SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 11/09/2025 10:00 PM
My Worship Time Focus: “Intro to Jonah 4”
Bible Reading and Meditation Reference: Jonah 4:1-4
Message of the verse: But this was a great evil to Jonah, and he became angry. And he prayed to Yahweh and said, “Ah! O Yahweh, was not this my word to myself while I was still in my own land? Therefore I went ahead to flee to Tarshish, for I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning evil. So now, O Yahweh, please take my life from me, for death is better to me that life.” And Yahweh said, “Do you have good reason to be angry?”
John MacArthur writes: “The right response to God’s salvation of sinners is to rejoice. The Lord Jesus explained that heaven’s angels join around God’s throne to celebrate the salvation of each individual sinner (Luke 15:10). When the prodigal son repented and returned hime, the father (representing the Lord) joyfully prepared a feast to celebrate the occasion (15:22-24). On the Day of Pentecost, Peter glorified in the truth that God saves even those who are far off (Acts 2:39; cf. 11:18). Paul and Barnabas rejoiced as they recounted the conversation of the Gentles (15:3). Heaven itself is a place of unending jubilation, as the redeemed from every tribe and tongue respond in wonder and worship at the reality of their salvation (Rev. 4-5). As these examples illustrate, the only fitting reaction to God’s work of redemption is to marvel at His grace and declare His praise (cf. Pss. 96:1-2).
“But that was not how Jonah reacted to Nineveh’s repentance. Unlike the father who celebrated his prodigal son’s repentance, Jonah despised God’s mercy toward the Ninevites. The prophet demonstrated no compassion or grace toward his enemies. Like the prodigal’s older brother (Luke 15:28-29), Jonah became angry and embittered. When Jesus came, He instructed His followers to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matt. 5:44); but Jonah hated his enemies and hoped for their destruction. He foreshadowed the response of the Pharisees and the scribes who deplored Jesus’ willingness to minister to sinners (Luke 15:1). Jonah did not share the heart of Yahweh for the lost. He preferred to be dead rather than tosee the Gentiles converted. Having that deep seated prejudice, he opposed God when the Lord initially sent him to Nineveh; and the prophet again opposed God when the Lord extended salvation, grace, and mercy to the Ninevites.
“When Jonah saw Yahweh restrain His hand of judgment against the Gentiles, he became angry (Johan 4:1) and began making accusations against the Lord Himself (4:2-3). Yet, despite the prophet’s wicked resentment, God responded with a gracious and forbearing answer 4:4) that simultaneously exposed Jonah’s sin. The Lord answered his prophet with such longsuffering exhibiting patience and extending salvation to both Jews and Gentiles (cf. Acts 10:34-35; 1 Tim. 2:3-4; 2 Peter 3:9).” 11/9/2025 10:17 AM
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