Jonah: Belief Contradicted by Behavior (Part 33)

“But to Jonah this seemed very wrong . . .”  Jonah is morally outraged that God would forgive the Ninevites!  Jonah is elevating his sense of morality above God Himself!  He is the one doing the judging — and he’s judging GOD!  And Jonah’s certainty that God has made a huge mistake leads Jonah to become furious with the Lord.

What do you do when you are furious?  Maybe throw a temper tantrum (as we saw in our last post).  Maybe go and sulk in the corner somewhere. Not Jonah.  He prays!  He speaks to the Lord and he voices his disgust at God’s decision not to judge the Ninevites.

What is the content of Jonah’s prayer?  “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home?”  So, Jonah apparently talked to the Lord when he first got his assignment to go to Nineveh.  Jonah chapter 1 doesn’t give us details of that conversation, and maybe Jonah means something like “that is exactly what I thought when I was still at home.”

He then explains why he fled to Tarshish — Jonah knew something of God’s character.  And Jonah knew God would be true to His own character.  And Jonah hated that.  (to be continued)

 

 

 

 

(to be continued)

 

Psalms of the Salter: Some Thoughts on Really Living for the Lord: Psalm 145

Psalm 145

A psalm of praise. Of David.

¹ I will exalt you, my God the King;
    I will praise your name for ever and ever.
² Every day I will praise you
    and extol your name for ever and ever.

³ Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
    his greatness no one can fathom.
⁴ One generation commends your works to another;
    they tell of your mighty acts.
⁵ They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—
    and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
⁶ They tell of the power of your awesome works—
    and I will proclaim your great deeds.
⁷ They celebrate your abundant goodness
    and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

⁸ The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
    slow to anger and rich in love.

⁹ The Lord is good to all;
    he has compassion on all he has made.
¹⁰ All your works praise you, Lord;
    your faithful people extol you.
¹¹ They tell of the glory of your kingdom
    and speak of your might,
¹² so that all people may know of your mighty acts
    and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
¹³ Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
    and your dominion endures through all generations.

The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises
    and faithful in all he does.
¹⁴ The Lord upholds all who fall
    and lifts up all who are bowed down.
¹⁵ The eyes of all look to you,
    and you give them their food at the proper time.
¹⁶ You open your hand
    and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

¹⁷ The Lord is righteous in all his ways
    and faithful in all he does.
¹⁸ The Lord is near to all who call on him,
    to all who call on him in truth.
¹⁹ He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
    he hears their cry and saves them.
²⁰ The Lord watches over all who love him,
    but all the wicked he will destroy.

²¹ My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord.
    Let every creature praise his holy name
    for ever and ever.