As the king of
Nineveh heard the proclamation of Jonah, he along with the people in
the city humbled themselves, clothed themselves in “sackcloth”
and fasted of both food and water. The king commanded that even the
animals be clothed with “sackcloth” and demanded for them
to participate in the fast as well. In chapter three and verse nine
of this prophesy, the king asks, “who can tell if God will turn
and repent” where we read:
Who can
tell if God
will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we
perish not?
The
verse begins, “Who can tell if
God will turn and repent,...” The
author began with the words, “Who can
tell” or
“who knows or perceives” “if God”
which refers to “the ruler and judge the divine One and the one
true God” “will turn”
which means “return, bring back, restore, refresh and repair”
“and repent”
or “be sorry, console, regret, comfort, be moved with pity and have
compassion”. The king wondered if God would look upon the people's
humility and alter the plan He declared for their destruction.
The
verse goes on to say, “...and
turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?” The
author continued, “and turn away”
which means “return, bring back, restore, refresh and repair”
“from his fierce anger”
or “heated and burning wrath which crinkles the nose., countenance
and face”, “that we perish not” which
means “will not vanish, go astray, be destroyed, die or be lost”.
The king desired for the city of Nineveh to be spared from the wrath
of God.
When
we meditate upon the words in this verse, we see the humble hope the
king had in the outward display of himself and the people within his
city. The king was convinced that his only option was to look for the
mercy and compassion of God. We marvel that this pagan king was so
convinced by Jonah's words that he demonstrated the position every
person should take when convicted by God's Holy Spirit. Jesus calls
for everyone to “humble” themselves, “repent of their
ways” and turn from their “evil behavior”, and when
they do, He is waiting with open arms of mercy, grace and compassion
to not only forgive them of their sin but also to “cleanse them
from all unrighteousness”. May all who read these words hear
the word of the LORD.
Next
time we see how “God turned
from the evil that he said he would do unto them”,
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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