When the word
of Nineveh's destruction came from Jonah, the people both great and
least as well as the king humbled themselves by fasting and clothing
themselves in “sackcloth”. As the king “sat in
ashes”, he and his “nobles” made a proclamation that
man, beast, herd and flock should not “taste any thing, feed,
nor drink water”. In chapter three and verse eight of his
prophesy, the king added to his decree by commanding that all
“beasts” be “covered with sackcloth” and they
“cry mightily unto God” where we read:
But let
man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God:
The
verse begins, “But let man and beast be covered with
sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God:” The
writer began with the word, “But”
which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be
written takes precedence over what was previously stated, “let
man” or “mankind and human
beings” “and beast”
which means “cattle and animals both domestic and wild” “be
covered” or “concealed,
hidden and clothed” “with sackcloth”
which is “mesh or sacks for grain worn in mourning for
humiliation”, “and cry”
or “call out, recite, read and proclaim” “mightily”
which means “by force, strength and sharp violence” “unto
God” which refers to “the
ruler or judge who is the divine One and the true God”. The king of
Nineveh commanded every living being to demonstrate humility by
wearing “sackcloth”,
and they were to “call out forcefully unto God” in “mourning”
and pleading before Him.
The
verse continues, “yes, let them turn
every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is
in their hands.” The
writer added, “yes let them turn”
which means “return, turn back, restore, refresh, repair and bring
back” “every one”
or “each and every man, woman, servant and great man” “from
his evil way”
which refers to “bad, disagreeable, malignant, unpleasant, painful,
unhappy and miserable manner, habit and moral character”, “and
from the violence”
which means “wrong, cruelty, injustice, damage and unrighteousness”
“that is in their hands”
which means “in their palms, hollow of the flat of the hand, power
and sole”. In addition to an attitude and posture of humility, the
king called for the people to “repent” of their “evil
ways” and
from any “violent”
and mischievous ways in which they indulged.
When
we think through the words in this verse,we see the extent to which
this king “repented” before the LORD. Not only were he and his
“nobles” to humble themselves, but every living being
throughout the kingdom was to join in the atoning experience too.
Each of them were to examine their “evil ways” and
“violent” actions and put them away. When Jesus Christ
through the Holy Spirit convicts a person of their sin, the best
response is to be like this king – be humble, cry out to God and
repent of “evil and violent” ways, and receive Jesus
Christ as Savior and LORD.
Next
time we see the
king of Nineveh wondering if “God
will turn and repent”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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