Latest / HBCWestminster / 6.5.22 Jonah 1:1-3 Pastor Danny Gardner

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6.5.22 Jonah 1:1-3 Pastor Danny Gardner · HBCWestminster

• 0:00
  Well, the book of Jonah, our text this morning is going to be the first three verses. And if you're able to stand in honor of God's word as I read, I would ask you to do that now. Verses one to three, then we'll pray and begin. Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah, the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me. But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.
• 0:30
  He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord. Would you pray with me? Lord, give us the courage and strength we need each day to shine like stars amongst a crooked and perverse generation. Lord, give us the mercy and grace we need each day to remind ourselves and others that we are indeed loved.
• 0:59
  that we are provided for, and that we are forgiven by the blood of Jesus. And it's in his name we pray. Amen. Amen. Thank you, church. Well, as you know, it is the job of the biologist to explain life. But it's the job of the philosopher, and maybe even the theologian, to explain why that life is worth living. So allow me to take a dip with you all into the swimming pool of philosophy.
• 1:30
  for a moment. And I know it's not our tradition to do this, to become too academic or philosophical on Sunday mornings, but let's swim around just for a few moments in the pool of philosophy in order to make sure that we understand what we're all doing here in his book, The Abolition of Man. And I would encourage you to read it if you've never done so. The Abolition of Man, Mankind's Abolishing is what it's titled. C.S. Lewis described the trend in education at his time.
• 1:59
  Keep in mind, he was writing during the 1940s. The trend in educational circles in the 1940s that would emphasize the mind at the expense of the heart. Rational thought was to be valued over emotional experience. And in so doing, Lewis believed that the essence of man would be lost. We are actually diminishing mankind's existence by prioritizing the head over...
• 2:30
  And thus, his introductory chapter, chapter 1, he titled, Men Without Chests. They got heads and they got legs, but there's nothing in between. We've removed the heart with all of its divine virtue from mankind's experience. He called it Men Without Chests. The generation, he said, that would be produced through such an educational philosophy would be one of head with no heart.
• 2:58
  one of mind, but with no virtue. His conclusion was thus, he said, all the time, we continue to clamor for those very qualities we are rendering impossible. In other words, he said, we want our society to be what we are making it impossible for our society to become. The ills which plague society will never be solved.
• 3:24
  with the solutions that we are proposing. That's what he said. These solutions aren't going to work. We're doing all the wrong things, he continues. You can hardly read or open a periodical. Now, for those of you under the age of 30, a periodical is a newspaper that used to be these things written on paper they'd throw on your driveway, right? You can hardly open a newspaper, he says, without coming across the statement that what our civilization needs is more drive.
• 3:53
  or dynamism, or self-sacrifice, or creativity. In other words, everybody's got their own idea, he says, of what this country needs. And listen, church, how many times have you opened any social media and seen that statement? You know what this country needs? More social reform, economic stimulus, mental health programs, community centers, compassion, justice, love. He continues in a sort of ghastly simplicity.
• 4:22
  We remove the organ, referring to the heart. We remove the heart from mankind and yet still demand its function. We want to rip the hearts out of man and yet expect them not to act heartless. Do you see what he's saying? It doesn't make any sense. We make, here's that phrase, men without chests, a head connected to legs, and expect of them virtue and enterprise. Well, where does virtue come from? It comes from the heart.
• 4:50
  Virtue is not rational. Does that make sense? Self-sacrifice is not rational. Why would I sacrifice myself for you? That self-sacrificial idea, what Jesus actually exemplified, that the Lord of all creation would come to earth and become a man, humiliate himself, and become obedient unto death, that is not a rational thing. Gods don't act that way, right?
• 5:17
  which is what makes our God special. Can I get an amen? That's why we like him. He's not a normal God. So we rip the heart out of mankind, and yet we expect virtue. It doesn't make any sense. We laugh at honor. Do you guys see where I am up there? We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst. Like, well, when do we ever laugh at honor? We don't laugh at honor. Well, no, we might.
• 5:44
  I was with my family about a month ago at a Rockies game. You guys know we love baseball. We go to as many games as we can. We love all of it. The game itself, the sunshine, the snacks, the whole thing. We love the experience. I don't know how many major league baseball games I've attended in my life. It's got to be in the hundreds. We're sitting there at Coors Field and right behind us. You know, sometimes, every now and again, it lines up wrong where you end up in front of somebody really obnoxious. And you're like, man, that's a bummer. They should have offered this seat.
• 6:14
  at a discounted rate. You know, if I got to sit in front of this dude and listen to that for the next three hours, well, this guy, I mean, honestly, it was one of the worst in terms of just an obnoxious experience. This guy was loud, and it's always the most ignorant people who are the most loud, right? And just spouting this commentary, this running commentary, and it was mildly inebriated, and so it was just this awful stream of
• 6:42
  of just filth coming out of this guy's mouth the entire time well it began right at the beginning we're all there we sit down and the announcer says ladies and gentlemen would you kindly stand and remove your caps the playing of our national anthem right and they even say on the announcement stand and they even say in order to honor our troops and the servicemen and women of america and all of these things it's an honorable thing and this guy begins spouting and and listen church regardless of what you feel about kneeling or standing or other things i i am of the opinion that we stand
• 7:13
  Right? And so, there were only like four amens. So anyway, this guy, and we're supposed to stand, we take off our caps and all of this, and the national anthem starts, and this guy at the top of his lungs just says, are we still honestly doing this? Are we still pretending? Still pretending like this is a great nation? And it was much filthier than that, but I thought, you know what? That's it. We laugh at honor.
• 7:41
  and then we're shocked to find traitors in our midst. Well, yeah, of course we're going to find traitors in our midst. They're not honorable. His last phrase, he says, we castrate. That's become more literal through the passing of time. We castrate and then bid the geldings be fruitful. We make it impossible to multiply, he says, and then we're shocked when the next generation turns their noses up at what they're being offered. Well, yes, this was written 80 years ago. 80 years ago.
• 8:12
  We live in a culture where men aren't allowed to be men, where women can't be women, children can't be children, churches can't be churches, police can't police. Armies don't get to be armies. Everything in our society is neutered, and then we wonder why we're not passing our culture down to successive generations. It's impossible to multiply. Our culture's been castrated, and our hearts genuinely grieve the loss of those beloved children and teachers in Uvalde, Texas.
• 8:42
  We really do. I mean, that is heartbreaking. It is tragic. And those victims in Buffalo, New York, the young ladies this past week in Ames, Iowa, and then I woke up this morning to find a new one in Philadelphia. We believe that events such as these are nothing other than the face of pure evil. Amen? That is evil. I can't believe there are still people denying the existence of evil. No, it's here. It's among us. That is the face of...
• 9:10
  Pure evil. We are shocked when we encounter this kind of behavior. But really think about this, church. Should we be shocked? Consider for a moment Lewis's words again. We cannot rip out the heart with all of its divine virtues. Things like love and compassion and kindness and gentility. All of which are godly virtues. We know love and compassion and patience and kindness and gentility because of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen?
• 9:38
  That's where it comes from. We can't rip out the heart with all of those divine virtues and then expect people to be virtuous. It doesn't work that way. You know what else are divine virtues? Self-sacrifice. There is no greater love than this. One would lay down his life for another. You know what else is a divine virtue? A warrior spirit. That sense of justice which rises up in a sense of protection of the weak.
• 10:10
  even at the expense of the protector, a warrior spirit. You know, the Bible actually says that the Lord is a warrior. It says that. In fact, the Old Testament multiple times says that the Lord is the Lord of hosts. And I was always confused by that when I was a kid. I heard the Lord of hosts. And I'm like, well, that guy who takes down my name at the restaurant and says it's a 15-minute wait, he's the Lord of hosts. And I'm like, well, yes, he is the Lord of them too.
• 10:37
  But that's not what the Bible is making reference to. It's the host of the armies of heaven. The Lord is the front. He is the captain of heaven's armed host. The Lord is a warrior. You read when Jesus comes back in Revelation 19, He is not coming back to be in peace, church. He is the God of war, too. And in fact, Revelation 19 says that His robe that He is wearing will be dipped in the blood of His enemies. I mean, it's going to be rough.
• 11:05
  on that day. And that warrior spirit that we're not, I guess, supposed to have anymore or certainly exhibit, that is a divine virtue. Even chivalry, chivalry, where we would take off our coats and lay them in the mud so that a woman doesn't have to walk through the mud. That's a chivalrous act that we would open doors and serve. I mean, that chivalry, even that idea is divine. And yet we rip out the heart with all of those
• 11:33
  virtues. Why? Because we hate the God behind them all and then demand that humanity act in a way that is consistent with God's demands. We can't strip our society of truth and then expect that our society will abide by what is true. We can't undermine Scripture's influence and then blame all of society's ills on those very Scriptures. And we can second guess a thousand times what should have been done differently.
• 12:01
  what could have been done in order to avoid such tragedies as we've experienced the last several weeks. But listen, church, the reality is that we have created a nation without a chest. It's got a head and it's got legs. There's no heart, there's no feeling, there's no virtue, no truth, no justice. More and more, there's not even repercussion for lawlessness. We've told a generation of kids that there is no God, that they came from monkeys.
• 12:28
  that there is no purpose whatsoever for their existence, and this is the natural consequence. And it turns out that this kind of thinking is nothing new. We turn our attention this morning to Jonah. You know, the entire book of Jonah is only 48 verses long. 48 verses, the whole book! There were single chapters in the Gospel of Luke which were twice as long as the whole book.
• 12:56
  of jonah 48 verses and yet contained in this brief book is a storm at sea the conversion of a bunch of idol worshiping sailors a miraculous sea rescue a song of praise one of the most poetic and beautiful prayers in the old testament a glimpse of god's heart for all nations to come to repentance and the biography of a very stubborn prophet
• 13:21
  And far more important than a man being swallowed by a fish, which is the only thing anybody ever remembers about the Jonah story, is that the book of Jonah actually records the greatest national revival ever documented. It is here in front of us. The single greatest nationwide revival is recorded. And what's interesting about it is that it follows maybe the shortest and worst sermon ever preached.
• 13:49
  Jonah's sermon was one verse long. He preached it and actually said, and I hope you don't repent. And the whole nation lined up to follow that repentance message. The greatest national revival ever recorded following the worst and shortest sermon ever preached. Jonah was the first ever missionary in God's redemptive plan called by him to a Gentile nation.
• 14:21
  This was the first one. Cross-cultural missions began that day. Isn't that interesting? Some have called him the reluctant prophet, but I believe he was way more than reluctant. I think he was flat out disobedient. God called Jonah and Jonah said, no, I'm not going. Jonah was a prophet without a chest. He was a prophet with no heart. He was a prophet with no virtue. He knew the truth and yet was in no way compelled to act upon it.
• 14:53
  And church, there's a lesson for us, and I'm going to say this delicately because I love you, but how many of us know the truth but are not compelled to act upon the truth? I'm going to quote the book of James here, and you've got to be careful with the book of James because this book will ruin your life, all right? But look what James says, James chapter 2, what good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. Someone will say, you have faith.
• 15:24
  I have works. Show me your faith apart from your works. I will show you my faith by my works. For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. The mind, understanding the truth, right? Gospel is more than merely a mental ascent. It is a conversion and transformation of the heart. It exhibits itself in virtuous behavior. Look at James chapter 4 and verse 17. Whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it for him, it is sin.
• 15:51
  I know God would have called me to do this, but I'm not going to do it. In that moment, you're a Jonah. That was the attitude of Jonah. Now, the book of Jonah is not the only place that Jonah is talked about in the Bible. It's the most famous place, but he's actually mentioned in 2 Kings 14 as the court prophet for King Jeroboam II. This king reigned over the northern kingdom of Israel about 750 years before Christ. Jonah is mentioned there. Jonah, the son of Amittai. It's the same guy.
• 16:21
  But he's also mentioned in the New Testament. Jonah is talked about in the New Testament and by none other than Jesus himself. The story of Jonah would, in Christ's own words, become the quintessential sign of Jesus' legitimacy. Jesus said one day, do you want me to prove I am who I say I am? They all say, yeah, prove it. And he says, do you remember the story of Jonah? Say, yeah. Remember how Jonah was in the belly of the fish?
• 16:53
  Yeah. Remember how he was vomited out? Yeah. Same thing's going to happen to me. He says in Matthew chapter 12, For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. He used the story of Jonah to predict the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. Jonah is the guy that he used. I've always thought that was interesting. With that in mind, allow me to start at verse 1.
• 17:20
  We'll walk through the text together. Notice the very first word of the very first verse of the book of Jonah is what word? You guys all see that? Now. Does anybody have something other than the word now? What do you have? Word? The word. It just goes straight into the word. What have you got? Same thing? Does anybody have and? Is there a single translation that uses the word and? You know what's interesting about that? The Hebrew word is the letter, one single letter, vav.
• 17:52
  Vav is the word and. It's not the word now. All of the English translations have embraced this translation now. The word now rather than the word and. Why do you think they did that? They all switched it. That's not the Hebrew word. The Hebrew word is and. Why do you think they did it? Anybody remember fourth grade grammar? What word are you never supposed to start a story or a sentence with? And. Why? Because it's a conjunction.
• 18:24
  If you begin the story with the word and, you're wondering, what'd I miss? Wait, this sounds like the middle of a story. You know, honestly, church, I think this is a misstep from the translators. I think the continuation of the story is exactly what God intended. It was meant to pick up. The story of Jonah was meant to pick up with the word and. Why? Because it's a reminder to all of us that just because Jonah's story started that day,
• 18:54
  Doesn't mean God's work started that day. God was already working in and through the lives and hearts and minds of his people, even pagan people around the world. God was already moving. And the word of the Lord came to Jonah again.
• 19:13
  There is another lesson to be learned here for us, church. Just because Jonah's story began with an and doesn't mean God started working that day. Keep in mind that your story began with an and as well. The day that you were born, and. The day that you were born, and. March 9, 1976, a date memorialized, no doubt, in American history. March 9, 1976, when yours truly drew his first breath.
• 19:44
  I was born that day. And Danny was born. It was not the beginning of God's story, even though it was the beginning of my story. And keep this in mind, church, that like the prophet Jonah, we may think ourselves to be very big on God's plan. And we may act even as though the cosmic plan of God revolves around us. But it does not. And nor is the book.
• 20:10
  that is named after us really about us either. You know, when you read the book of Jonah, you realize that the book of Jonah really isn't about Jonah at all. It's about who? It's about God. It's about what God was doing and was willing to do through this reluctant prophet. And let me ask you, church, who here could testify to a time that you acted as though your life were all about you? Has that ever happened? Let me ask you, was it in your teens and twenties?
• 20:40
  All right, like everybody else, because by the time you hit your 30s, you're like, you know what? I've been hit on the head enough times that I'm like, yeah, Lord, it might be about you. It's not really about me. But typically that late teens and early 20s, you're like, I'm still trying to figure this out. And we become very self-absorbed. And if you're in your teens and 20s and you're not this way, then to God be the glory. But most of the time, that's when that happens. Like I'm still trying to figure out whose life this really is. Who here could testify?
• 21:06
  That there was a time in your life where you were determined to do whatever you wanted despite the Lord's call, and then who could testify to that story ended up and you're being swallowed by a whale. Like, I'll tell you where that path ends. You ever have conversations with your growing or grown kids? You're like, you know what, you've got this freedom. I've walked down that road. Let me tell you where it ends. I got swallowed with a whale. You could, along with Jonah, say, you know what, I know what that's like.
• 21:38
  I ran from the Lord, and I ended up in the belly of a great fish. And you continue in verse 1, the word of the Lord, it says, came to Jonah, son of Amittai. Now this phrase always marks a true prophet of God. Despite his actions and his attitude, Jonah really was a prophet. And that's good news for us again, church. Because despite our actions and attitude,
• 22:01
  The Lord is often willing to use us as well. If God can use this guy, then certainly the Lord can use me. If God can use Jonah, then certainly the Lord can use us. Amen? We've discussed who he was, but keep in mind, Hebrew names reveal the characters of those name bearers. Jonah's name means dove. The dove in Hebrew times was known for gentleness, harmlessness, and peace.
• 22:31
  Doves, in fact, are still known for those things today. Ever since the time of Noah, when that dove returned to Noah with an olive branch in its mouth, ever since that time, doves have always been represented in flight. If you ever see them in art, if you see them on flags or banners, they are always in mid-flight, most of the time holding an olive branch, a representation of peace. And in the same way, Jonah would be sent...
• 23:00
  as a messenger or an ambassador of peace. Jonah the dove was the son of Amittai. Amittai's name means true or faithful. In fact, it's the same root word. We get the word amen from. It's the same word. His name was amen. He was the son of amen. When we conclude our prayers, we say amen. That is true. That is faithful. When the pastor says something that resounds with you and that you agree with, you shout the word.
• 23:30
  Amen. Even though sometimes I have to ask you to do it, it's a little more awkward. You're giving a verbal affirmation of agreement. What you're saying is true. Now taken together, Jonah, the son of Amittai, means messenger of peace, the son of truth. Pastor Stephen Davey has said it this way, the author's use of the word and hints to us that God's story of grace and mercy is a continuing message. He says, Jonah went to the Ninevites to tell them the truth.
• 24:01
  If you don't repent, you will be destroyed by holy God. No one can have peace with God without believing the truth of God. Jonah delivered the truth. Effectively, he says, living out his name. Messenger of peace, son of truth. Pick up in verse two.
• 24:18
  God calls him to give this message saying, arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it for their evil. Now that word evil comes up a lot. It is a repeated theme in the book of Jonah. Their evil has come up before me. Their evil has reached heaven's doorstep. He's using their figurative language, right? He's not talking about literally, that their literal evil has reached heaven. He says it's almost like an aroma.
• 24:48
  The stench of their evil is permeating heaven's gates. If you wanted a paraphrased modern version, that statement would be, Nineveh stinks to high heaven. From heaven's perspective, the Lord is saying, Nineveh smells like the rankest sewage. Nineveh smells like a sulfur spring. It smells like a dead and rotting rodent stuck under the floorboard.
• 25:17
  As that smell was reaching heaven's throne, the Lord decided to do something about it. Enough of this, the Lord says. Jonah, go and tell Nineveh to take a bath or else. Now, Nineveh was the capital city of Assyria. Assyria was a constant threat to Israel and its borders. They were the archenemy of the people of God. Located in what is now modern-day Iraq, the Assyrians dominated the world for centuries.
• 25:47
  So large and imposing was their capital city, Nineveh, that the Lord himself actually calls it, in verse 2, that great city. This was a huge, sprawling metropolis. Most certainly one of the largest cities in the world at the time. As archaeologists have excavated that ancient city of Nineveh, they've actually found evidence that the Assyrians would parade with the heads of their enemies on poles.
• 26:16
  As they walked through the streets, they rejoiced in the craziest and worst things. They often skinned their captured enemies alive. One Ninevite king even boasted that he not only slayed those who dared rebel against him, but he also killed their children. He gathered their families together and cut off their arms, their hands, their noses, their ears. Prisoners of war who were left alive, oftentimes the kings of other nations.
• 26:48
  would have their eyes put out, then they would have hooks driven through their noses so that they could be led around helplessly as trophies of war. They were a brutal people. Again, one pastor has said, above all, the Assyrians were known for their occultism, bloodlust, cruelty, and ferocity in battle. They were demon-worshiping, immoral, brutal, unmerciful people. And the Lord tells Jonah, I want you to go there.
• 27:17
  I want you just to walk into their capital city. And I want you to tell them that they're all going to burn. You're like, wait, what? Yeah, go tell them. They stink so bad, they need to take a shower. And you notice here in verse 3, the two-word phrase, which can pretty well summarize Jonah's life. Look at the next two words. What are the next two words? Verse 3. But Jonah, do you guys all see that?
• 27:48
  But Jonah, you want to know how to summarize the four chapters? That's it, two words, but Jonah. Jonah was contrary to everything the Lord called him to do. Every time the Lord came to him, Jonah said, no, arise and go to Nineveh. But Jonah, he was against everything the Lord was doing. In fact, you can summarize the book of Jonah in four points. Chapter one, Jonah versus God's word. God's word was revealed.
• 28:18
  But Jonah. Chapter 2, Jonah versus God's whale. God's whale was revealed. But Jonah. Chapter 3, Jonah versus God's willingness. God in chapter 3 says, I am willing to save these people if they will but repent. But Jonah. Chapter 4, Jonah versus God's worm. God's worm was revealed. But Jonah.
• 28:45
  God calls him to repent again and again and again. And what's interesting, church, is the only person in the book, make sure you hear this, the only person in the book that doesn't repent is Jonah. Those idol-worshiping sailors, they fall on their knees before God and repent. The entire wicked, immoral, demon-worshiping nation of Assyria repents, but Jonah...
• 29:11
  Jonah's clear call from God was so distasteful to him that he immediately tendered his resignation as prophet. Go, Jonah, with this message. And Jonah said, I will not go. And Lord, save us from the but Jonas in our lives. How many times, church, has the Lord called you and you say, I'm going to do it different. Lord, save me from the but Danny's in my life. Save me from the times when I hear your call, but then I run.
• 29:41
  the other way and that's exactly what jonah does verse 3 but jonah rose to flee to tarshish from the presence of the lord notice that phrase he rose to flee from the presence of the lord he went down to joppa that is a a port city in israel he found a ship going to tarshish now consider this church nineveh was in the middle of the sand think about where iraq is jonah says i'm getting on a boat
• 30:06
  He's going as far away in the opposite direction as he can. He paid the fare. He went down into the boat to go with him to Tarshish. There's that phrase again, away from the presence of the Lord. And isn't it true, church, that when we are determined to sin, the last place we want to be is in the presence of the Lord. If we are determined to be stubborn and to stand against God's will for us, the last thing we want to do is pray.
• 30:35
  The last thing we want to do is open God's word. And in fact, the last thing we want to do is to be in the presence of God's people. Because God's people represent the presence of God. And Jonah sought to escape both. He determined to leave town in order to avoid the presence of God residing in the presence of God's people. He knew, I'm not just going to resign as prophet and then stay here in Israel. I can't stay.
• 31:02
  God's people are everywhere. And so he sought not only to run from the Lord's presence, but to run from the presence of God's people. And if you want to know the quickest way to determine someone's spiritual health, ask them this question. Are you actively involved with the people of God? Do you actively pursue the presence of God in the presence of God's people? The moment Jonah decided to disobey the Lord, he had to leave town. His thought was,
• 31:29
  If I'm going to get away from God, I have to get away from God's people. And listen, church, this isn't rocket science. It shouldn't even be controversial. But no one ever has stopped going to a healthy, God-fearing, Bible-preaching church because they themselves were doing so well spiritually. Let me say that again. Make sure you catch it. No one.
• 31:52
  has ever stopped going to a healthy church because they themselves were thriving spiritually i'm doing so well spiritually i'm walking so closely with jesus that i've decided to stop going to church that's not how it works the closer we draw to the head the closer we draw to the body right can you imagine this like danny i really like your head it's your body i can't stand like wait you can't have one without the other like it's kind of a package deal
• 32:20
  Right? That's not how it works. You're like, I don't need the church to have Jesus. Well, I suppose that's technically true, but that's not how it was designed. You cannot thrive spiritually apart from the people of God. And notice here when Jonah sought to flee the presence of God, he had to leave also the presence of God's people. Now, I'm going to say several times through our study, and with this I finish, not to be like Jonah. Don't be like this prophet who knew the truth and then refused to act.
• 32:51
  Let us not be the kind of men and women who refuse the clear call of God. I know this is what you said, Lord, but Danny, let us not be the kind of people who rejoice in judgment rather than compassion. Let us not become a church without a chest. I'm going to add this warning as well. You know, throughout the book, Jonah was angry. He's mad the whole time. He's mad at God. And one time he even says the reason that he's mad.
• 33:20
  God and him get into this conversation. Why are you so angry? Because, Lord, I know that you're a good God. Like, wait, that's why you're mad? Because I'm good? And I knew you would show compassion. It takes 10 minutes to read the book. You guys can read it this afternoon. The big spoiler alert. But you can read it. I knew that you would save him because that's the kind of God you are. He's actually throwing that in God's face.
• 33:45
  Several times, God even lovingly rebukes his disobedient prophet and nowhere in the book does his prophet repent. God would say something like, wouldn't you rather repent, Jonah? And then Jonah literally says, no, I would rather die. Several times, you can read it. I'd rather die. I choose death. The book ends with Jonah angry, angry because God saved Jonah's enemies, because God showed compassion upon those who Jonah hated. And so the book ends.
• 34:13
  With Jonah calling curses down upon himself as the Ninevites are rejoicing and celebrating now, knowing this living God and finding forgiveness, Jonah is up on a hill cursing his own existence. What a prophet. What a prophet. A prophet without a chest. Lord, thank you for your truth. Thank you for your word. And God, we pray that we would not just be walking heads.
• 34:42
  knowing the truth, but not compelled to act. God, make us a people who are virtuous, who display and reflect all of those things which are true of you, love and compassion and justice and peace and comfort and mercy. God, we revel in those things this morning and we pray, Lord, that we would also extend those very traits, those very virtues to a world which is lost and needs to know the Savior. And it's in his name we pray. Amen.