Skip to main content

May 14 + Daily readings & notes

DAY 134

We're reading another prophet today.  Here's the Bible Project video that describes what the book is about.

DAILY READINGS

Jonah 1-4 & Psalm 129

DAILY NOTES

Jonah 1
  • Notice the simple, direct message God gave Jonah.  There's no explanation for why Jonah doesn't follow through (yet).  As quickly as the word from God comes, he goes away.
  • The mariners have their own god to cry out to for help.  They ask Jonah to cry out to his God.  Did you notice he never did?  He only told them that he worships the Lord.  
    • The mariners feared the Lord after this.  
Jonah 2
  • When he and the others were in trouble, Jonah didn't cry out to God.  Now that he's sitting inside a big fish, he offers a prayer to God.  
  • And notice even the fish listens to God!
Jonah 3
  • The word of God comes to Jonah again.  This time Jonah responds.  And the people of Nineveh respond with faith in God.
  • Up to this point, everyone has had a change of mind.
Jonah 4
  • Now we know why Jonah didn't want to go to Nineveh.  He doesn't like the people of Nineveh.  That'll preach.
  • Notice who gets the last word of the book.
Psalm 129
  • Reading Jonah and Psalm 129 together is interesting.  How would you feel about your enemies if you were Jonah or the psalmist?

OTHER OBSERVATIONS

Jonah is meant to be read a bit tongue-in-cheek.  There are several points where it's totally appropriate to laugh at what's being portrayed.

There are many lessons to be learned from the short book.  I tend to focus on Chapter 2.  In that chapter the prophet cries out to God.  Jonah cries out to God with the expectation that God will hear him.  And he was right.  The chapter is a complete prayer of thanksgiving, acknowledging the power and mercy of God, and it ends with the assurance that "deliverance belongs to the Lord!"

Jonah knew that about God.  He just wasn't willing to live that about God.  That is, he wasn't all that ready to let others know/experience God's grace.  Why?  He didn't like the people of Nineveh.  They had a reputation.  Oh, and they had probably done some things to his people before.

Most people wouldn't blame Jonah for feeling disgust at the thought of having to talk with the Ninevites.  To preach to them.  To see them be forgiven by God.

And that's why we don't live according to our standards.  We look to how God sees the world.

I wonder if one of the lessons of the book is that it can be hard for us religious people to actually do that.

Stay blessed...john

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

March 29 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 88 Now that Israel has one king, it's a good time to consider the role of Israel's messiah.  Check out today's Bible Project video that explains how Jesus fits the narrative of messiah. DAILY READINGS 2 Samuel 4-8 & Psalm 88 DAILY NOTES 2 Samuel 4-5 The murder of Ishbaal, Saul's surviving son, prompts all the people to anoint David king over the entire kingdom. Notice that over the last several chapters, David does not approve of these political murders. The first act of David, as the narrative is concerned, is to stand against the Jebusites.  These are the people Joshua did not drive away (Joshua 15:63).  As a result of their conquest, David makes Jerusalem the capital of the kingdom.   David continues to rise in stature and respect. 2 Samuel 6 After establishing Jerusalem as the capital, David's next effort is to bring the ark to the capital.  It is the nation's most sacred object and it belongs in the nation's capital. I
Post a Comment
Read more

February 26 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 57 Today's Bible Project video centers on what the Bible means when it speaks of the heart.   DAILY READINGS Deuteronomy 13-14 & Psalm 57 DAILY NOTES Deuteronomy 13 Any prophet or "dreamer of dreams" lead you away from God to other gods, he is to be put to death.  That person has, among other things, spoken "treason" or "falsehood" against God. The same thing should happen to "anyone" who tempts you in secret to follow another God, even if that anyone is a family member.   Notice that you're not even to show them "pity or compassion" or even try to protect them.   The text (Verse 13) says to watch for scoundrels--literally, sons of decadence.  If they are found to be leading people away from God, they are to be put to do as well, and all those of their town that followed them. Deuteronomy 14 The Isrealites were to remain a distinctive people.  They were not to follow the customs or practices o
Post a Comment
Read more

April 11 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 101 The great prophet Elijah leaves the scene (He'll appear again later.  Do you remember where?).  Elisha takes his place and immediately begins to act as prophet among the people.   DAILY READINGS 2 Kings 1-3 & Psalm 101 DAILY NOTES 2 Kings 1 King Ahaziah is injured and he wants to know if he'll live.  He seeks input from the prophets of Baal-zebub.  Elijah finds out and interrupts Ahaziah's men from going to the prophets.   Notice that Elijah, that hairy man, is divinely protected by the captain and his men.   Ahazia never hears from the prophets.  Elijah speaks directly to him to tell him that he will surely die. 2 Kings 2 Where did the idea of a whirlwind come from?  Did anyone expect that Elijah would be taken "to heaven by a whirlwind"?  Everyone seems to know that today Elijah will be gone. Elisha's command to the band of prophets seems to indicate his sense of loss but also a vigor within himself; he is standing up to
Post a Comment
Read more