“Compassion” Jonah 4:1-11 06/27/2010 Dr. Dane Boyles

Jonah 1:1-2 1 The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”

Jonah 1:3 3 But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD.

“Compassion” There was no key. To find out that the one thing he really needed, he didn’t have! Have you ever experienced that feeling? Jonah experienced that.

“Compassion” “In forty days, this city will be destroyed!” In chapter 3, everyone in the city repented of their evil ways!

Jonah 1:10 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.

Jonah 4:1 1 But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry.

Jonah 4:2 2 He prayed to the LORD, “O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee 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.

Jonah 4:3 3 Now, O LORD, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

“Compassion” “waiting to see what would become of the city.” God didn’t destroy the city like Jonah wanted. Instead God did something else.

“Compassion” The vine gave Jonah shade.

“Compassion” God sent a worm to attack the vine and to kill it. God sent a hot east wind.

“Compassion” “God, did you destroy my only shade! Why are you always attacking me? I might as well die!”

Jonah 4:10 10 But the LORD said, “You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight.

“Compassion” 11 But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?” (Jonah 4:11)

“Compassion” Jonah has forgotten his key.

“Compassion” That key was compassion.

“Compassion” When Jonah lost his compassion, he also lost his perspective.

“Compassion” When we lose compassion, we lose a proper understanding of ourselves.

“Compassion” Jonah was a prophet, right?

“Compassion” Finally, we lose the very heart of the gospel. Sometimes we, like Jonah, are guilty of a failure of imagination.

“Compassion” Do you? Do I? Do you have the key?

“Compassion” Jonah 4:1-11 06/27/2010 Dr. Dane Boyles