Jonah 4
Lutheran reading notes
In Jonah chapter 4, 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
But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry.
Jonah 4:1 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
2
And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, {was} not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou {art} a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.
3
Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for {it is} better for me to die than to live.
Jonah 4:3 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
4
Then said the LORD, Doest thou well to be angry? {Doest...: or, Art thou greatly angry?}
Jonah 4:4 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
5
So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city.
Jonah 4:5 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
6
And the LORD God prepared a gourd, and made {it} to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd. {gourd: or, palmcrist: Heb. Kikajon} {was...: Heb. rejoiced with great joy}
Jonah 4:6 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
7
But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered.
Jonah 4:7 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
8
And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, {It is} better for me to die than to live. {vehement: or, silent}
Jonah 4:8 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
9
And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, {even} unto death. {Doest...: or, Art thou greatly angry?} {I do well...: or, I am greatly angry}
Jonah 4:9 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
10
Then said the LORD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night: {had pity: or, spared} {came...: Heb. was the son of the night}
Jonah 4:10 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
11
And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and {also} much cattle?
Jonah 4:11 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.