THE BOOK OF JONAH
Introduction:
“The historical character of the man Jonah is vouched for by Jesus Christ, Matthew 12:39-41, as also that his preservation in the great fish was a “sign” or type of the Lord’s own entombment and resurrection. Both are miraculous and both are equally credible. 2 Kings 14:25 records the fulfillment of a prophecy by Jonah. The man himself was a bigoted Jew, unwilling to testify to a Gentile city, and angry that God had spared it. Typically he foreshadows the nation of Israel out of its own land; a trouble to the Gentiles, yet witnessing to them; cast out by them, but miraculously preserved; in their future deepest distress calling upon Jehovah-Saviour, and finding deliverance, and then becoming missionaries to the Gentiles. Zechariah 8:7-23.” — Scofield.
“This book of Jonah, though it be placed here in the midst of the prophetical books of scripture, is yet rather a history than a prophecy; one line of prediction there is in it, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown; the rest of the book is a narrative of the preface to and the consequences of that prediction.” — Matthew Henry.
Jonah was a native of Galilee, one of the earlier prophets, 2 Kings 14:25. This narrative has been ridiculed as a myth by unbelievers, and is regarded by some scholars as a legend, or parable. The Jews accepted it as historical.
The Character of Jonah:
1) “Sanctified in spots,” a strange mixture of strength and weakness.
2) Self-willed, Jonah 1:1-3.
3) Godly, Jonah 1:9.
4) Courageous, Jonah 1:12.
5) Prayerful, Jonah 2:1-9.
6) Obedient after chastisement, Jonah 3:3-4.
7) Bigoted and selfish, disappointed when the Ninevites repented, Jonah 3:4-10 4:1.
8) Had too much concern for his own reputation, Jonah 4:2-3.
A Brief Summary of the Book:
Chapter 1:
1) The Divine command evaded, vv. 1-2.
2) The flight and punishment of the prophet, vv. 3-17.
Chapter 2: The Prayer and the Deliverance.
Chapter 3: The Second Commission Obeyed.
Chapter 4:
1) The Childish Complaint of the prophet; vv. 1-4.
NOTE: In all the book of God we scarcely find a “servant of the Lord” (and such a one we are sure Jonah was, for the scripture calls him so) so very much out of temper as he is here, so very peevish and provoking to God himself. – Matthew Henry.
2) The great exhibition of Divine Mercy, coupled with the rebuke to the prophet, vv. 5-11.
Spiritual Lessons:
1) The peril of running away from duty.
2) The temptation to selfish patriotism and religious bigotry.
3) The Divine employment of imperfect men as channels of Truth.
4) The Wideness of God’s Mercy.