I don’t know what your political views are, and frankly, I don’t care too much. But however you categorize yourself, I imagine that you have strong opinions about the violent actions of the people on the other side of the political aisle. Their violence is unjustified, right? It is wrong and should be condemned in the strongest possible ways, right? It needs to stop, because it’s evil, right?
Along the same lines, this week we remembered the anniversary of the tragic terrorist attack that took place on 9-11, and western countries have been waging war against terrorist ever since. And sometimes I wonder if there is not a better way to defeat terrorists. I often believe that our violence against them just increases their violence against us.
What if there was another way to defeat violent groups of people, other than with more violence? What if there was a better, godly ways to defeat violence?
This is what we are going to learn about today, as we see how God brought the violent and evil empire of Assyria to its knees in sorrow and repentance. If you want to defeat evil, if you want to beat an evil empire, the best way is to follow the way of God, which is also the way of Jesus.
The Text of Jonah 3:6-8
6The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he got up from his throne, laid his robe down, covered himself in sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 7He proclaimed a decree in Nineveh from the king and his great men, saying, “Let neither man nor cattle, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water. 8Let man and cattle cover themselves in sackcloth and cry out to God with might, every man turning from his evil ways and from the violence which is in his hands.
In this discussion of Jonah 3:6-8 we look at:
- The call of the King of Nineveh for the city to repent
- The significance of fasting and sackcloth for showing repentance
- Why the king also gets the animals involved
- The stark contrast between the people of Nineveh and Jonah
- How God brings the evil empire of Assyria to its knees in repentance
Resources:
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What does God think of evil people? What does God think of people who disobey Him, and are opposed to Him and His ways? Well, according to Jonah 3:3, God thinks they’re great. We’re going to see that the wicked and violent people of Nineveh are great to God.
Do you ever feel like you are stuck on a hamster wheel in the life of discipleship to Jesus? That you hear the same things over and over? You go through the same steps over and over? That you just keep going round and round and never seem to make any progress or do anything new?