Jonah 1-2: Compassion Received
Our world appears to be in a state of confusion. What factors might have provoked this confusion?
We are all born with a set of glasses that become our worldview, the lens through which we see life. What’s more, our world seems to have designated members who dip their fingers in grease, oil, and Cheeto powder and wipe them right across the clean lenses of our worldview glasses.
- Culture: from politics to education
- Church: from moral failures to membership
I feel it in my own life.
- From parenting practices to engagement with entertainment, smartphones, AI, and more.
At the heart of this confusion is an incorrect, distorted, or false view of God, self, and how to live fruitfully in God’s world.
Insufficient solutions to our state of confusion (1st order changes):
- Work harder against confusion by posting more…starting a cause.
- Give up…give in to confusion by no longer speaking…assuming a cause.
There must be a better way—a better way that sets right our view of God, self, and how to live in God’s world—a second order of change.
- One way is a biblical view of compassion…
What is compassion?
- One definition offered by the culture is, “Compassion is a complex emotion with multiple components. The first step involves the willingness to notice others’ suffering. The second step is the desire and motivation to alleviate their suffering.”*
- A biblical view of compassion certainly involves noticing the suffering of others and attempting to alleviate the pain, but when it is rooted in biblical theology, it moves beyond noticing suffering with the aim of pain alleviation to moving toward someone with the dual aim of relationship restoration and the empowerment so that compassion can be given to others.
C.S. Lewis, in one of his Narnia Chronicles, introduces us to a character by the name of Edmond. His impertinence and pursuit of pleasure and power land him in the dungeon of the White Witch. It’s not until he is rescued by Aslan’s army and given new life by the life of Aslan that he understands compassion and his responsibility as a result of receiving that compassion.
Lewis captures the heart of one element that brings clarity amidst this cultural confusion. This is the essence of what we’ll learn from the Book of Jonah over the next two weeks.
Indeed, one aspect of compassion is found in the book of Jonah.
- The Book of Jonah shows how an expression of compassion is received (Chs. 1-2) and given (Chs. 3-4).
To understand this aspect of compassion from the perspective of Jonah, let’s ask:
- Where does Jonah fit in the biblical metanarrative?
- What is the overall message of Jonah?
- Why was Jonah written?
- How would the original audience apply Jonah’s message to their lives then?
- How do we apply Jonah to our lives today?
1. Where does Jonah Fit in the Biblical Metanarrative
Logic of Compassion: If compassion is received in the context of a relationship, then it must be given in the context of a relationship.
- Creation: God creates humankind in His image and likeness.
- Genesis 1-2
- Fall: Man rebelled against God, resulting in chaos, disorder, and judgment.
- Sin Expressed: Genesis 3…4…6…11
- Redemption: God provides a Solution for mankind’s sin and offers reconciliation with Him.
- The Means of Maintaining Solution
- A Family: Genesis 12…
- A Blueprint: Exodus 19…20…Deuteronomy
- Code of conduct
- National instruments of reconciling all mankind to God
- The Place where the Solution is Expressed
- Joshua
- Successes and Failures to Maintain Solution
- Judges
- Israel’s Addition to Solution
- A King: 1 Samuel 8
- God’s Instruments to Ensure Solution is Maintained through Israel’s Addition to the Solution
- Prophets
- Elijah (1 Kings 17-2 Kings 2)
- Elisha (2 Kings 2 – 2 Kings 13)
- Jonah (2 Kings 14)…
- Lived during the reign of Jeroboam II of Israel (793-746 BC)
- Prophets
- The Means of Maintaining Solution
2. What is the Overall Message of Jonah?
- God’s compassion extends to all mankind through Israel, and He uses instruments like Jonah to accomplish this objective. However, like all of Israel (and mankind), Jonah rebelled against God, having received His compassion, and remained bitter at God for extending His compassion to the nations. Jonah’s rebellion reveals his resentment in contrast to God’s forgiveness.
3. Why was Jonah Written?
- To call ancient Israelite readers to their responsibility to worship God in obedience to His Law, causing all mankind to glorify God and come under His sovereign grace.
4. How would the Original Audience Apply the Message of Jonah to Their Lives Then?
- Worship God in obedience to the Mosaic Law, thereby drawing nations to repentance.
5. How Do We Apply Jonah to Our Lives Today?
a. The Descent in Sin (1:1-17)
i. (1:1-9) What need receives God’s compassion? Understanding separation from God.
- Establishing Need
- 1:1-6: Running from God.
- Recognizing Need
- 1: 7-9: You are the man!
ii. (1:10-17) What solution is sufficient to meet that need? It’s not found in man.
- Insufficient Solution
- 1:10-14: Try harder.
- Temporary Solution
- 1:15-17: Give up.
b. The Ascent through Faith (2:1-9)
i. (2:1-9) What is the only hope of moving the heart of God? Faith.
- Crisis of Faith
- 2:1-6: See sin for what it is and what it does.
- Commitment in Faith
- 2:7-9: See God for who He is and what He can do.
c. Compassion Received (2:10)
i. (2:10) How does God respond to a heart of faith? Awakens and empowers to accomplish His purposes.
- Compassion Realized
- 2:10: God’s power & purpose.
Connection to Christ (Matthew 12:39-41, 16:4; Luke 11:29-30, 32)
- Jonah was swallowed with sin and received God’s mercy to prevent the Ninevites from receiving God’s wrath.
- Christ was swallowed without sin and received God’s wrath to give the world God’s mercy.
How Does This Apply To Our Lives Today?
God’s compassion implies contact that moves us to…
- Covenant renewal or
- Covenant relationship
In both cases, a relationship with God is restored or established, leading us to…
- See God rightly.
- God is near. In Christ, God emptied Himself of glory and became a man to reconcile man in his sins and allow him to experience His fellowship.
- God is far. God dwells in unapproachable light. No man can see God and live.
- God is holy. John could lay on Christ’s chest during His glory-emptying ministry but fell at His feet in His glory-restored ministry.
- See ourselves rightly.
- Neither mankind nor Israel could faithfully follow God’s commands.
- Thus, God’s reconciliation of man to Himself is only through God’s intervening solution of Christ as the substitute and sacrifice for mankind’s sin.
- See obedience rightly.
- To obey now is not to expect God’s blessings but to express God’s favor (compassion) to others (Matt. 22:34-40).
- Obedience draws us nearer to understanding God…ourselves…and others.
- Thus, when we obey, we gain fuller access to God’s love and a richer knowledge of Christ (John 14:21).
*https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/between-cultures/202203/how-culture-affects-compassion
— July 6, 2024