Jonah 3
Lutheran reading notes
In Jonah chapter 3, the prophetic message develops the theme of God’s mercy toward repentant nations. Lutheran interpretation often highlights the contrast between divine judgment against sin and the promise of grace that God provides for those who trust in Him.
1
And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying,
Jonah 3:1 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
2
Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.
Jonah 3:2 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
3
So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey. {exceeding: Heb. of God}
Jonah 3:3 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
4
And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.
Jonah 3:4 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
5
So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.
Jonah 3:5 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
6
For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered {him} with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.
Jonah 3:6 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
7
And he caused {it} to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: {published: Heb. said} {nobles: Heb. great men}
Jonah 3:7 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
8
But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that {is} in their hands.
Jonah 3:8 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
9
Who can tell {if} God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?
Jonah 3:9 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
10
And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did {it} not.
Jonah 3:10 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.