Jonah’s Next Sermon. Part [9] 07/30/2026 (Morning thought)

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.

Jonah 3:7 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 nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: 8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.

Great care has to be exercised whenever a pardon is offered up front, because, the recipients in so many cases may view it as a sort of loophole, so that they will plan to sin, and then utter all the right words so that they could obtain pardon. It is worthy of note that God did not offer pardon up front to Adam and Eve before they sinned, He offers it only after they have sinned, and thus, His word to them was, if you eat of the forbidden fruit, you will certainly die.

In fact, pardon was a last resort, for if it was offered up front, there would be no deterrent to sin. Persons who preach that God’s law has been nailed to the cross, and that it is no longer binding upon persons, because of the blood of Jesus, are offering pardon up front, and thus, the flood gates of sin are opened…. Jonah 3:9 Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?

Jonah 3:10 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 unto them; and he did it not.

May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!

Jonah’s Next Sermon. Part [8] 07/30/2026 (Evening thought)

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.

The preaching was as direct as Nineveh could get, for, according to a strict reading of the sermon, the possibility of a pardon which could lead to a reversal of fortune was never raised by Jonah. All Jonah says is that the city has forty more days in existence. Question: Why would Jonah be sent preach such a direct or explicit sermon like that, with no caveats? Two parents have a son named Jack, who habitually steals cookies from the jar on numerous occasions.

And try as the parents might, to get him to stop he just wouldn’t listen. Finally, the situation reaches a tipping point, where the parents have to give their son an ultimatum, lest he passes the point of no return. How should this last-ditch effort on the parent’s part be given? Should Jack’s parents say: Son, if you steal anymore cookies from the jar, and you were to ask for forgiveness, we will let you off the hook.

Or, should the parents issue their son a blunt threat that there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth? Let us dissect the first option: Jack, if you steal one more cookie from the jar, we will let you off the hook if you ask for forgiveness. Knowing Jack, and his habit of stealing cookies for so many years, if the option of pardon is put on the table, he most likely will continue stealing cookies.

Ecclesiastes 8:11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!