To laugh at jonah i think is to miss the point that god is the main character of jonah. Firstly the book of jonah is a proof of gods unlimited grace and mercy not only for his earthly people israel but also for. Making the connection to the book of jonah was sort of a stretch. The book of jonah appears to have served less purpose in the qumran community than other texts, as the writings make no references to it. Mar 16, 2019 written by the prophet jonah, son of amittai, around 785760 b. Unlike other old testament prophetic books, jonah is not a collection of the prophets oracles but primarily a narrative about the man. What is the name of the city god calls jonah to preach to. First, unlike other prophetic books, jonah is primarily a narrative. Although often classified with the prophets, the book of jonah is not a prophetic book.
In fact one of the major themes running throughout the entirety of the book of jonah is gods sovereignty over all things. God sees the wickedness of nineveh and determines to judge it. The book of jonah gives no indication of his prophetic activity in the land of israel. Interestingly enough, this is the point at which the book starts. It might help to think of nahum as a followup to the book of jonah. Actually, it is very fitting for jonah to end this way. Jonah s story is told in the short just 48 verses but powerful book of jonah. What christians can do during quarantine or stayathome orders. To calm a storm, the crew throws jonah into the sea, where he is swallowed by a great fish god. This book can be used for case studies in operations management, with a focus geared towards the theory of constraints, bottlenecks and how to alleviate them, and applications of these concepts in real life. The book of jonah is about an event that jesus said took place in history. Jonah was resurrected from the whale to pursue gods path that he had laid before him, which was to rebuke nineveh into repentance.
Disobedience and revival are the key themes in this book. In the belly of the fish for three days, jonah cries out to god, repents. This little roll of four short chapters has given rise to almost as much discussion and difference of opinion as the first four chapters of genesis. But while god extends compassion to nineveh in jonah, he only promises to punish and avenge in nahum. Once you get to the point where you trust gods character, the idea of justice is a necessary. In 1928, an all parties conference was convened to solve the constitutional problems of india.
The title of the studysalvation belongs to the lordcomes directly from jonah 2. Jonah vividly displays the heart of mercy god has for all people groups of the world, even those known for their godlessness. The main point of the book of jonah as seen in the first chapter is that god is just, but he is also merciful to people who do not deserve it. The book of jonah was likely written between 793 and 758 b. Jonah was the son of amittai, who came from gathhepher in zebulun called gittahhepher in joshua 19. Jonah 2 is packed almost completely with a prayer connected to jonah s experiences while waiting in the belly of the great fish that had swallowed him. The audience of the book of jonah was the people of israel and all future readers of the bible and, typically, prophets issued warnings or gave instructions to the people of israel. Jonah is the satirical story of a rebellious prophet who hates god for loving his enemies. Jonah starts having visions, and this sort of reminded me the dreams biblical jonah has.
The book of jonah is an old testament story which tells about how the prophet jonah. The third method of interpreting the book of jonah is to view it as a historically accurate portrayal of real events. H people were curious about dylans favorite activities. Mark futato the primary purpose of the book of jonah is to engage readers in theological reflection on the compassionate character of god, and in selfreflection on the degree to which their own character reflects this compassion, to the end that they become vehicles of this compassion in the world that god has made and so deeply cares about. Apr 15, 2018 jonah 2 is packed almost completely with a prayer connected to jonah s experiences while waiting in the belly of the great fish that had swallowed him. Not only was the fish not a whale at all, but the fish is only mentioned in three verses out of the entire book 1. Main points for all 66 books of the bible knowable word. Jonah s experiences form the main contents and purpose of the book.
The book of jonah is interesting and unusual in several ways. One other obvious hyperbolic element in the book is the repentance of animals together with the ninevites, which influenced a number of scholars to challenge the historical level of the book. The book of jonah includes the famous story of the great fish often erroneously thought of as a whale has led many to dismiss this book as merely a biblical fish story. Book of john overview insight for living ministries. I see how maybe feldman was trying to compare vegas to nineveh. The book of jonah, containing the wellknown story of jonah in the stomach of a fish for three days, is a narrative about a reluctant prophet. The book of jonah demonstrates the sovereignty of the almighty as he employs his creation to accomplish the divine plan. Oct 25, 2016 this is a breakdown of the book contagious. Through some supernatural events, god convinced him to obey and carry out the lords plan. The main point is, you be merciful as your heavenly father is merciful. Jonah was a picture of the death and resurrection of christ. But the book reveals more than just gods control over aquatic beasts. But the lord jesus in the nt himself testifies clearly the historicity of the prophet jonah and his experiences.
Both prophets speak gods word regarding the city of nineveh. The main reason to believe that the story of jonah is historically accurate is. Jonah repents and goes reluctantly to deliver the message. A book for jonah alvin independent school district. The title of the book is the name of the main character, jonah. Invoking the in the beginning language of genesis 1.
Whats your opinion of the argument that the book of jonah is. Jonahs story is told in the short just 48 verses but powerful book of jonah. Watch our overview video on the book of jonah, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Are you looking for a summary of the book of jonah from the bible. It tells of a hebrew prophet named jonah son of amittai who is sent by god to prophesy the destruction of nineveh but tries to escape the divine mission. But does this fascination distract people from the main purpose of the book. Book of jonah, the fifth of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the. Second, jonah is the most unprophetlike prophet in the prophetic writings. Seeing jesus christ in the old testament book of jonah will greatly aid us in understanding jonah and how jesus could refer to himself as, something greater than jonah matthew 12. The goal was originally published in 1984 and has since been revised and republished. A second common theme that emerges from the book of jonah concerns the role of israel among the nations of the world. Key personalities include jonah, the captain and the ships crew and the people of nineveh. T he book of jonah is an old testament story which tells about how the prophet jonah refused to follow the lord.
The contents of the book may be analyzed further as follows. Top 5 commentaries on the book of jonah ligonier ministries. These last verses succinctly sum up some of the main issues in the book, namely gods compassion and jonah s hardness. Jonah represents jesus as the resurrection and the life. Jesuss identification with the prophet at the lowest point of jonahs life finds. Almost everyone has heard the story of the huge sea creature that swallowed jonah, and about jonahs pitiful prayer for deliverance while inside its stomach ch.
Jonah with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. The book of jonah has all the marks of a prophetic narrative, like those about elijah and elisha found in 1 kings, which set out to report actual historical events. Jonah, the book of definition and meaning bible dictionary. Jonah flees his mission chapters 1 2 jonahs commission and flight 1. The title jonah and the whale, which is often put on childrens books and even to some sermon titles, is one of the biggest misnomers of scripture. We see that clearly from the book of jonah where god appoints a great fish to swallow up jonah and then later to spit him out. Nov 21, 2012 though the mission of god is the main theme within jonah, there are numerous other themes as well that weave their way through this masterful story. Its lengthy, packed full of characters, and sometimes difficult to tie into daily life. The foundational source for the book was likely jonahs own telling of the story after his return from nineveh. John did not include the nativity story in his gospel. Seeing jesus christ in the old testament book of jonah. Jan 02, 2020 jonah was the son of amittai, who came from gathhepher in zebulun called gittahhepher in joshua 19. There is tons of irony and humor in book, but i dont think the point of the book is to laugh at jonah and think he is an idiot in a satirical way. The book is anonymous, and there are no indicators elsewhere in scripture to identify the author.
When the call of god came to him, jonah could not see beyond his own selfish desire for god to punish the assyrians. The book of jonah stands as an important link in the prophetic chain, giving readers a glimpse of christs death and resurrection hundreds of years before they actually occurred. The purpose of this book is to show that god is a merciful and gracious god. Jonah summary we have detailed a brief summary of the book of jonah for bible study or sunday school lessons.
Through wordplay and irony, the reader of jonah is invited to consider the meaning of forgiveness and evil. The themes of this book, like every old testament book, point to the main focus of the whole bible. Jonah is identified as a prophet and servant of god during the reign of king jeroboam ii of israel 2 kings 14. Summary of the book of jonah the story of the bible. Analysis of the book of jonah essay 2162 words 9 pages. Both warn that the lord will judge them for their wickedness. It concerns a disobedient prophet who rejected his divine commission, was cast overboard in a storm and swallowed by a great fish, rescued in a marvelous manner, and returned to his starting point. In order to fully understand the depth of gods justice and mercy, we must not only see this chapter through jonahs eyes, but also through the eyes of the sailors and the ninevites. Although the book is written in the third person, the traditional view is that jonah is the author of the book, and there is no persuasive reason to theorize about an unknown author. Attempting to run away from god sermon by john hamby. A discourse analysis of the hebrew bible zondervan exegetical commentary on the old testament. The book of jonah, written primarily in the third person, does not explicitly name the prophet as the author of his own account, but we have no reason to doubt either the inspiration or the historical veracity of the book. What is the question god proposes to jonah that makes him think and god proves a point. Ironically, the book of jonah is filled with irony, parody and exaggeration that are often overlooked by many interpreters.
This fifth book of the twelve minor prophets contains no oracles and is thus unique among prophetic books. In this post, the bible project breaks down the book into digestible pieces so. Gods ministry to jonah chapter 4 the bible exposition commentary, cook communications, colorado springs, 2002, p. Although it may feel awkward for us, it is an appropriate ending that drives home some of the main points that are repeated throughout the entire book. Mission, salvation and spirituality in the book of jonah new studies in biblical theology. Jonah jacobson, the main character, finds himself convicted by a hasdic jew he meets on a subway. It is a mistake to assume that events and actions of the book are not historical in nature. The purpose of the book of jonah is to show gods people that his plan is exceedingly compassionate god is gracious and exceedingly certain god is sovereign.
Book of jonah overview insight for living ministries. There are those who relate the book of jonah to the phoenician myth of hercules and the sea monster. Book of jonah, the fifth of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, embraced in a single book, the twelve, in the jewish canon. Ninevites believe jonahs message and repent in sackcloth and asheseven the king. Jonah does a runner ends up in the belly of giant fish. Date since jonah prophesied during the reign of jeroboam ii 782753. Identified in verse 1 as the son of amittai, jonah came from a town called gathhepher. Outline of the book of jonah jonah doesnt like his duty, so he tries to flee from god on a ship. A summary, synopsis or recap is a shortened version of the original. For it begins with a commission to jonah and with jonah s refusal to heed it, in other words, the book of jonah begins with a formal expression of gods sovereign will and with a mans determined opposition. If you have ever attended church, sunday school, or bedtime story sessions as a child, you have likely heard about the story in the book of jonah at some point. The lords compassion is not only for insiders like jonah and israel but also for outsiders like the ninevites.
Modern scholars are divided as to whether jonah composed the prayer during his time in the fish or recorded it later the text does not make it clear, and its not important to make a distinction. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. He was the earliest of the prophets and close behind elisha in his place in the old testament. The whole purpose of this novel concept, of course, is to justify adulterous relationships within the family. It would be presumptuous to think that one could, in a brief article, speak the final word on the questions in debate. These last verses succinctly sum up some of the main issues in the book, namely gods compassion and jonahs hardness. The prophetic significance of this book not only lies in the short message in nineveh but also in the entire history of jonah described in his book. The theme of jonah is gods saving mercy toward the nations of the world. The book of jonah is also the only one that isnt a compilation of prophecies condemning the wicked and rewarding the righteous. While jonah eventually did what he was asked to do, the book closes with showing jonah as a bitter man. It is claimed that jonah was picked up after the storm and shipwreck by a boat that had a fish for a figurehead which gave support for the record in the book of jonah. Then in verses 10 and 11, god asks another question and the book ends. He is disobedient and wholly uninterested in serving as a prophet. In chapters 1 and 4, the prophet is rebelling against god.
The purpose of this book is to show that god is a merciful and. The ultimate lesson about prayer in the book of jonah is that god answers us in mercy to make us merciful. There are a number of helpful commentaries on jonah, and the following are five of the best. Aside from portions of the book of jeremiah and daniel, all of the other prophetic books focus primarily on the message of the prophet. The man jonah was the main character of the book, he was the son of amittai jonah 1. A summary of the book of jonah, a clear story of what happened to jehovahs prophet. Jonah, ruth, and esther cliffsnotes study guides book. These factors suggest that john wrote the book between ad 85 and ad 95. The book of jonah stands as an important link in the prophetic chain, giving. Jonah therefore is the only prophet of the ot revealing the grace of god towards the heathen. Jonah s experience in the belly of the whale provides him with a unique opportunity to seek a unique deliverance, as he repents during this equally unique retreat.
Feb 28, 2009 the style of the book of jonah is distinctive among the prophetic books. I highly recommend reading it so you can get the indepth stories and studies he tells to back up his points. The message of the book of jonah christian articles. His initial disobedience leads not only to his personal revival.
The book of jonah is a book of the neviim prophets in the hebrew bible. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The structure of the book of jonah the book of jonah has an interesting structure that might be described as mirror images, or book ends, or, more technically, a chiastic structure. A story which has one main point, jonah as a parable would be the deliverance of israel.
The book of jonah is narrative history and a prophetic oracle. Dive into an intriguing tale of mercy in the book of jonah. The book of jonah is an old testament story which tells about how the prophet jonah refused to follow the lord. The fourteen points of jinnah were proposed by muhammad ali jinnah as a constitutional reform plan to safeguard the political rights of muslims in a selfgoverning india. The story, about a prophet named jonah, was written to criticize and rebuke the narrow spirit of nationalism that jonah observed among so many of the jewish people.
924 19 1095 115 1176 499 587 578 988 220 642 973 608 321 258 548 762 609 1118 545 54 1423 543 798 576 855 777 178 435 1337 547 920 793 1296 698 817 172