Aug. 14, 2022

Whining Or Weeping? (Jonah vs. Jeremiah 8-14-22 

1 Peter 3:15 15 Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

- “I’m Greatly Concerned about the Salvation of Anyone, 

    Who is Not Greatly Concerned about the Salvation of Some One.” 

Let’s look at… JEREMIAH & JONAH: 

1. Both HESITATED when Called to Speak for God

Jeremiah 1:5–7 5 “I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” 6 “Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.” 7 But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you.

Jonah 1:1-3 The word of the LORD came to Jonah… 2 "Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me." 3 But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish.” 

2. Both were SENT into a City 

- Jeremiah SENT to JERUSALEM, to those Not Taken to Babylon.

- JONAH SENT to NINEVEH, The Brutal Enemy of Israel.

3. Both were MANHANDLED

 - JONAH – Thrown into the SEA!

- JEREMIAH – Thrown into a Dungeon 5x by the Priests & Prophets of Jerusalem 

4. Both were CAST into a Pit

  - JONAH - Belly of a Whale

- JEREMIAH - Cistern: The Muddy Mire at the Bottom.  

5. Both CRIED OUT to the Lord

- JONAH Cried Out from the Belly of a whale… spit him up on shore.

- JEREMIAH Cried out from the Cistern… pulled him up with the ropes.

6. Both PREACHED to the People

- JONAH - Preached ONE SINGLE SENTENCE: 

Jonah 3:4 On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned." 

- JEREMIAH - Preached for 40 YEARS

7. Both Saw the People’s RESPONSE to God 

Jonah 3:6-10 When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. 7 Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh: 8 … “Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish." 10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened. 

JEREMIAH

- SAW Not one person REPENT after 40 years of Preaching!

8. Both sat on a HILLSIDE at the end of their ministries 

- JONAH WHINED

Jonah 4:1–3, 11 1 But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. 2 He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. 3 Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.” 4 But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?” 11 And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left?”

- JEREMIAH WEPT

Lamentations 3:48–51 48 Streams of tears flow from my eyes because my people are destroyed. 49 My eyes will flow unceasingly, without relief, 50 until the Lord looks down from heaven and sees. 51 What I see brings grief to my soul because of all the women of my city.

Luke 19:41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it. 

Luke 15:1–2 1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

3 STORIES… (a lost sheep, a lost coin, a lost son).

1) Something of Value Winds up Missing.                                                                                                  

2) It Warranted an All Out Search. 

3) When the Lost is Found, they Celebrate!

Luke 15:7 7 …there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.