Lesson4-JonahChapters1&2
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THEBOOKOFJONAH
Lesson4,Chapters1and2
WeleftofflasttimeasJonahhasjustconfessedthatitishimthathascausedthis
pendingcalamityoftheshipheisonsinkingbecauseofaviolentstorm,and
mostlikelyresultinginthelossoflivesoftheentirecrew.HowhasJonahcaused
this?HeisinthemidstofagreatrebellionagainsthisGodYehoveh,anditis
Yehovehthatisreactingagainsthisrebellionbyhurlinganintense,potentially
deadly,stormagainsttheshipheison;ashipwhosedestinationisthefarthest
westlocationoftheknownworld:Tarshish.
Wehavehereaclearcaseofwhatcanhappenwhenwedeterminetosinagainst
God;itisaslikelyasnotthatotherswillbeadverselyaffectedbyourpersonal
rebellion.WhiletherearenumerousOTandNTversesthatspeaktothis,they
canallbesummedupbywhatwereadintheTorahinExoduschapter34.
CJB
Exodus34:6-7
6
ADONAIpassedbeforehimandproclaimed:
"YUD-HEH-VAV-HEH!!!Yud-Heh-Vav-Heh[ADONAI]isGod,mercifuland
compassionate,slowtoanger,richingraceandtruth;
7
showinggracetothe
thousandthgeneration,forgivingoffenses,crimesandsins;yetnotexonerating
theguilty,butcausingthenegativeeffectsoftheparents'offensestobe
experiencedbytheirchildrenandgrandchildren,andevenbythethirdand
fourthgenerations."
Inreality,whatwelearninGod’sWordisthatabouttheonlywayoursincan’t
affectothersisifwelivedonadesertedisland,allbyourselves.Itisa
God-principle…agoverningdynamicoftheUniverse…thatourpersonalsincan
(andprobablywill)havefarreachingconsequencesaffectingthelivesofothers
inourfamilyorinoursocietyevenintofuturegenerations.Perhapsthebest
exampleisthesinofAdam;hissinhasaffected100%ofhumanityinevery
generationsincethedayhedecidedtolistentotheEvilOne.Adivorce…so
commontoday…isperhapsonesin(andyes,itissin)thatwe’reallmostfamiliar
with.Whoamongushasnotbeeninvolvedwith,orwitnessed,adivorcewith
childreninvolvedandnotobservedthedamageitdoestothechildrenwhoare
essentiallyinnocentbystanders?And,evenhowthechildrenofdivorce
sometimesreactinsuchawayonintoadulthood,whichcanactuallyaffecttheir
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ownchildrennegatively?Howaboutthesinofreligiousleaders?Whetherwe
wanttoadmititornot,muchofourfaithcanrestontheleaderhimorherself
ratherthanonlyonGod.So,whenthatleaderfallsintoseriousmoralfailure,
somepeoplewillevenwalkawayfromtheirtrustinJesus.Thefailureofa
religiousleadercandestroyalegacyofgoodworks,whichinturncandeprive
othersofwisdomthat,otherwise,wouldhavebeensoveryusefultoGod’s
Kingdom.
InJonah’scase,theeffectofhissinonothersisextremeandimmediate;itis
abouttocausethedeathofseveralothers(thecrewoftheship)whowere
innocentcollateraldamage.Let’sre-readsomeofJonahchapter1.
RE-READJONAHCHAPTER1:10–16
Inourpreviouslessonwespentagreatdealoftimeonwhatmayhaveseemed
likesuper-technicalorultra-detailedmattersofthemeaningofcertainHebrew
andGreekwordsandtermsaswellasonwhatthemindsetandunderstandingof
God’schosenpeoplewereconcerningthosewordsandtermsinvariousbiblical
eras.We’llnotgoquitethatfartoday.
Inverse9,JonahidentifiedhimselfasaHebrew,andnamedhisGodasYehoveh,
andfurtherthatHisGodwastheCreatorofthelandandthesea.Theimplication,
ofcourse,wasthatwhatYehovehcreatedHealsoretainedcontrolover.
Therefore,thestormatseawasatthedirectcauseandcontrolofJonah’sGod.
AlongwithJonah’sconfession,thelotsthecrewcastinanearlierverse
identifyingJonahasthewrongdoerwhoangeredhisgodenoughtoputthemall
injeopardy,madetheonlyremainingquestiontheyhadwaswhattodoaboutit.
Therefore,inverse11,thecrewasksJonahbluntlywhatmustbedonetohimto
calmtheseoceanwaters.Thatis,theship’screwinherentlyknewthatonlyJonah
couldsolvethisproblemforthem,butbecausetheyknewnothingaboutJonah’s
God,thentheyhadnoideawhatactionwasneededtoappeasethatGod.Inthe
worldoftheirowngodsystems,theyalsoinherentlyknewthatsomeonehadto
beartheconsequenceofoffendingthegods;confessionandacceptingblame
wasnotenough.Therewaslittletimelefttoresolvethismatter;thesituation
wasgettingmoredirebytheminuteasthefinalwordsofverse11explain:“for
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theseawasgettingrougherallthetime”.Theirdesperationincreasedalongwith
thestrengthofthestorm.Jonah’sreplytotheirquestioninverse12wasso
extremethatitshockedthecrewmemberstotheircore.
Inverse12,Jonahsaystobodilypickhimupandtosshimintothefrothing
watersofthedeep.Let’sthinkonthatforamoment.Onthesurfacesuchanoffer
almostseemsheroic.Butinrealityifeverthiswasavividcaseofstubbornness
tothepointofself-destruction,itmustbeJonah.Hechosetodieratherthanto
ceasehisrebellionagainstYehoveh.Withoutdoubt,hadheconfessedandtold
Godheseeshiswrong,anddecidedtodemonstratehisrepentancebyagreeing
todoasGodhasbidhimtodo(goandpreachtothepeopleofNineveh),theseas
wouldhavecalmed.Yet,hechosehisowndeathinstead.IntheTorah,inthe
BookofDeuteronomy,Godinstructsusaboutthegreatresponsibilityand
accountabilitythatHeplacesonHisProphets.
CJB
Deuteronomy18:19-22
19
Whoeverdoesn'tlistentomywords,whichhewill
speakinmyname,willhavetoaccountforhimselftome.
20
"'Butifaprophet
presumptuouslyspeaksawordinmynamewhichIdidn'torderhimtosay,orif
hespeaksinthenameofothergods,thenthatprophetmustdie.'
21
Youmaybe
wondering,'HowarewetoknowifawordhasnotbeenspokenbyADONAI?'
22
WhenaprophetspeaksinthenameofADONAI,andthepredictiondoesnot
cometrue-thatis,thewordisnotfulfilled-thenADONAIdidnotspeakthatword.
Theprophetwhosaiditspokepresumptuously;youhavenothingtofearfrom
him.
TheGemara(whichispartoftheTalmud)appliesthisTorahteachingtoJonah.
AndwhileIaminagreementwiththis,anotherBiblepassagethatIthinkeven
moredirectlyappliescomesfromtheBookofEzekiel.
CJB
Ezekiel33:6-9
6
Butifthewatchmanseestheswordcominganddoesnot
blowtheshofar,sothatthepeoplearenotwarned;andthentheswordcomes
andtakesanyoneofthem,thatoneisindeedtakenawayinhisguilt,butIwill
holdthewatchmanresponsibleforhisdeath.'
7
"Likewiseyou,humanbeing-I
haveappointedyouaswatchmanforthehouseofIsra'el.Therefore,whenyou
hearthewordfrommymouth,warnthemforme.
8
WhenItellthewickedperson,
'Wickedperson,youwillcertainlydie';andyoufailtospeakandwarnthewicked
Lesson4-JonahChapters1&2
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persontoleavehisway;thenthatwickedpersonwilldieguilty;andIwillhold
youresponsibleforhisdeath.
9
Ontheotherhand,ifyouwarnthewickedtoturn
fromhisway,andhedoesn'tturnfromhisway;thenhewillstilldieguilty,but
youwillhavesavedyourownlife.
Jonahopenlysaid,andbelieves,thatitisontheaccountofhisrefusalto“warn
thewicked”ofNinevehasGodhasinstructedhimtodo,thattheshipisaboutto
sinkandallonboardareabouttodie.Biblicallyspeaking,theonlypossible
penaltyforthisactofgreatsinistheProphet’sowndeath.Iwanttoremindyou
thatEzekielisspeakingoftheresponsibilityofGod’sProphets;notsomuch
everypersonwhoworshipsthatProphet’sGod.Overthemanyyearsofteaching
theBible,Ihavecautionedthatapersonwhohasagreatdesiretobeaprophet
forGodneedstothinkonthisdesireverycarefully.First,GodappointsHis
prophets;Hedoesn’taskforresumesnordoesHegobythesincerityofthe
personwhodesiressucharoleintheKingdom.InJudeo-Christianity(andinthis
termI’mincludingwhatevereveryBelieverinYeshuamightcallthemselves)I
haveseenandspokentosomanywhowanttobe,oralreadythinkofthemselves,
asProphets.Overandovermanyofthesefolkswillmakepredictionsthatdon’t
cometopass,andsuchfailuredoesn’tseemtofazethemorevencausethem
pause;theyjustconfidentlymakemorepredictionsintheNameoftheLord.
These,brethren,arepreciselywhattheBiblecallsfalseprophets.Falseprophets
onlysometimesintheBiblerefertotheprophetsoffalsegods.Moreoftenthis
pointstopeoplethathaveanointedthemselvesandclaimthisanointingisdivine.
ItisonlyGod’sgreatmercythatallowsthemtocontinuetolivebecausethe
biblicalpenaltyforbeingafalseprophet…orevenalegitimateprophet(like
Jonah)whowillfullydoesn’ttellthetruth,orrefusestogodowhatGodtellsthem
todo…istheirdeath.Itisthatseriousofamatter.Afterall,ifyoubelievea
personisaGod-appointedProphetandtheyforetellsomethingthatdoesn’t
happenorisn’ttrue,howdoesthisreflectonyourownunderstandingofGod?
Especiallyifyoudefendthatpersonor(worse)goonlisteningtothem?
It'snicethatJonahwaswillingtoacceptthispunishmentandthussparethelives
ofthecrew.But,thedepthofJonah’sarrogant,self-willeddeterminationtonot
takeGod’soracletothepeopleofNinevehbecausehehatedthemsomuch,is
difficulttofathom.Jonahisnohero;heiswhatnoneofusoughttoeveraspire
tobe.IronicasitmayseemthispaganCanaanitecrewhadfarmoremercythan
Lesson4-JonahChapters1&2
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Jonah,God’sProphet,did;theyjustcouldn’tbringthemselvestosendJonahto
hisdeath.Rather,theydecidedtotrytofightoffthisstorm.So,theyrowedhard
towardstheshore.Jonah’sadvicetothemwasappalling.Intheireyes,because
oftheirattachmenttopagangodsystems,theycouldseeandunderstandno
otherthanJonahofferinghimselfasahumansacrificetothegodoftheseain
ordertoappeasehimandthuscalmthewaters.Andyet,theywerenotwillingto
letJonahdothat,evenifwastotheirownbestinterests.
Whatthesailorsdon’tentirelygetisthatjustastheseaisunderGod’sdominion,
soisdryland.Therefore,theirvaliantefforttodefeattheseabyrowingtheir
batteredvesseltoshoreisdoomed.Thehardertheyrowedtherougherbecame
theseasinopposition.HereisaGod-principlethatitseemseventhemost
seasonedofBelievershastroublerememberingattimes:runningawayfromthe
Lord’swillis,ultimately,impossible.Acommontermusedespeciallyin
allegoricalBibleteaching,isthatforaBelievertoworktofoilorignoreGod’swill
isto“kickagainstthegoad”.Actually,thisisatermborrowedbythebiblical
writersfromtheGreekandRomancultureswhereitmeanttoimplyaruinous
resistancetosomething.Itisfascinatingjusthowfarhumanswillgotorefuseto
submittoGod.IthinktherecanbebutafewBelieversthatdon’tknowaboutthe
followingpassageintheBookofRevelationconcerningtheEndTimes
Apocalypsethatdepictsjustsuchascenario.
CJB
Revelation16:1Iheardaloudvoicefromthesanctuarysaytotheseven
angels,"Go,andpouroutontheearththesevenbowlsofGod'sfury!"
Thenafewverseslater,after3ofthose7bowlsofGod’swrathhadbeenemptied
uponmankind:
CJB
Revelation16:7-11
7
ThenIheardthealtarsay,"Yes,ADONAI,Godof
heaven'sarmies,yourjudgmentsaretrueandjust!"
8
Thefourthonepouredout
hisbowlonthesun,anditwaspermittedtoburnpeoplewithfire.
9
Peoplewere
burnedbytheintenseheat;yettheycursedthenameofGod,whohadthe
authorityovertheseplagues,insteadofturningfromtheirsinstogivehimglory.
10
Thefifthonepouredouthisbowlonthethroneofthebeast,anditskingdom
grewdark.Peoplegnawedontheirtonguesfromthepain,
11
yettheycursedthe
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Godofheavenbecauseoftheirpainsandsores,anddidnotturnfromtheirsinful
deeds.
Iwillswitchtoapplicationofthismessagetoyouforafewminutes;please
indulgemebecauseitwillaffectmanyofus.Eveninthemostdevastating,
catastrophic,deadlytimeperiodtheworldwilleverknow,theEndTimes…when
therewillnolongerbemuchdoubtamongtheearth’spopulationaboutthe
divinesourceofallthisunprecedented,unyieldingglobalpainandsuffering…the
peoplewhoeitherformerlytrustedtheGodofIsraelbutgaveitupsomewhere
alongtheway,ornevertrustedatall,willfullydeterminetodieatwarwithGod
ratherthantodieatpeacewithHim.TheywillNOT,atanycost,humble
themselves,repentandaskGodforforgivenessandmercy.Weseethisall
aroundustoday(we’dhavetobeblindnotto),andapparentlyithasbeenthis
waytoonedegreeoranothersincethedawnofhumankind.Ihavepersonally
witnessedthismindsetatfuneralsandinhospitalvisitswiththedyingorthose
whofacethepossibilityofdeath.Peoplewhoknowtheyhavelivedwickedlyand
arefacingtherealityoftheirownimminentdeath,andmaybefacingaterrible
futureeternally.Yet,evenwhenofferedtheopportunitytorepentandtoaccept
themercyChristaffordsus,theyrefuseit.Thisisirrationalityatitszenith.Such
irrationalityamongnormallyrationalpeoplecanhavenoneotherthananevil
spiritualsourceotherwiseourinnatecommonsenseandinstinctfor
self-preservationwouldkick-in.Andindeed,eventhehumannatureofoldthat
we’reallbornwith(theonethatJewscalltheyetzerharah,our“evilinclination”)
leansdecidedlytowardsawickedspiritualsourceratherthanagoodone.
Withinthemake-upof21
st
centuryBelievers,andevenwithinmodernpeople
whoaretraditionalistsbutirreligious,they(we)wonderandworryaboutwhat
weareobservinginthisworldasregardsgender,asaninexplicable
out-of-controlwildfire-likespreadofirrationalthoughtandbehavior.How,we
ask,sincethedaysofAdamandEveuntiljustacoupleofdecadesago,canthe
simplebiologicalrealityofgendersuddenlybechallenged?Thereisnomore
profoundlyfundamental,self-evidentfactofhumanitythanthe2possible
gendersweareallbornwith.Somethingthathasneverinhistoryspontaneously
self-mutatedintosomethingdifferent,nororhasitbeenchangeableatourwhim.
Andyet,wehaveanenormous,nearlyglobal-widetsunamiofelites,intellectuals,
secularandreligiousleaders,andcommonfolkwhohaveboughtintothe
Lesson4-JonahChapters1&2
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conceptofgenderfluidity,orgenderbychoice,ortheerasureofgender
altogether.Theonlypossiblewaythiscanoccur(otherthanmassinsanity)isif
itcomesfromthepowerfulunseenrealmofthespiritworld.Believers,Ibegyou
tohearme…thereisnothingelsewithenoughpowerandinfluencethatcan
accountforit;andIamconvincedthatthewillfulignoranceofour
Judeo-Christianinstitutionsthatimplyoroutrightteachthataprofoundlyrobust
andformidablespiritworldisimpossibleandabutaprimitivemythiswhysofew
seemtonotseeit.Whatthismeansisthathumanpersuasiontotrytogetthe
irrationaltoshuckitoffandreturntorationalityhasnohopeofsuccessbecause
itisamisdirectedmindsetandeffort.Inreality“ourstruggleisnotagainstflesh
andblood,butagainsttherulers,againsttheauthorities,againstthepowersof
thisdarkworldandagainstthespiritualforcesofevilintheheavenlyrealms”.
IwantyoutonoticesomethingaboutwhatPaulsaidthatistakenfromEphesians
6:12.Hesaid“thespiritualforcesofevilintheheavenlyrealms”.IntheGreekNT
manuscripts,thewordisepouroniousandtheGreekLexiconsagreethatit
meanshavingtodowithheaven,orofheavenlyorigin.I’veneverheardthat
statementdealtwithbeforeinasermonoraBibleteachingperhapsbecausePaul
issayingthatthereAREspiritualforcesofevilthatexistinHeaven.Inever
thoughtmuchaboutthisuntilIlearnedadeeperbiblicalunderstandingofthe
divinecouncilofHeaven,populatedbyspiritbeingscalledelohim.Powerful…the
MOSTpowerful…ofcreatedspiritbeings,secondonlytoGod.Andthatwelearn
thatsomeofthemrebelled,andGodcursedthemwitheventualdeathjustasHe
wouldlatercursemankindwithdeathforourrebellion.NothingintheBible
impliesthatallthecorruptedelohimwerekickedoutofHeaven.Paulisrevealing
atruthtousthattheancientHebrewsofhisdayalreadybelievedandunderstood.
Doyoubelieveit?IcantellyouthatmyupbringinginChurchessentiallytaught
melesstonotbelievethatcorruptbeingscanexistinHeavenbutratherto
simplyignorethepossibility.Thethingisthatuntilwedobelievethatthismass
delusionaboutgenderthathasovercomeourworldsocietiesisresultofa
wickedspiritualinfluenceandwereactaccordinglythroughsincereprayertoThe
Fatheralongwithouradoptingasoul-deepdeterminationtolivebyHismoral
code,nomatterthepersonalcost,thereisnohopeforsocietytocomeoutofits
presentirrationalitythatleadsonlytodeathanddestruction;anirrationalitythat
hasthoroughlyenvelopedus.Theresultofthisirrationalityisacrumblingof
formerlyvibrantorderlysocietiesintochaos,confusion,hypersensitivity,
Lesson4-JonahChapters1&2
8/14
lawlessnessandperversionofeveryimaginablekindateverylevel.Tofightfire
withfire,wemustfighttherightbattle;aspiritualbattle.Itdoeslittlegoodonly
totrytoopenlycombatthisabominationonapurelyhuman,intellectualbasis,
whichisactuallyourinstinct.Onceeviltakessufficientholdofus,thenwewill
indeedchoosedeathoversubmissiontoGod…justaswhatJonahwasdoing…no
matterhowirrationalthatmightbe.
So,afteranapparentlyvaliantefforttorowtheirboattosafetyandavoidhaving
toparticipateinkillingJonah,thecrewgaveup.Thecrew’soptionsarenow
limitedtoonesotheyarenowdepictedascallingouttoGodforhelp.Onceagain
mypetpeevepops-upitsuglyhead.OurEnglishBiblesobscurewhatisactually
saidbycoveringoverthepagansailorscallingouttoJonah’sGodbynameand
insteadGod’snameissubstitutedwiththeword“Lord”(AdonaiintheCJB,which
meansthesamething).Butlet’snotmisunderstand;bynomeanshavethe
sailorsconverted,thrownasidealltheirgods,andswitchedtheirallegiance
insteadtoYehoveh.Rather,theysimplyaddedYehovehtothemixofgodsthey
acceptandbowdownto.He’sbutanothergodtheyarenowawareof,respect,
andsoareinnowayreluctanttocallonHimorthinkthatsomehowtheyare
beingdisloyaltotheirothergods.
Whatthecrew’sprayerisaboutisthat,withallotheroftheireffortshavingfailed,
theyrealizetheyaregoingtohavetodotheunthinkable:they’regoingtohave
todoasJonahsaidandthrowhimoverboard.ThismeanscertaindeathtoJonah.
But,sinceitwasthesementhatwouldessentiallyexecutehimiftheydidas
Jonahsaidtodo,mightthismeanthatJonah’sGodwillturnaroundandblame
themforwhathashappened,includingthemtossingJonahoverboardtohis
death?TheybeseechthisGod,Yehoveh,nottoblamethemortopunishthemfor
doingwhatJonahsaidhadtobedone.Whatacontrast!God’sProphetJonah
refusestocallouttotheLord,letalonetoobeyHim,whilethesailorsfrantically
callouttoJonah’sGodaskingtobeforgivenwhentheydoobeyHim!
Yet,thesesailorsstillhaveaproblem.Itwasstillthecommonmindsetofthatera
thatwhenapersoniskilledbysomeone,thenthedeceased’sfamilyisvirtually
obligatedtohuntdowntheperpetratorandkillhiminvengeance,nomatterhow
justthekillingmighthavebeen.Infact,mostculturesandsocietiesofthisera
operatedthatway.Sheddinginnocentbloodwasextremelyseriousandinvolves
Lesson4-JonahChapters1&2
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thedeathpenaltyforthosewhodoso.WouldJonah’sGodseewhattheywere
abouttodotoJonahasanactofviolenceagainsttheinnocent?So,inwhatI
stronglyfeelwastheircollectivesinceremindset,thesailorssaytoYehovehthat
theyhavelittleotherchoicebuttobelieveJonahistellingthemthetruthandso
tokillhimisfollowingYehoveh’swill.Yet,theycan’tbecertainofit.So,inverse
15,theyreluctantlypickJonahupandthrowhimintotheragingwaters.
Immediatelytheseawentcalm.Withrelieftheyknewtheirliveshadbeen
sparedandthattheyhaddonethewillofJonah’sGodwhoexpressedHis
pleasurebybringingthestormtoanabruptend.
Verse16leavesnodoubtthattheyallbelievedthatJonah’sGodcoulddo
whateverHewantedtodo.Inresponse,wearetoldthattherelievedcrew
sacrificedandmadevows…probablytoYehoveh.There’snoconsensusinBible
academiaastowhetherthismeanstheymadeanactualanimalsacrificeon
boardthatship,orthattheyessentiallypromisedtomakeasacrificeoncethey
reachedshore.Theusualargumentagainstthemmakinganimmediateonboard
sacrificeisthattheyhadnoanimalslefttomakeonewith;orthatthisisnot
somethinganyonewouldeverdoonaship.Myresponseisthatthereisnothing
thatsaysthateverylastbitofcargowasthrownoverboard;someanimalscould
haveremained.Besides,liveanimalswereregularlybroughtonboardtobeused
forfoodonlongvoyages.Astothematterofwhethership-boardsacrifices
occurred,theconsensusthatthisdidn’teveroccurseemtobeincorrect.Inhis
scholarlyresearchbookaboutancientseafaringJeanRougesaysthis:
Routineceremoniesforseavoyageswereoftwokinds,thosefordeparturesand
thoseforarrivals.Whenadeparturewastobemade,thosewhowereaboutto
sailwouldfirstmakeapilgrimagetoanearbytempletoobtaindivineprotection.
Then,onboardship,therewouldbeaceremony,notinportwhentheship
weighedanchor,butratherwhentheopenseawasreached.Theceremony
consistedofasacrificeandprayerstotheship’sgodandtothedivinitiesofthe
sea.Likewise,whenashipwasabouttoputintoport,beforeitactuallyentered
theport,therewasanotherceremony,thistimeoneofthanksgiving.Duringthe
courseofthesailingothersacrificestookplacewheneveranespeciallyfamous
sanctuarywaspassed,orinthefaceofdangerseriousenoughtorequire
recoursetothegods.Thisiswhycertainfigurativerepresentationsofshipsshow
analtarlocatedatthestern,analtarthatmustnothavebeenportable.
Lesson4-JonahChapters1&2
10/14
ThisconfirmstomethatTheNarratorofJonah’sstorywascorrect;thesailors
soonaftertossingJonahintothesea,andthestormhalting,madeasacrificeon
boardtothankYehoveh.
Let’smoveontoChapter2.Beforewereadit,Iwanttosetthestagesothatyou
willbettergraspwhatisgoingon.Therealityisthatthefirsttwoversesandthen
thelastversearetypicalprosenarrative(thatis,justregularwriting),but
everythinginbetween(verses3–10)areacompletecomposedPsalmthatis
inserted.ThePsalmisdoneintypicalancientHebrewpoetryliterarystyle.Tosay
itanotherway:thefirsttwoversesarethewriterofJonahessentiallyintroducing
thePsalm.NextisthefullPsalm,andfinallythelastverseofchapter2comes
afterthePsalmconcludesanditmovesthestoryofJonahforward.I’mgoingto
havemuchtosayaboutthisPsalmafterwereadthechapter.
READJONAHCHAPTER2all
So;inamostsurprisingtwisttoourstory,Jonahwhohasbeenchucked
overboardathisownurgingbyamostreluctantandtroubledcrew,isswallowed
alivebyagreatfishwhereheremainedasthoughentombedorinafleshlyprison
for3daysand3nights.IfthestoryofJonahconsistedofonlythefirstchapter,
thentheobviousconclusionwouldbethathe,ofcourse,drowned.Theywerein
deepwateratthetime,manymilesfromland.Evenincalmwaters,hehadno
hopewhatsoeverofrescueorsurvival.But,surprise!Hedoesn’tdie!Outof
nowherecomesagiantfishofsomesortthatswallowshimwholethussaving
himfromawaterygrave.
Thestorygivesusnocluewhatkindoffishthegiantfishwas.Atsomepointin
history,itwasdeterminedthatithadtobeawhaleandsothat’showitismostly
viewedtoday.Justremember;eventhoughweknowthatscientificallyawhaleis
aseamammalthatmadeitbiologicallydifferentfromafish,suchdifferences
werenotknownatthattime.Ifitswamintheocean,itwasafish…howeverbig,
howeversmall,howeveritlooked.Inaddition,noattemptwasmadetoexplain
howahumancouldsurviveinsidethebellyofafish.Naturally,justaswealldo,
wemodernsstillscratchourheadsinconcertwithourancientancestorsand
wonderaboutitsincethatseemsutterlyimpossible.But,forourancestors(asit
Lesson4-JonahChapters1&2
11/14
oughttobeforus)thisscenarioinstantlysaysthatwhathappenedisan
interventionbyGod.Nothingelsecouldaccountforit.ForthemodernChurch
andSynagogue,however,wheretheconceptofmiraclesisonlylightlyaccepted
(orinmanydenominationsitisrejectedaltogether),thenhereiswherethestory
ofJonahbecomesjustafunfablewithagoodmoral.
Ifwe’vewalkedwiththeLordlongenough,thenbynowweoughttoknowthat
nothingisbeyondthelimitsofourLordtocontrol.MiraclesarejustpartofHis
nature;Hedoesn’tstraintodothem.Amiracle,atitscore,isbutadivineactthat
isbeyondtheboundsofanythingahumancanduplicate,ornatureinitsnormal
statecanequal.God,asnature’sCreator,canusenatureforanypurposeHe
determines,inwhateverwayHedetermines.Thatisthemostmarvelousofnews
forBelievers;butitisalsothemostlaughableandatthesametimeterrorizing
toskeptics,mockers,andnon-Believers.
ThenextsignificantfactpresentedisthatJonahnotonlysomehowremained
alivewithintheinnardsofthatgreatfishfor3daysand3nights,heactually
begantocarefullyre-examinehissituation,whatledhimtoit,andwhatitmeans
inahigherlevelofunderstanding.AsIurgedinthe1
st
lessonofJonah,the
Introduction,wemustnotgetlostintheweedsbypayingtoomuchattentionto
Jonahandassumingthatthemoralpointofthestoryisaboutrevealingwho
Jonahreallywas;itisfarmoreaboutrevealingwhoGodreallyis.
TheanonymouswriterofJonahtellsusthatitwasfrominsidethebellyofthat
whalethatJonahprayedwhatcomesnext.Andwhatcomesnextisaneloquent
PsalmthatthanksGodforthemercyhehasbeenshown.Thewriter(oftencalled
TheNarratorbyTheologians)makesitclearthatthisPsalmwasprayedatthat
time,andnotlateraftertheordealwasover.Thisfactactuallymuddiesthe
watersformanyBiblescholarsbecausetheydoubtwhytheactionwould
suddenlypauseandthiscompletePsalmwouldbeinserted.Ittrulyisacurious
thingthatmustnotbesoeasilydismissed,soletmeexplaintheissuesforthe
sakeofintellectualhonesty.Thisisthepartofthestory,afterall,thatisthemost
controversialsimplybecauseofitssetting:Jonahaliveinsideagreatfish.The
firstthingweneedtoaddressiswherethisPsalmmighthavecomefromandalso
whyitisplacedwhereitis.
Lesson4-JonahChapters1&2
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ThefirstforkintheroadofdecidingthesourceofthisPsalmisthateitherJonah
composeditandspokeitwhilehewasinsidethewhale(asTheNarratorsaysit
does),orperhapsJonahcomposeditlaterafterhehadgonetoNinevehand
returnedhomebutnonethelessTheNarratorthoughtitmadeforabetterstory
ifhehaddoneitinsidethegreatfish.Thenextforkiswhetherthiswascomposed
byJonahatanypointandhandeddownbyTraditiontoTheNarratororifitwas
composedbysomeoneelseentirely,whetherbeforeorafterJonah’stime.After
that,yetanotherforkisencountered;wasthisPsalmcomposedfortheexpress
purposeofbeingpartoftheBookofJonah,orwasitborrowedfromsomeother
alreadyexistingdocumentandstuckinherebecauseitseemedtofitorembellish
thestoryofJonahquitewell.I’mheretotellyouthatthesearealllegitimate
questions,andconsideringthehighlyimportantpartofthisstoryofJonahthat
thisPsalmplays,itisreasonabletoaskanditisnecessarytofaceitandaddress
it.
Let’sbeginwithabasicquestion;isthewaythatJonah’sstoryis
constructed…withregularnarrative(typicaldialogueanddescription)
interruptedbyapoem…aPsalm…uniquetotheBookofJonahascomparedtothe
remainderofHolyScripture?Answer:no.ItisquitecommonintheBibleandin
otherJewishliteratureofthatera.VirtuallytheentireTorah(thefirst5booksof
theBible)andalloftheProphetsusethismethodofwritingandrecordingevents
andinthetellingoftheirstories.Poemsbygiftedwritersofpoetryhavethe
advantageofbeingableto“sayitall”inabeautifullymemorablefewwordsthat
impactusthemost.Thatis,theartofpoetrycanbestdescribeandcommunicate
actionsoremotionstotheirfullest,whereasstarknarrativecannot.Inafamous
linefromthewell-knownsciencefictionmoviecalledContact…afilminspiredby
thelateCarlSagan…wefindourheroinesomehowtransportedtoadifferent
dimensionusingalien-providedtechnology.Humanityhadbeengivenan
invitationofsortstovisitwiththisadvancedspeciesofaliens,andshewasthe
scientistchosenamongallothersonplanetearthtogoashumanity’s
representativeandhopefullymakecontactwiththemachine’saliencreators,but
alsotobringbackwithherarecordofallthatshesawandheardespeciallyto
provethedoubterswrong.Whoelsebutascientistwouldbetrainedand
equippedforthiskindofajob?However,whenshearrivedatthealienworldand
begantospeakintoherrecordingdevicewhatshewaswitnessingshebecame
awestruckabouttheincrediblebeautyandwonderandcompletepeacethatshe
Lesson4-JonahChapters1&2
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wasencountering.Shesays:“Theysentthewrongperson;theyshouldhave
sentapoet”.
OneoftheratherstandardcharacteristicsofbiblicalProphetswasthattheywere
trained,expertpoets.Whilethatprobablycan’tbesaidofeverylastone,itcan
besaidasageneralruleofthumb.So,thatfactalonesaysthatitiscertainly
possiblethatthePsalmwereadinJonahchapter2wasindeedwrittenbya
deeplyaffectedandmovedJonahashetriedtocontemplatewhatwas
happeningtohim,andwhatcauseditall,andthehighermeaningofit.
Ontheotherhand,Psalms(beingbasicallypoetry)areusuallyintentionally
createdtobenon-specificintheirnature.Thatis,muchlikeproverbs,theyaren’t
inextricablytiedtoasingleevent,circumstance,oroccasioneventhoughitmay
havebeenoneeventthatinspireditswritertocomposeit.APsalm’sapplication
isgeneralinnature,andpertinenttoeveryageofhistory,andthisisprovedby
thefactthatthroughoutthecenturiesPsalmshavedrawnpeopleofeveryerato
thembecauseofwhattheysaytousashumanbeingsinsomanysituations.So,
wasthisPsalmthatformsthebulkofchapter2analreadyexistingPsalmwritten
byanauthorunknowntous?APsalmthatjusthappenedtoworkseamlessly
withthestoryofJonah,sothat’swhyitwaschosentoinsert?Thereisnothingso
specificaboutJonah’sPsalmthatitcouldonlybeunderstoodwithinthecontext
oftheJonahstory.So,yes,thatcannotbedismissedasapossibility.Butifthis
wasthecase,thisPsalmhasbeenlosttohistoryinallbutthesagaofJonah.
Finally,thereisthisissue;thePsalmofJonahisdefinitelyoneofThanksgiving,
andthereismuchbeliefintheworldofTheologythatThanksgivingoughttobe
thelastthingonJonah’smindashemustcurrentlybelivinginastateofmisery
insidethatwhale.Muchmoreappropriate…especiallyconsideringtheman,
Jonah,andhiswillfulbehavior…wouldbeaPsalmthatexpresseshisdesperation
andperhapsasksforrescue.So,thosethatthinkthiswaybelievethisPsalmis
misplacedandhasnobusinessintheBookofJonah;ratheritwasaddedalong
timelaterbyaredactor.
TheseareallvaliddiscussionpointsIwanttomakeyouawareof,butIwillcutto
thechase.AlthoughthisPsalmindeedcouldbeappliedtoourgivingpraiseand
thankstoGodoversomegreatmercyHeshowedtousinanynumberof
Lesson4-JonahChapters1&2
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circumstances…probablybestsuitedtoourhavingbeenrescuedfromimminent
death…itperfectlycapturestheessenceofJonah’ssituationandreallyisrather
pivotalintheongoingstory.Ifitwerenotthere,thestorywouldbeincomplete.
ThePsalmespeciallyhelpstoexposeJonah’shypocrisyofbeingshownincredible
mercyfromGodinthemidstofJonah’songoingdisobedience(whencertainly
nonewasduetohim)versusJonah’srefusaltotakeamessageofGod’swarning
tothedisobedientpeopleofNineveh(whomhefelthadnosuchmercydueto
them).ThataPsalmcouldfitsuchastoryasJonah’ssowell,andisneededto
advancethestorytomakeitsultimatepoint,butthatthePsalmwasageneral
onesimplypluckedfromanalreadywrittenbookofPsalmsissounlikelythatit
stretchescredibility.Jonahhadtheexpertise,andthetime,andthe
circumstance,andthemotivetocomposethisPsalmjustaswefinditinhisbook,
andthereisnoevidenceatallagainstitexceptthatskepticscancomeupwith
imaginativealternatives.Mymindsetis,andwillcontinuetobe,thatwhenthere
isnostrongevidencetorejectthevalidityofstatementsintheBible,thenthose
statementsoughttobetakenasauthentic.
We’llstophereandbegintoexamineJonah’sPsalmnexttime.