The preaching that God bids. 1 . Not the message of our own imagination. 2 . Not what me, desire and what will be palatable to them. 3 . But what God bids. To the messenger he gives the message—from his Word; by his Spirit. His gospel—not altered, not added to, not diminished—is to be preached "to every creature." With faithfulness, simplicity, persistence—whether men hear or whether men forbear. Like Luther, "I can do no other; God help me!"—G.T.C. read more
Arise, go to Nineveh that great city, and preach (or cry) unto it - God says to Jonah the self-same words which He had said before; only perhaps He gives him an intimation of His purpose of mercy, in that he says no more, “cry against her,” but “cry unto her.” He might “cry against” one doomed to destruction; to “cry unto her,” seems to imply that she had some interest in, and so some hope from, this cry. “The preaching that I bid thee.” This is the only notice which Jonah relates that God took... read more
Jonah 3:1-3. And the word of the Lord, &c. After Jonah had been well chastised for his disobedience, and was set at liberty, as recorded in the preceding chapter, the divine call to him to prophesy was repeated. He had rebelled against God’s command the first time, but now, being humbled and better prepared, he is tried again. So Hebrew, And, Jonah arose and went into Nineveh He now obeys without reluctance. Such was the blessed fruit of the correction which he had received. Now... read more
3:1-4:11 THE NINEVITES’ REPENTANCEJonah’s preaching in Nineveh (3:1-10)God repeated his command to Jonah to go and preach in Nineveh, and this time Jonah obeyed (3:1-3). God’s message was that within forty days Nineveh would, because of its wickedness, be overthrown. The Ninevites, leaders and common people alike, heeded the warning and turned in repentance to God (4-5). The king even issued a decree commanding a moral reformation in the city (6-9). As a result of the Ninevites’ repentance, God... read more
the great city. Compare Jonah 1:1 , Jonah 1:2 ; Jonah 4:11 . Diodorus Siculus (cent. 1 B.C.), and Herodotus (cent. 4 B.C.), Jon 3:58 , both say it was about sixty miles in circuit and about twenty miles across. We must remember that such cities included large areas for cultivation and pasturage. Compare "much cattle", Jonah 4:11 . preach = proclaim. Hebrew. kara = to cry aloud: as in verses: Jonah 3:4 , Jonah 3:5 , Jonah 3:8 ; Jonah 1:2 , Jonah 1:6 , Jonah 1:14 . read more
"Arise, go unto Nineveh that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee."No preacher of God's Word has any other message than the divine revelation, his first and only duty being to proclaim the truth of God unto all alike. It is a shame that in our own times, as in many others, "All this is changed into vain show at the will of the multitude, and the breath of popular favor."[2]The Hebrew in this verse literally means, "Cry the cry that I bid thee";[3] and it has reference to... read more
2. preach . . . the preaching—literally, "proclaim the proclamation." On the former occasion the specific object of his commission to Nineveh was declared; here it is indeterminate. This is to show how freely he yields himself, in the spirit of unconditional obedience, to speak whatever God may please. read more
A. Jonah’s proclamation to the Ninevites 3:1-4God gave Jonah a second chance to obey Him, as He has many of His servants (e.g., Peter, John Mark, et al.). read more
Another evidence of God’s sovereignty is the Lord’s instruction to proclaim the message that He would give Jonah. Those who speak forth a message from God (i.e., prophets) must communicate the Lord’s words, not their own ideas."The will of God will never lead you where the grace of God can’t keep you and the power of God can’t use you." [Note: Wiersbe, p. 383.] Nineveh was a "great" (Heb. gadol) city in several respects. It was a leading city of one of the most powerful nations in the world... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Jonah 3:2
City preaching. In Palestine there were no great cities. The population was scattered through pastoral regions or gathered in small and unimportant towns. This fact gave a character to the national life of the Hebrews and to their national religiousness. It was a strange experience for a Jew like Jonah to be brought into contact with city life upon a grand, colossal scale. We modern Englishmen are more familiar with, this development of human existence and activity. We need to study the... read more