Sermon Tone Analysis

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Jonah
Israel
after 34 years of writing, in 2004 Christopher Booker released his 736 page book entitled, The Seven Basic Plots: Why We Tell Stories.
In his book Christopher Booker argues that all stories are rooted in seven basic plots
overcoming the monster
rags to riches
the quest
voyage and return
comedy
tragedy
rebirth
These seven basic plots are the foundation for movies, folk tales, novels, science-fiction, ancient myths and any other story you hear.
We find these plots all throughout the bible
Overcoming the monster - David and Goliath
rags to riches - the story of Job
Voyage and return - prodigal Son
The seventh plot is the what booker calls “rebirth”
Tell the story of Jonah
Jesus
The rebirth plot is says that During the course of the story, an important event forces the main character to change their ways, often (though not always) making them a better person.
This is the plot for some beloved stories such as
Sleeping Beauty
Its a wonderful life
The frog and the prince
and Beauty and the beast
This is a plot that we can all identify with.
If you are a follower of Christ you have the greatest rebirth story there is.
But many of have multiple “rebirth” stories in our lives.
For me I spent time after high school leaving the presence of God one step at a time until i found myself living in California and living my life in a way that was not at all pleasing to God.
And one random afternoon I picked up a book by Charles Spurgion and began to read.
God got a hold of my heart, I repented of my lifestyle and began following Christ.
When we hear stories with this plot we often can identify quickly.
The story of Jonah follows this rebirth plot
Tell the story of Jonah
Jonah was a prophet of God who was called to go to Nineveh and call them out for their evil against God.
You and me
Jonah refused to go, he fled the presence of the Lord, got on a boat and headed for Tarshish.
While on the boat God caused a great storm to arise
Jonah’s disobedience was why God sent the great storm, so for the storm to calm Jonah had to be thrown into the sea.
The event that changed Jonah’s direction in life was when Jonah was thrown into the sea and God had a great fish (or as the Hebrew describes it Sea Monster) swallow Jonah and he was in the belly of the fish for three day and three night
And after three days and three nights the fish pukes Jonah up on the shore and he goes to Nineveh to preach the words of God.
Nineveh hears Jonah’s words, and they repent.
The king himself repents and sends out an edict to all of Nineveh calling them to repent and turn to God
Jonah is not happy with God’s mercy on Nineveh and complains saying, “it would be better for me to die”
The book ends abruptly with God questioning Jonah’s choice to be upset.
Jonah is a fascinating book.
It is one of the most popular stories to tell children,
Its the most popular Veggie Tales movie
He’s the most well known prophet
And the reason for Jonah’s fame is because in many ways his story is our story
So we will begin the story of Jonah, and the depths of mercy with Jonah’s Decent.
Jonah’s Decent
In many ways the story of Jonah is a tragic tale.
Its the story of an unfaithful, fussy, coward of a prophet who rebels against God’s call on his life.
Prophets are to be men and women who stand in the council of God and take his words to the world.
Yet, Jonah takes the words of God not to Nineveh like God told him to, but rather he takes the words of God to his grave.
Chapter one begins the story of Jonah by showing us Jonah downward spiral.
Jonah’s decent is marked in a number of different ways.
Fleeing from the presence of the Lord v.3,10
Falling asleep on the job
And even geographically we see Jonah descending
And even geographically we see Jonah descending
Running away from God’s presence is seen as a decent to death in the book of Jonah.
To flee from the presence of the Lord is a downward path.
The path away from God’s presence is seen as a decent in the book of Jonah
God told Jonah to go to Nineveh, but Jonah rose to feel to Tarshish away from the presence of the Lord.
Three times we see Jonah tell us that he went “Away from the presence of the Lord” twice in verse three and once in verse 10
Look with me again at verse 3
This is a uniquely rebellious thing for Jonah to do as a prophet.
for Prophets alone stand the presence of God as part of his council.
They then take the words of God to the nations.
So Jonah, a prophet, to flee from the presence of God is to be in outright rebellion to his call.
Jonah went away from God’s presence where he told him to take his words to the gentile nations so that they too might be grafted into the covenant people of God, and went the opposite direction.
So why did Jonah flee from God’s presence?
Why did Jonah not want to take the gospel to Nineveh?
many different theories,
Jonah was a racist
Jonah didn’t want the Assyrians to be part of God’s people because Jonah despised their race
Jonah personally didn’t want to be in covenant relationship with the Assyrians which is why he didn’t go.
This idea should be rejected.
Jonah hated the Assyrians because of their cruelty.
The Assyrians were enemies of Israel.
They were cruel and wicked people who tortured Israel in some very barbaric ways.
Perhaps Jonah didn’t want to go to Nineveh because he hated the Assyrians.
It would have been like a Jew going into Nazi Germany in 1944 and offering them the hope to repent.
The real reason comes when we look at
Lets remember Jonah served in the northern kingdom (NO GOOD KINGS)
Jonah knew that Israel was just as wicked as any other nation
Prophets like Elijah and Elisha have already prophesied to Israel and Israel continued in their wickedness
Now, the prophets were well aware of the writing of Moses.
They quoted him often and called people to live faithful to the covenant.
Jonah knew what the outcome might be if God’s people continued to rebel against God.
Moses warned the people in of what God would do, and Jonah is scared that this might happen.
Look back at verse 21
Jonah was afraid that God would save the Assyrians and use them to make Israel Jealous
If God did this, then Asseria would then be married to God, while Israel would be opposed to Him.
Jonah didn’t want God to leave Israel.
He didn’t want God’s favor to go to the gentiles because that would mean Israel would be under his wrath.
So if Jonah doesn’t go to Nineveh then they cannot repent, if they cannot repent then they cannot be used against Israel to make her jealous.
So he hopped on a boat and headed in the opposite direction.
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