THE BOOK OF JONAH
(“The Nineveh Revival”)
Jonah 3:1-10 (NASU)
“Then the people of Nineveh believed in God; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them.” (Jonah 3:5)
VERSE FIVE
(1) Two weeks ago we began a verse-by-verse study of Jonah chapter three, looking at the preaching of Jonah as described for us in verses one through four (c.f. Jonah 3:1-4). Tonight we’re going to continue our walk through this chapter by looking at the revival that took place in the city of Nineveh, as a result of Jonah’s preaching (thanks to God’s sovereign mercy and grace). And so we begin with verse five, which says: “Then the people of Nineveh believed in God; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them” (c.f. Jonah 3:5).
(2) There’s a verse in the New Testament, where Paul describes what happened when he preached the message God gave him to the citizens of Thessalonica, saying: “… when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it NOT as the word of men, but for WHAT IT REALLY IS, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe” (c.f. I Thessalonians 2:13).
That’s essentially what happened in Nineveh. By God’s enabling grace, the citizens of that wicked city (c.f. Jonah 1:2; 3:8) received what Jonah had to say as coming from God, rather than from man. They “believed” Jonah’s message, to be sure – but they also “believed” his message came from God (c.f. Jonah 3:5), and not just from himself.
(a) That’s how you and I should approach the Scriptures every time we read them for ourselves – i.e. that what we’re reading isn’t just the words of Moses or David, or Paul or John – rather, what we’re reading is the word of God! What we’re reading is God’s word to us (c.f. II Timothy 3:16) – not the words of some man who lived thousands of years ago. What we’re reading is a result of the Holy Spirit moving in the lives of certain individuals – not the private opinions of those men, or their own personal interpretation of truth (c.f. II Peter 1:20-21).
(b) That’s also how you and I should initially approach the preaching and teaching of God’s word – whether it be from a church pulpit, or a conference platform – from a video, or audio CD – or some website on the internet. We obviously need to exercise some measure of discernment by comparing what we’ve heard to the Scriptures (like the Bereans in Acts chapter seventeen did) (c.f. Acts 17:11) – because Scripture says: “… many FALSE prophets have gone out into the world” (c.f. I John 4:1). Nevertheless, we ordinarily need to listen to the preaching and teaching of Scripture as though it were coming from God Himself, rather than from the man who’s speaking – because whenever the word of God is faithfully preached (c.f. II Timothy 2:15), that is exactly what’s happening.
(c) The first step in any revival, then, – whether personal or corporate, individual or national – is to look beyond the man who is preaching, to God who sent him (c.f. Romans 10:14-15). James Boice put it like this: “Faith should never rest in the messenger, but in God who gives the message. This (he said) is one mark of all true revival and (all) true preaching.”1
(3) Every true revival brings about noticeable (and sometimes dramatic) changes in people’s attitudes and behavior. In other words, those who truly believe that the message they’ve heard has come from God, respond in some very tangible ways.
(a) The example I’ve used lately is Zaccheus, who was a chief tax collector. Luke chapter nineteen tells us that upon being saved, he promised to give half his possessions to the poor – and to repay anyone he had defrauded four-fold (c.f. Luke 19:1-9). These very noticeable and tangible actions were evidence that a genuine change had occurred in his life – and they stand in stark contrast to the inaction (and lack of change in the life) of the man who went away grieved, after Jesus told him to sell his possessions and give the proceeds to the poor (c.f. Matthew 19:16-22).
(b) In the case of the citizens of Nineveh, the outward evidence that an inward change had taken place in their lives came in the form of fasting and putting on sackcloth – “from the greatest to the least of them”, as verse five says (c.f. Jonah 3:5). To put it another way, these outward displays of HUMILITY were tangible evidence that the people really did “believe … God” (c.f. Jonah 3:5) – i.e. that they really believed God was serious when He said He was going to destroy them within forty days on account of their sins (c.f. Jonah 3:4).
(c) Fasting and the wearing of sackcloth (the latter being a very uncomfortable and irritating garment made out of course material, usually worn under a person’s normal clothing next to their skin) (these two activities) were generally looked upon (in biblical times) as signs of grief and HUMILITY. Now obviously, the grief or humility to which they pointed could be faked – nevertheless, these practices were normally considered to be outward signs of a person’s inward misery over their circumstances or over their sins. Hence, Job said: “I have sewed sackcloth over my skin …” (c.f. Job 16:15) – while Jesus once said: “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes” (c.f. Matthew 11:21).
(d) Was the repentance of the citizens of Nineveh genuine?2 I don’t see anything in the text to suggest it wasn’t – so I would say “yes”. Besides, why would God – who always knows what’s in a man’s heart (c.f. I Samuel 16:7; Jeremiah 17:10) (why would God) “relent concerning the calamity He said He was going to bring upon them” (c.f. Jonah 4:10) IF they were faking?
Did the entire population (down to the last man, so to speak) exercise saving faith?3 The text doesn’t come right out and say that – but it does indicate the outward evidences of genuine repentance were city-wide (i.e. “from the greatest to the least” – c.f. Jonah 3:5) – including (verse six) “the king of Nineveh” (c.f. Nineveh 3:6). So, even if not every single person exercised saving faith, enough did – so that the city was spared. After all, we know God would have spared the equally wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah if just ten righteous people could have been found there (c.f. Genesis 18:32). And here in the Book of Jonah, we have what amounts to a city-wide revival, in which tens of thousands of people (c.f. Jonah 4:11) humbled themselves before God through fasting and the wearing of sackcloth.
(4) By way of application, (a) it might be wise for each of us to ask ourselves if there have been any recent noticeable changes in our attitude, or our behavior (as a direct result of reading or listening to the preaching of God’s word)? Any signs of personal revival? Any indications of repentance or sorrow over our sin? Any Zaccheus-like actions, that indicate our profession of faith in Christ really is genuine? David once prayed: 23“SEARCH me, O God, and know my heart; TRY me and know my anxious thoughts; 24… SEE if there be any hurtful way in me …” (c.f. Psalm 139:23-24) – while Paul once said: “TEST yourselves to see if you are in the faith; EXAMINE yourselves!” (c.f. II Corinthians 13:5).
(b) One of the things we ought to be looking for is signs of change. Saved people are changed people. But saved people are also changing people (the theological term for this change is called “sanctification”) (c.f. I Thessalonians 4:7; I Peter 4:3-4). Today those changes probably won’t be displayed through fasting, or the wearing of sackcloth. But they should be evident by other ACTS OF HUMILITY – like “seeking the Father’s kingdom and His righteousness FIRST” (c.f. Matthew 6:33) (before our own selfish will or desires) – and, “not looking out for our own personal interests (only), but also for the interests of others” (c.f. Philippians 2:4) (c.f. Matthew 22:37-39) – and (verse eight), “turning from our wicked ways and from the violence that may be in our hands” (c.f. Jonah 3:8).
Every true revival (whether private or communal, individual or corporate) starts with “believing God” (c.f. Hebrews 11:6) – followed by repentance of sin – which, in turn, should ultimately result in changed behavior.
(B) VERSES SIX THROUGH NINE
(1) We come now to verses six through nine, where we’re told: 6“When … word reached the king of Nineveh, he arose from his throne, laid aside his robe from him, covered himself with sackcloth and sat on the ashes. 7He issued a proclamation and it said, ‘In Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let man, beast, herd, or flock taste a thing. Do not let them eat or drink water. 8But both man and beast must be covered with sackcloth; and let men call on God earnestly that each may turn from his wicked way and from the violence which is in his hands. 9Who knows, God may turn and relent and withdraw His burning anger so that we will not perish’” (c.f. Jonah 3:6-9).
(2) You’ve doubtless heard the brain-teaser question; “Which came first: the chicken or the egg?” Here in Jonah chapter three we encounter a similar question – namely: “Which came first: the king’s “proclamation” that everyone should fast and put on “sackcloth” (c.f. Jonah 3:7-8) – or, did the citizens of Nineveh start fasting and wearing sackcloth before the king issued his proclamation (c.f. Jonah 3:5)? To put it another way, did the citizens of Nineveh follow the king’s example (c.f. Jonah 3:6) – or did the king follow the example of his people (c.f. Jonah 3:5)?
(a) I had never thought about this before, until I did some background reading for this message – and I’m not sure it really matters much one way or the other – but, if verses five through nine are in chronological order (c.f. Jonah 3:5-9), “then the people of Nineveh” started fasting and wearing “sackcloth” (c.f. Jonah 3:5) BEFORE word of Jonah’s preaching reached the ears of the king (c.f. Jonah 3:6) – which means the “proclamation” issued by the king in verses seven through nine (c.f. Jonah 3:7-9) simply put an official stamp on what his citizenry as whole were already doing. Hence, the king was essentially following the lead of his people – which would have been an unusual thing for a king to do in those days – but then, this whole revival was unusual. The New Geneva Study Bible appears to take the chronological view, when it says: “the king’s response was as immediate and spontaneous as that of his subjects.”4
(b) I was interested to learn, therefore, that some commentators believe the events described in verses five through nine are NOT in chronological order – and that verse five is actually a summary of what happened AFTER the king issued his proclamation in verses six through nine (c.f. Jonah 3:5-9). One writer put it like this: “The king’s decree (in verses 7-9) actually comes before the people’s fast and repentance, but the narrator wants to give the bottom line – a general overview – before he backs up in order to fill in the details of how this widespread repentance came to be.”5
If that’s the case, then the people of Nineveh were following the example (and leadership) of their king. John Calvin took this view, saying: “Jonah … states the reason why the Ninevites proclaimed a fast … because the king had been apprised of the preaching of Jonah, and had called together his counselors. It was then a public edict, and not any movement among the people capriciously made, as … sometimes happens.”7
Are there any examples in Scripture of this kind of chronological backtracking? Actually there is – in Genesis chapters one and two. Chapter one, of course, summarizes the six days of creation (c.f. Genesis 1:1-31). But, portions of chapter two then go back and expand on some the things mentioned in chapter one – especially the creation of mankind as male and female on the sixth day (c.f. Genesis 2:4-23).
(c) Do we have something similar here in Jonah chapter three? Maybe – maybe not. Either way, the point remains the same – i.e. that there was a mass revival among the people of Nineveh, “from the greatest to the least of them” (c.f. Jonah 3:5), as the last part of verse five says – that everyone fasted and put on sackcloth, from the king and his nobles down to the common man – and even the animals (c.f. Jonah 3:6-8). Such was the magnitude and extent of God’s saving grace in this particular instance. As one writer said: “The great spiritual movement that came to the Ninevites is utterly unexplainable apart from the miracle of God’s grace and the working of His Spirit.”6
(d) Men often come up with “formulas” they hope will ignite revival, whether personal or public wide – if people will just get on their knees and pray, if people will really repent of their sins, if people will just fast, or humble themselves before God, and seek His perfect will – then God will send revival. A study of past revivals shows that some of these things were present – BUT, just doing these things does not guarantee that a revival (large or small) will automatically follow.
As I’ve said before, revivals are a work of God’s grace – which means genuine revival cannot be “manufactured”, or “magically” induced by going through certain motions (even good “motions”, like prayer and repentance). Jesus once said: “The wind blows where it wishes and you … do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit” (c.f. John 3:8). God is the One who graciously sends revival, whenever and wherever He chooses – and when He does, He often makes sure that it’s preceded or accompanied by such things as prayer, and repentance, and other works of the Holy Spirit. We can certainly pray for revival – and even hold “revival meetings”, if we’re so inclined – but we cannot force a genuine revival happen by our own efforts.
(3) The king’s “proclamation” (especially as described in verses seven and eight) exhorted everyone in Nineveh to fast and put on sackcloth. Moreover, the intensity or seriousness of this decree is reflected by the fact that everyone was to refrain from “eating AND drinking water” – and that the royal edict said “both man AND beast” were to fast and wear sackcloth (c.f. Jonah 3:7-8).
(a) The inclusion of animals seems strange to us – but, as the New Geneva Study Bible points out, their inclusion indicates just how serious the king and his people took God’s message of impending destruction (c.f. Jonah 3:4) – and how genuine their outward expressions of humility and repentance really were.8
(b) John Calvin believed the inclusion of animals was for the benefit of the people – that it served as a kind of object lesson, if you will, to help drive home the point of just how dangerous a position they were all in – to help impress upon the people the serious of their sins, and how much they deserved to feel the rod of God’s righteous anger against them on account of those sins.9 Hence, Calvin wrote in one place: “when the Ninevites were forced to make their animals fast and wear sackcloth, they were reminded of what a grievous and severe punishment they deserved – inasmuch as innocent animals were being forced to suffered together with them.”9
(c) We should also understand that if God did not relent, many of the animals in Nineveh were going to be destroyed right along with the people (c.f. Joshua 7:24-26). Hence, in the last verse of the Book of Jonah – when God asks His pouting prophet, “Should I not have compassion on Nineveh the great city” (c.f. Jonah 4:11) (i.e. because the people have repented) – when God talks about being compassionate, it’s interesting to note that He not only talks about sparing the children, but also the “animals” (c.f. Jonah 4:11).
(4) In verse eight we’re told that part of the king’s proclamation included a passionate call for prayer and repentance (c.f. Isaiah 55:7), saying: “… let men call on God earnestly that each may turn from his wicked way and from the violence which is in his hands” (c.f. Jonah 3:8).
(a) Note that these two things (prayer and repentance) were (in this instance) the result of revival, and not the cause of it. In other words, the magnitude and rapidity of the Nineveh revival did not happen because the people called on God in prayer, and turned from their wicked ways – rather, they prayed and repented because a revival had already begun to take place in their hearts – because the Lord had already revived them, as it were, in keeping with passages like the one where He says: 19“… I WILL … put a new spirit within them … I WILL take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, 20(so) that (i.e. after that happens) they may walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances … Then (i.e. after I have revived them, and they have begun to obey Me) (Then) they will be My people, and I shall be their God” (c.f. Ezekiel 11:19-20).
(b) Understand this – if God had not acted first, by sending Jonah with a message of destruction (c.f. Jonah 3:4), and by regenerating the citizens of Nineveh through the power of His Holy Spirit (c.f. Titus 3:5), so they had ears that could actually “hear” the message Jonah was preaching (c.f. Matthew 13:15-16) – (If God had not done those things first), there would have never been a revival in Nineveh! If God hadn’t acted first, the people of Nineveh would never have called on Him in prayer, or turned from their violent and wicked ways on their own (c.f. Jonah 3:8).
(c) Everything I’ve just described to you is in keeping with a principle found in First John chapter four that says: “We love, BECAUSE (God) FIRST loved us” (c.f. I John 4:19) – i.e. “we love God, BECAUSE He loved us FIRST”. So, who took the initiative – God or men? Jesus stated the same principle when He told His disciples: “You did NOT choose Me but I CHOSE YOU …” (c.f. John 15:16). Again, who took the first step – Christ or men?
I’m reminded at this point of a song (from my Arminian days), whose lyrics said, in part:
“If you’ll take one step toward the Savior, my friend,
You’ll find His arms open wide.”10
Now Jesus did say that “… the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out” (c.f. John 6:37) – but, the first part of that verse makes it clear our Lord was talking about the elect – because He says: “ALL THAT THE FATHER GIVES ME will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me (i.e. out of all those He’s given Me) I will certainly not cast out” (c.f. John 6:37).
I don’t have a problem using that verse to encourage people to come to Christ in repentance and faith – to use that verse to hold out to them the promise that anyone who truly confesses their sins and professes genuine faith in Christ will not be turned away – they will be saved (c.f. Acts 16:31). The point is, that verse does not support the contention that men must take the first step in any relationship with God. On the contrary, Scripture repeatedly says God always takes the first step (even if it’s the step of election)!
(d) I had hoped to finish this passage tonight – but we’re not going to make it. So let me close by saying once again that the king’s call for prayer and repentance was the result of God’s work of revival in his heart, and that of the people of Nineveh – and not the cause of that revival.
What’s more, the same thing is true of any work of redemption in the lives of people today. Unless God takes the initiative to regenerate their dead depraved heart, no person (who is still lost in their sins) will ever have the desire or the ability to repent and turn to Christ in repentance and faith – just like Lazarus had no ability to resurrect himself from the dead. It was only AFTER Jesus took the initiative to resurrect him that he was able to hear the command to come out of the tomb, and respond accordingly (c.f. John 11:39-44). That’s why, when it comes to the matter of salvation, God alone deserves ALL the glory (c.f. Galatians 6:14).
(e) A similar thing is also true of any “revival” (or change, or work of sanctification) that takes place in the lives of Christians like ourselves. Does this mean we can just sit back and do nothing? – that we should just sit around, waiting for God to take the first step to initiate the changes He wants to bring about in our life? Absolutely not! – or to quote Paul: “May it never be!” (c.f. Romans 6:2). There are numerous Scriptures exhorting Christians to obey God’s word, and to take an active role in our sanctification – not the least of which is the one from the Book of James that says, “… prove yourselves DOERS of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves” (c.f. James 1:22).
One writer put it like this – “as Christians, we are to live as if everything depended on us, always remembering that everything actually depends on God.”11
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1Boice: The Minor Prophets; Volume One; p. 239.
2The Bible Knowledge Commentary; Old Testament; p. 1469.
3Unger’s Commentary on the Old Testament; Vol. II; p. 1837.
4The New Geneva Study Bible: Footnote on Jonah 3:6; p. 1420.
5Estelle: Salvation Through Judgment and Mercy; p. 113.
6Unger: Ibid; p. 1838.
7Calvin’s Commentaries: Vol. XIV; Twelve Minor Prophets;
Vol. III; Jonah, Micah, Nahum; p. 102.
8The New Geneva Study Bible: Footnote on Jonah 3:7; p. 1420.
9Calvin’s Commentaries: Ibid; p. 105.
10http://www.preciouslordtakemyhand.com/christianhymns/the
savioriswaiting.html
11MacArthur: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary;
James; p. 255.