highlights: – Israel’s end in captivity (722 B. C. ) – Judah alone as God’s people for ~136 yrs – Judah’s end in captivity (586 B. C. ) Easy application for ofus to make today the prophets § We’ll examine more and their books than we did last quarter § From Jeremiah’s prophecy: 25: 4 26: 5 29: 19 35: 15 44: 4 3: 6 -11

Israel Jeroboam Nadab Baasha Elah Zimri Omri Ahab Ahaziah Jehoram Jehu Jehoahaz Joash Jeroboam II Kings Judah Rehoboam Abijam Asa Jehoshaphat Jehoram Ahaziah Athaliah * Joash Amaziah Approx. 786 – 745 B. C.

The Prophecy of Jonah § One of the “Minor Prophets” § Son of Amittai Jon 1: 1 § From Gath-hepher 2 Kings 14: 25 (territory of Zebulun Josh 19: 13) § Prophetic call was to Nineveh Jon 1: 2 § Prophesied in Israel during the reign of Jeroboam II 2 Kings 14: 23 -25 § He was a “sign” Mt 12: 39 -41 Lk 11: 30

The Prophecy of Jonah § A unique book among O. T. prophecies § A book about a prophet…not by a prophet § Other prophecies (“Major” & “Minor”) are full of oracles against Israel, other nations § This book has but 1 prophetic statement… it is only 8 words long Jon 3: 4 b § No other O. T. book shows God’s universal love for sinners as much as this one

The Prophecy of Jonah § The book is easy to divide, outline § “Never run FROM God” Jon 1 § “Always run TOWARD God” Jon 2 § “Always run WITH God” Jon 3 § “Never run AHEAD OF God” Jon 4

The Prophecy of Jonah § Running FROM God Jonah 1 § God’s call to Jonah v. 2 § Jonah’s response to God v. 3

The Prophecy of Jonah § Running FROM God Jonah 1 § God’s call to Jonah v. 2 § Jonah’s response to God v. 3 § God’s response to Jonah vv. 4 -17 – Divine power in nature (storm, sea creature) – Providential choices of other humans (compare their concern for Jonah to his concern for Ninevites) § Once in sea creature’s belly, we wonder how good Nineveh looked to Jonah?

The Prophecy of Jonah § Running TOWARD God Jonah 2 § Jonah’s prayer vv. 1 -9 – – – A despairing cry for help An acknowledgment of God’s fair judgment A confession of his own wrongdoing An expression of God’s salvation A vow to fulfill his responsibilities to his God § God answers his prayer v. 10 1 Pet 3: 12 § Jonah’s “resurrection” became a sign to the Ninevites Mt 12: 40 Lk 11: 30

The Prophecy of Jonah § Running WITH God Jonah 3 § Compare v. 2 with 1: 2 – How much had Jonah’s previous actions changed the will of God? § Jonah fulfills his prophetic duty vv. 3 -4 § Nineveh’s response to Jonah vv. 5 -9 – Belief, repentance…from royal to riffraff § God’s response to Nineveh v. 10

The Prophecy of Jonah § Running AHEAD God Jonah 4 § § Jonah’s response to his own work vv. 1 -3 God’s reply to Jonah v. 4 Jonah’s further actions v. 5 God teaches Jonah a lesson vv. 6 -11 – Again, God uses His power over nature (plant, worm, sun, scorching wind) – Jonah’s hypocrisy needed exposing, and his perspective needed correcting

The Prophecy of Jonah 1) God’s love truly is universal to all men, not wanting any to perish 2 Pet 3: 9 2) When God forgives, He forgets – Notice what God doesn’t say to Jonah after he is out of the sea creature – God won’t remind us of past failures when we come to Him penitently Heb 8: 12

The Prophecy of Jonah 3) We cannot run away from God or the responsibilities He places on us…a certain impossibility Psa 139: 7 4) Our actions/inactions do not change heaven’s settled will – Emphasizes the durability of God’s word Mt 24: 35 1 Pet 1: 23 b-25

The Prophecy of Jonah 5) Sometimes (to our own shame), our “religious bigotry” is exposed by the misguided religion of those we should be trying to teach – Sailors on Jonah’s ship – Ninevites Jonah wanted destroyed

…