Sermon Tone Analysis

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 plotsovercoming the monster rags to riches the questvoyage and returncomedytragedyrebirthThese 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 bibleOvercoming the monster - David and Goliathrags to riches - the story of JobVoyage and return - prodigal SonThe seventh plot is the what booker calls “rebirth”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 asSleeping BeautyIts a wonderful lifeThe frog and the princeand Beauty and the beastThis 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 JonahJonah was a prophet of God who was called to go to Nineveh and call them out for their evil against God.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 ariseJonah’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 nightAnd 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 GodJonah 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 movieHe’s the most well known prophetAnd 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

Jonah: The Depths of Mercy

Jonah: The Depths of Mercy

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.3,10Falling asleep on the jobAnd even geographically we see Jonah descendingRunning 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.

Kyle Lammott / General

​Jonah 1:1–3 ESV1 Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.” 3 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.

He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish.

So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them 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 10Look with me again at verse 3

Resurrected

​Jonah 1:3 ESV3 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.

He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish.

So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.

After 34 years of writing, in 2004 Christopher Booker released his 736 page book entitled, The Seven Basic Plots: Why We Tell Stories.

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 racistJonah didn’t want the Assyrians to be part of God’s people because Jonah despised their raceJonah 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 Deuteronomy 32Lets remember Jonah served in the northern kingdom (NO GOOD KINGS)Jonah knew that Israel was just as wicked as any other nationProphets like Elijah and Elisha have already prophesied to Israel and Israel continued in their wickednessNow, 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 Deut 32 of what God would do, and Jonah is scared that this might happen.

​Deuteronomy 32:15–22 ESV15 “But Jeshurun grew fat, and kicked; you grew fat, stout, and sleek; then he forsook God who made him and scoffed at the Rock of his salvation.

16 They stirred him to jealousy with strange gods; with abominations they provoked him to anger.

17 They sacrificed to demons that were no gods, to gods they had never known, to new gods that had come recently, whom your fathers had never dreaded.

18 You were unmindful of the Rock that bore you, and you forgot the God who gave you birth.

19 “The Lord saw it and spurned them, because of the provocation of his sons and his daughters.

20 And he said, ‘I will hide my face from them; I will see what their end will be, for they are a perverse generation, children in whom is no faithfulness.

21 They have made me jealous with what is no god; they have provoked me to anger with their idols.

So I will make them jealous with those who are no people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.

22 For a fire is kindled by my anger, and it burns to the depths of Sheol, devours the earth and its increase, and sets on fire the foundations of the mountains.

• In his book Christopher Booker argues that all stories are rooted in seven basic plots

Look back at verse 21

1. overcoming the monster

2. rags to riches

​Deuteronomy 32:21 ESV21 They have made me jealous with what is no god; they have provoked me to anger with their idols.

So I will make them jealous with those who are no people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.

Jonah was afraid that God would save the Assyrians and use them to make Israel JealousIf 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.

Continuing his decent away from the presence of the Lord.

3. the quest

​Jonah 1:3 ESV3 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.

He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish.

So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.

4. voyage and return

5. comedy

Going down.

Notice the direction Jonah goes when he flees the presence of the Lord“he went DOWN to Joppa” He went DOWN into the shipThe storm comes and where was Jonah?

6. tragedy

​Jonah 1:5 ESV5 Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god.

And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them.

But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep.

Jonah had gone DOWN into the inner parts of the ship and was asleep.

Jonah is then thrown into the sea where he goes down until a fish swallows him.

He then goes down into sheol, into the pit, away from the presence of God.

When we try and run from the presence of the God it is always a downward path.

JoyGod says that he is the source of all joy and happiness.

So when we begin to look for joy and happiness outside of Christ, we are not only running from the presence of God but we are on a downward path that will lead to not to joy, but shame.

TruthJohn says that Jesus is the truth, so when we look truth outside of Christ we are running away from God’s presence and are on a downward path that will not lead to truth, but deception.

When we know that God has called us to live as faithful followers of Christ, and we, like Jonah, run toward rebellion we end up in great storms where the peace of God and the presence of God seem so far away.

And this is where Jonah finds himselfLook with me at vv.4-6

7. rebirth

These seven basic plots are the foundation for movies, folk tales, novels, science-fiction, ancient myths and any other story you hear.

​Jonah 1:4–6 ESV4 But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up.

5 Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god.

And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them.

But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep.

6 So the captain came and said to him, “What do you mean, you sleeper?

Arise, call out to your god!