Repentance!

Welcome all, may you be blessed in this hour by the indwelling Spirit, the comforter and guide in the living word. We left Jonah proclaiming destruction upon Nineveh. Bringing forth the word of God to a people who are not of the Mosaic revelation. I keep thinking of Paul proclaiming the true circumcision being in the heart, and that Jonah's experience with God is one of separation within. Jonah is not shackled by the law, and can function in the word to a lost people.

The people believed God. That is cool. Very interesting. Here is a prophet preaching destruction, but in the word is life, and the evidence of God. They believed God, not "they believed Jonah", or any other response. So they jumped into sackcloth and proclaimed a fast. The sackcloth is not cushy burlap bags at this time in history, but thick, hot, dirty, hairy cloth which would be like curling up in a mohair carpet. They turned away from enjoyment, from food, from physical comfort to force their hearts into seeking God.

the word of God reached the king who laid aside his robe. This is relevant in that he has come out from his own authority and turned to God, acknowledging someone higher. This is the ruler of perhaps the largest empire at the time, Jonah was definitely in the flow! Now the king sat in ashes after putting on his hairy mu'u mu'u, some identify this with lowness, filth was hard to clean. I tend to see ashes as a symbol of death, that in this state one is proclaiming a need of life from God. With our own strength we can not avoid death.

Now the king makes a proclamation, a decree of fasting, of personal sacrifice, no comfort for any. Evey the beasts were included. In addition, " ... let them cry mightily unto God ..." Here is the king of a empire that plundered, pillaged, and generally destroyed anyone around, including the people of God, who now commands his people to cry unto the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Finally the king exhorts all to turn from their evil way. To turn from the violence that is in his hands. This absolutely amazes me. Jonah is the vehicle of God's word. That word is one of destruction, yet with the life and love of God within. The people hear the word, and even the king repents. The word from the king is one of calling on God, of repentance, of fasting and praying. Are not these words of the king our expectation of the gospel? Is the king of Assyria's proclamation the gospel of life as well? Something to ponder.

When I was letting these verses soak, especially the term "violence that is in his hands", I kept thinking of Cain. Cain was Abel's brother, and a representation of the natural man. Abel sacrificed unto God what was acceptable, but God rejected Cain's offering. Cain's "evil way" was envy, jealousy of his brothers position, and unwillingness to submit to God. The result of envy was violence. Even that he slew his own brother. Does the king of Nineveh recognize the heart of the natural man?

What amazing verses! I am strengthened by the word. Even in the singular point, the core principle, it is for all of us. Let all cry mightily unto God! Each of us can heed this word, in joy, in sorrow, from high or low places. The answer is to subjugate the natural man, and let the inner man cry out mightily to God! We don't need sackcloth or ashes, we have been baptised into His death! We put on the cross, a more perfect ministry. Praise God for this life giving reality.

For this meeting, here is the current agenda:

Prayer and Thanksgiving:
Thank the Lord for each minute of life with Him. Each hour of being together with the saints. Each day spent with family and friends. Let us seek corporately this week the release of any curses upon members of the body. Ask God to reveal any ties we have to this dead realm, that we could break them practically. Pray for freedom!

Open questions:
What was the purpose or picture of having the beasts (i.e. livestock) fast?

Current topic:
Next up is Jonah 3:9,10 and 4:1-3. Two separate topics, but each contains a similar principle. The core for next time is inside of Jonah. What is the anger really? What does it represent?

Conclusion:
May all receive great Grace in the coming week. The cares and stress of this world are no match for the indwelling life! Lord, release to each who are reading, even at this time, a measure of Your peace. Bring us into alignment with the highest purpose. Free our wills to choose the path of life each hour, to follow on after You. Be glorified in the good works You have prepared for use to walk.