09.01.21
Nineveh Repents
So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them, even to the least of them. For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid aside his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes (Jonah 3:5, 6)
God had told Jonah to “go” to Nineveh and preach to the people the message He would give him. Jonah said “No,” and tried to flee from the presence of the LORD. God sent a storm into the sea as Jonah slept in the ship. The sailors ended up throwing Jonah into the sea. The sea became calm, the sailors worshipped the one true God, and Jonah was swallowed by a fish.
After three days in the fish, Jonah repented of his sin and gave praise to the LORD. God caused the fish to dispel Jonah onto dry land. Again the LORD told Jonah to “Go!” This time he obeyed.
His simple message, through the work of the LORD, brought great revival. Sackcloth was a symbol of sorrow and repentance, and ashes were a sign of helplessness and despair.
This revival in Nineveh is perhaps the greatest revival in recorded history. The entire city of close to 750,000 people was brought to its knees. When the Word of God is given in the power of the Holy Spirit, a response can be expected. The king of Nineveh was all-powerful, and he was proud. For him to leave his throne and dress in sackcloth was a true demonstration of humility and repentance.
The king made a proclamation. And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, “Let neither man nor beast, herd not flock, taste anything: let them not feed nor drink water: but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yes, let them turn everyone from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger that we do not perish? (7-9) These proud, cruel people had hearts penetrated by the Word of God. They realized their sin and were willing to confess and turn from it.
This is the third urgent prayer meeting in this book: the mariners in the storm, Jonah in the fish, and now the Ninevites in the face of destruction.
Note that the text does not say that they believed Jonah, but they believed God. Their prayers were simple ones of desperation.
Why did they pray for deliverance when there was no promise of such in Jonah’s message: Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown? No doubt Jonah told his story to them, and they prayed, hoping that they also may have been given a second chance.
God responded to their prayers of repentance with His favor (10). And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that He had said that He would do to them; and He did not do it. God’s response to their prayers was swift. He did not destroy them. God is always ready to give grace to those who turn from their sin.
Sadly, we will find that their repentance was short-lived. One hundred years later the prophet Nahum preached to Nineveh but this time it did not listen and judgment came. Genuine repentance comes from the heart producing real change.