Week 3

1. Week 3

2. Ignoring Warnings • Few things are more frustrating to parents than giving our children specific warnings of what will happen if they break a certain rule and then having them do it anyway • “If you don’t finish cleaning your room, you won’t be able to go out with your friends later.” • Or, when the stakes are higher, “If you use drugs, you can’t live in this house.” • Parents don’t want to have to punish their children, but when children disobey, of course loving parents must discipline them Describe a time when your parents’ discipline was especially effective in keeping you from repeating a wrong action. What rules did you have in your childhood that you had a hard time fully complying?

3. WHO? Quick Review …

4. Jonah = Dove = Israel • Jonah’s name means “dove” • Dove signifies someone who is • Easily frightened • Double-minded in his ways • Lacking discernment • Not faithful or truthful • Only Jonah knew all the facts contained in this book • He likely wrote it late in his life as his confession • This book offers his mature reflection on the triumph of God’s grace

5. WHAT?

6. Genre: Classification of Jonah • While it is clear that Jonah differs from other prophetic books, it is not clear how its genre should be classified • Biblical scholars classify Jonah in a multitude of ways: Didactic Fiction Allegory Midrash COMEDY SAGA Parable LEGEND TRAGEDY Parody Didactic History Folklore Philosophical Treatise Ironic Short Story Novella

7. Genre Signals • The first words of the text – “Now the word of the LORD came” – is a genre marker • This frequent Hebrew phrase is the Old Testament’s way of signaling an historical account • See Joshua 1:1; Judges 1:1; 1 Samuel 1:1; Ruth 1:1 • Thus, the very beginning of the book Jonah tells the reader/hearer that this account is intended to be treated as factual • For this class, I will proceed with the understanding that the genre of Jonah is narrative history

8. Jonah As Satire and Irony

9. The Ironies Stack Up • Commanded to go (1:2), Jonah flees (1:3) • With everyone else scurrying and praying to save the swamping ship, Jonah sleeps (1:5) • Commanded to pray by the captain, Jonah rolls over and snores on (1:6) • Asked by the sailors his land and occupation, the prophet who had sought to escape God’s domain on the high seas chants a confession of faith in Yahweh “who has made the sea and the dry land” (1:9) • Jonah hits the water, and the sea calms instantly (1:15) • Jonah hits Nineveh, mounts the first available street corner soap box, and proclaims the city’s impending doom – not even giving the people a fair break by introducing the oracle with a “thus says Yahweh” (3:4) • The king commands “no food, no water – everyone cry out to God with gusto.” Think of the racket unwatered and unfed animals – and kids – can make! • So Yahweh’s anger cools down (3:10) – and then Jonah’s anger heats up (4:1) • As he had lectured the sailors about fear of the Creator God (1:9), he now proceeds to lecture God that he is simply too full of love for his own good (4:2) • Yahweh asks whether it’s proper for Jonah to be so hot and angry (4:4) and then proceeds to heat things up further –bringing on worm, sun, and sirocco (4:6-8) • Now Jonah is hot over the loss of his plant – hot enough to die (4:8) • “Look here,” says God, “you pity plants, I pity people, including their animals” (4:10-11)

10. The Structure of the Book of Jonah Chapters 1-2 (At Sea) Chapters 3-4 (At Nineveh) Word of God to Jonah 3:1 Content of the Word 3:2 Response of Jonah 3:3-4a Gentile Response 3:5 Action of King 3:6-9 Ninevites and God 3:10 Disaster Averted 3:10c Response of Jonah 4:1 God and Jonah 4:2-3 God’s Response 4:6-11 • Word of God to Jonah 1:1 • Content of the Word 1:2 • Response of Jonah 1:3 • Gentile Response 1:5 • Action of Captain 1:6 • Sailors and Jonah 1:7-15 • Disaster Averted 1:15c • Response of Sailors 1:16 • God and Jonah 2:1-11 • God’s Response 2:11 • Depicts Yahweh’s power beyond Israel’s territory … into Nineveh • Depicts Yahweh’s power beyond Israel’s territory and across the sea

11. The Structure of the Book of Jonah • Scene 1:Jonah’s First Call (1:1-3) • Scene 2: The Storm at Sea (1:4-16) • Scene 3:Jonah’s Deliverance & Prayer(1:17 – 2:10) • Scene 4:Jonah’s Second Call(3:1-3a) • Scene 5:Jonah’s Preaching Converts (3:3b-10) Nineveh & Yahweh Changes His Verdict • Scene 6:Jonah’s Response to Yahweh’s (4:1-3)Change of Verdict to Save Nineveh • Scene 7:Yahweh’s Provisions and (4:4-11)Jonah’s Response

12. WHY?

13. Too Focused on Big Fish … • In the book of Jonah: • The “great fish” is subject of only 3 verses (6% of text) • The name Yahweh is mentioned 22 times • Elohim or El (once) is said 13 times • And the combination Yahweh Elohim is used 4 times • There is a total of 39 references to the deity in four chapters, while the word “Jonah” is used only 16 times • This is clearly a story about the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and his accepting grace for all people, even their animals! “Men have been looking so hard at the great fish that they have failed to see the great God.” -- Campbell Morgan

14. Main Message • We find here a most intriguing confrontation between Yahweh, the God of heaven and earth, and Jonah, his rebellious prophet • The central message of the book of Jonah is that “Salvation comes from the Lord” • Salvation is not the exclusive possession of any one group, nor does it guarantee their continued existence at the expense of others • To those who appeal, on the basis of their special relationship with God, for the overthrow of their enemies, the book of Jonah voices a stern rebuke • God's mercy may extend to the most unlikely of people, and who can tell what the consequences may be?

15. Topics We Will Explore • Missions/Evangelism • True Repentance • Salvation & Election • Sanctification • Questioning God • Prayer • Death in General (Suicide in Particular) • Discerning God’s Will • Law and Gospel • Rebels of God • Purpose of Troubles • True & False Prophecy • Sovereignty of God • Divine Justice vs. Mercy • Forgiveness • Our Struggles with the Grace of God • Compassion Towards the Lost • Presumptions of Being Elect • Dangers of Self-Absorption • Responding to God’s Interruptions in Our Lives

16. WHERE?

17. Geography of Jonah Nineveh, a major city of the Assyrian Empire in Jonah’s time Tarsus Tarshish, believed by many to have been a seaport or region in southern Spain Samaria, capital of Israel Joppa, the only natural harbor in Israel south of Acco, and probably the closest one available to the fleeing prophet Jerusalem, capital of Judah

18. Tarshish • “Tarshish” is mentioned three times in Jonah 1:3 and once more in Jonah 4:2 • Just where is Tarshish? • This question has plagued OT scholars for generations • Several “problems” frustrate attempts to definitely locate Tarshish: • Similar spellings of words that refer to different places • Tarshish has four different meaning in OT depending on context: • A personal name, for example “Tarshish,” the descendant of Javan (Gen 10:4; 1 Chron 1:7) • A type of vessel (1 Kings 10:22; 22:48; Isaiah 2:16; 60:9; Psalm 48:7 • A seaport (Isaiah 23:6, 10) • A precious stone, possibly a gem such as jasper (Exodus 28:20; Ezekiel 28:13)

19. It’s All Greek to Me • Much current scholarship equates Tarshish with the Phoenician colony of Tartessus in southwestern Spain • Passages that best shed light on its location are those in the OT where Tarshish is listed along with other countries • Given geographical horizon of Genesis 10:1-5, the assumption that Tarshish is some place far away (i.e., in Spain) does not seem correct 1“These are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Sons were born to them after the flood. 2The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. 3The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. 4The sons of Javan[Greece]: Elishah[Cyprus], Tarshish, Kittim[Kition, a city on the southeast coast of Cyprus], and Dodanim[the island of Rhodes]. 5From these the coastland peoples spread in their lands, each with his own language, by their clans, in their nations.” • Because all of these places are in the vicinity of Greece, this text suggests that Tarshish is near Greece as well

20. Tarshish = Tarsus • Isaiah 66:19 and Ezekiel 27:12-15 confirm that the location of Tarshish is close to Greece (Javan); the island of Rhodes; and Tubal and Mesheck, which were in Asia Minor • The only helpful extrabiblical reference is one of the royal inscriptions of the Assyrian king Esarhaddon: “All the kings who live in the area of the sea, from Cyprus and Javan to Tarshish, threw themselves at my feet and I received heavy tribute.” • Since the kings from Cyprus, Greece (Javan), and Tarshish submit to Esarhaddon, Tarshish must be in the same vicinity as Cyprus and Greece • Consequently, it is reasonable to understand the Tarshish of the OT as referring not to southern Spain, but rather to Tarsus in Cilicia, the hometown of Paul (Acts 22:3)

21. Tarsus of Cilicia • This city is situated about 6 miles from the Mediterranean coast, on the river Cydnus • It played a strategic role as control of it assured domination over the Cilician Gates to/from the sea • Tarsus was well-known for the metals and minerals that passed through it as they were transported from the Taurus Mountains and by ship to other ports • Relating Tarshish with Tarsus of Cilicia clarifies not only the narrative in Jonah, but also several other OT passages • “Ships of Tarshish” (1 Kings 22:48; Isaiah 2:16; Psalm 48:7) were ships that originally carried valuable metals from the Taurus Mountains through Tarsus • These ships later became synonymous with power, wealth, and prestige, so much so that Isaiah could include them with “all that is proud and lofty” (Isaiah 2:12)

22. Tarsus of Cilicia • In Isaiah’s oracle against Tyre, the prophet gloats over Tyre’s imminent downfall by telling the city’s inhabitants to “cross over to Tarshish” (Isaiah 23:6) • This command would be possible for the islands inhabitants as Tarsus was a main Phoenician trading partner at the time • Moreover, the prophecy in Isaiah 23:10 that “Tarshish will no longer have a harbor” for shipping exports and imports came to pass when Tyre fell under Assyrian domination and the merchants in Tarshish had no place to sell their wares • In addition, due to the mining activity that took place in the Taurus Mountains, we can understand why in some passages “Tarshish” refers to a precious stone

23. Tarshish as Double-Entendre • While Tarshish is definetly a specific geographical location, it could also be any place of luxury, desire, and delight • In literature and popular imagination it became a distant paradise; for Jonah, therefore, Tarshish may be both a place in Asia Minor and a pleasant place of security • Jonah’s constant search for security begins with his desire to go to Tarshish • It continues in 1:5 as he lays down and sleeps deeply in the inner recesses of the ship • Jonah’s longing for a safe place appears to be high on his agenda in 4:5 as he makes a booth for himself • In every instance, Yahweh strips Jonah of these places and things so that he prophet must finally meet and depend on Yahweh alone in 4:10-11

24. WHEN?

25. Old Testament History • 2090 – 1876 BC: The Patriarchs • 1876 – 1446 BC: Egyptian Captivity • 1476 – 1406 BC: The Exodus and Wilderness Wanderings • 1406 – 1375 BC: Conquest of Promised Land • 1375 – 1050 BC: The Period of the Judges • 1050 – 931 BC: United Monarchy • 931 – 750: Divided Kingdom to Time of Jonah

26. God’s Call and Promise • The descendants of Noah had spread out, multiplied and populated the earth and they had again abandoned the God who created them • Yet God had not abandoned mankind • He called one man, Abram, and told him that if he would leave his country and go to a land God would show him, He would make of Abram a great nation • God would give him that land and through him all the world would be blessed … this was the Abrahamic covenant • It would be through Abram’s descendants that the Savior of the world would come … in faith Abram obeyed God • He was the world’s first monotheist

27. Sons of Abraham • When he is 100 years old, Abraham has a son, Isaac, to whom the promise/covenant was given (c. 2065 BC) • He in turn had a son, Jacob, to whom the promise/ covenant was given • Jacob, whose name God changed to Israel, had 12 sons • When Jacob was an old man he, his sons and their families (70 people in all) went into Egypt to escape starvation during a great famine • One of the sons, Joseph, was already there and in great power; he was second only to the Pharaoh serving as Prime Minister (1885 – 1805 BC) • Because of Joseph’s position, he was able to take care of his family

28. Egyptian Sojourn(c. 1876 – 1446 BC) • However generations passed and the descendants of Israel grew in numbers • A new pharaoh arose (“one who did not know Joseph”) and was fearful (along with all of Egypt) of this great number of foreigners living within the borders of his land • To protect himself and his country, he placed the Israelites in bondage and pressed them into labor for his many building projects • The Hebrews remain in bondage for 430 years • As always God was faithful, and in His time He raised up a man named Moses to lead His people • With great and mighty miracles God delivered the Israelites from the Egyptians and led them to the land He had promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob

29. Exodus and Conquest of Canaan

30. Treacherous Behavior of Israel Samson Cycle Othniel Cycle Gideon Cycle Barak Cycle Ehud Cycle Jephthah Cycle Degree of Devotion to YHWH Time

31. Summary statement of Judges “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in their own eyes.” (Judges 17:6; 21:25) • The people of Israel had the perfect government with the Lord Himself as King, and the Law of the Lord as the law of the land, yet they weren’t satisfied • They wanted to be like the nations round about them; they wanted a man as their king … so God granted their desire

32. Now Week 3 ….

33. Back to the Future • The very first words of the book of Jonah – “Now the word of the LORD came” – is a frequent expression used in the OT only when contexts and circumstances regarding the prophet and his mission are already established in previous statements • This phrase signals that the narrative begins prior to Jonah 1:1, making the brief description of Jonah in 2 Kings 14:23-27 the starting point 23“In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, began to reign in Samaria, and he reigned forty-one years. 24And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. He did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin. 25He restored the border of Israel from Lebo-hamath as far as the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the LORD, the God of Israel, which he spoke by his servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was from Gath-hepher. 26For the LORD saw that the affliction of Israel was very bitter, for there was none left, bond or free, and there was none to help Israel. 27But the LORD had not said that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, so he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.” Can anyone tell how Jeroboam did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam? What is the setting and situation being described here?

34. Jeroboam (I and II) • Jonah prophesied during the reign of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel (782 – 753 BC) • He is usually referred to as Jeroboam II in order to distinguish him from an earlier king of the same name • Jeroboam I, the son of Nebat, was the first king of Israel some 150 years before Jeroboam II • Jeroboam II “did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam [I]” • To understand the sins of both Jeroboams we need to go back in time …

35. The United Monarchy(c. 1050 – 931 BC) • Saul (1050 – 930 ) • David (1010 – 970) • Solomon (970 – 931) • Period generally corresponds to Israel’s “Golden Age”

36. “Dark Ages” of the Ancient Near East(c. 1100 – 911 BC) • With the exception of the biblical narrative, the entire Ancient Near East seems to have drifted into a period of relative darkness for the two centuries that are associated with the period of the united monarchy of Israel • Myconeans are conquered and demobilized • Hittites are neutralized • Assyrians, Babylonians, and Egyptians are little heard from during this period • There is one notable exception – Israel. At the moment of Israel’s great golden civilization, the rest of the world is quiet. • Proverbs 16:7 says, “When a man's ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him” • This appears to be a time when Israel’s ways pleased the Lord

37. Saul(c. 1050 - 1010 BC) • 1080: Birth of Saul • 1050: Samuel (last of the Judges) anoints Saul • 1045: Saul disobeys in war with Amalekites, Israel’s traditional enemy (1 Sam 15) • 1040: Birth of David • 1023: David and Goliath – David the minstrel to the king • 1021: David on the run • 1010: Saul and Jonathan die on Mt. Gilboa in a battle with the Philistines

38. Israel Under Saul Extent of Saul’s kingdom

39. The United Monarchy(c. 1050 – 931 BC) • Saul, their first king, didn’t fully obey the Lord …he failed to carry out God’s command to utterly destroy the city of Amalek • God “repented” that He made Saul King, and chose David instead (a shepherd who loved the Lord) • Although David made many mistakes, God said, “I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart” (Acts 13:22) • God promised David that one of his descendants would have a kingdom without end • He was referring to Jesus Christ, the coming Savior, who would pay the price for the sins of the world and redeem mankind

40. David(c. 1010 - 970 BC) • 1010 – 1003: Civil war with the House of Saul; one of Saul’s sons, Ishbosheth, attempts to establish his rule in the north • 1003: Ishbosheth assassinated David made King over all Israel • 1002: David conquers Jerusalem • 1000: The Ark brought to Jerusalem (Uzzah) • The Davidic Covenant (2 Sam 7) • 997: David and Bathsheba • 995: Birth of Solomon • 985: Rebellion and death of Absalom • 970: Death of David

41. Israel Under David Extent of David’s kingdom Extent of Saul’s kingdom

42. Solomon(c. 970 - 930 BC) • 970: Solomon made king (25 years old) • 966: Solomon begins building temple • 480 years after the Exodus from Egypt • 960: The Temple is completed

43. Solomon’s Temple Solomon began building Temple in 966 BC and completed it 7 years later. Temple itself was 90 ft long x 30 feet wide X 45 ft high

44. Solomon(c. 970 - 930 BC) • 970: Solomon made king (25 years old) • 966: Solomon begins building temple • 480 years after the Exodus from Egypt • 960: The Temple is completed • 955: The Queen of Sheba visits Solomon • 940: Beginning of Solomon’s decline • 930: Death of Solomon

45. Israel Under Solomon Solomon’s expansion of David’s kingdom Extent of David’s kingdom Extent of Saul’s kingdom

46. Solomon’s Greatness • Came from noble birth • As son of David he was heir to the world’s most famous dynasty • Almost everything that Solomon did was a total success • His rise to power was celebrated by his entire nation • Any and all rivals to his throne were quickly subdued • He had a powerful army of horses and chariots which he never even needed to use in battle because his kingdom was always at peace • Under the blessing of God, in Solomon’s days the kingdom of Israel grew to its widest expanse • He was also a famous builder • Golden temple in Jerusalem was one of the wonders of the ancient world • He built large palace for himself, with its Hall of Pillars, Hall of the Throne, and House of the Forest of Lebanon • He was extraordinarily wealthy • His kingdom was full of gold and silver, to say nothing of priceless jewels and other precious treasures • Traders and investors came to Israel from all over the world • He was famous for his skills and abilities • Accomplished naturalist, learned scholar, brilliant poet • Above all, he was a man of wisdom (perhaps wisest man in history), gift by God • He was a man of prayer

47. Most tragic chapter in the Bible: 1 Kings 11 1“Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, 2from the nations concerning which the LORD had said to the people of Israel, “You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. 3He had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart. 4For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. 5For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 6So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and did not wholly follow the LORD, as David his father had done. 7Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites, on the mountain east of Jerusalem. 8And so he did for all his foreign wives, who made offerings and sacrificed to their gods.” What were Solomon’s tragic flaws? What sinful actions and attitudes led to his downfall?

48. Solomon’s Folly • He was not faithful in marriage, but “loved many foreign women” … at least a thousand • He squandered his affections of women he was forbidden to touch • The Bible says that he “clung” to his wives the way someone holds on to God by faith; his heart loved other things more than the living God • By marrying the daughters of foreign kings, Solomon was practicing politics, lusting after power as well as sex • Even worse, the king began to worship their gods • His polygamy turned him into a polytheist • And Solomon practiced these damnable rites of pagan worship within plain sight of God’s holy temple • In addition, God specifically told the kings of Israel not to build up a cavalry or accumulate excessive amounts of silver and gold (Deut 17:14-17) • But Solomon purchased tens of thousands of horses and chariots (many from Egypt) • He also gather vast treasuries of silver and gold

49. Warning Signs: Money, Sex, and Power • The traditional view of 1 Kings is that King Solomon was faithful until the last years of his life • Thus, 1 Kings 1-10 give a positive view of his kingship, while 1 Kings 11 tell how Solomon turned away from the Lord at the very end • However, if we study his life more carefully, we see early warnings signs of his eventual downfall, especially in his love for money, sex, and power: • Solomon’s choice of a life partner; he made marriage alliance with Egyptian Pharoah’s daughter (unequally yoked; seduced by sex) • Marrying outside faith led Solomon into idolatry • This marriage also formed an unholy alliance with Egypt (seduction of power politics) • Way he worshipped: he spent more time and money on his own house than he did on the house he built for God (love of money) It is important to examine our lives and recognize the seeds of sin that might lead you into a huge problem. What specific steps can you take to make sure habitual sins are rooted out of your life before they lead to tragedy?

50. Sin is Where the Heart Is How could such a wise man be so foolish? If God gave Solomon the gift of wisdom, then why wasn’t he wise enough to avoid falling into disgrace? • The gifts of God never operate independently or automatically • They always operate according to the affections of our hearts • Our talents/gifts can be useful for building the kingdom of God, but only to the extent that our hearts are committed to the glory of God • When our hearts turn away from God, even the gifts that He has given will be used against Him • Our spiritual gifts will not prevent us from falling into grievous sin • This is a sober warning for anyone who is strongly gifted, because the more gifted we are, the more damage we are likely to do when our hearts turn away from the God of grace