Jonah 3:5 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.
There’s an album out there currently that is named: Saturday Night/ Sunday Morning, a very strange title indeed. The singer/ producer got the idea for the album after speaking with a close relative of his. The relative in question was a man, who would party all night on Saturday night, and be ready, and dressed for church early on Sunday morning. His actions puzzled the singer so much that one day he asked him.
Why do you bother going to church on Sunday morning after partying hard on Saturday night? Why not just stay home and rest? The man said, Sunday Church service is absolutely necessary, because I plan to party again next week, so if I don’t attend church on Sunday morning, how will I atone for my Saturday night sins? This is not a figment of our imagination. It is a true story with a real album on the charts.
Now, let’s look at the second option. If Jonah were to tell this same man that he has forty days to live, because of his sins with no offer of pardon, the man will most likely think long and hard, before another Saturday night live. This is the reason why Jonah’s message was so blunt, and direct, as an ultimatum. And it worked, because that blunt ultimatum gave them pause for concern.
Jonah 3:6 For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.
May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!