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Bible Study Jonah

Jonah | Chapter 4

“But it displeased Jonah exceedingly and he was angry.” What’s that you say? The “it”, the repentance of Nineveh and the relentance (not a real word) of God. The thing that generally makes us rejoice (and that we find ourselves part of not all that often) has pissed Jonah off. It all comes together here. Up to this point, we haven’t been told why Jonah fled from God’s command. He doesn’t mention it on the boat, he doesn’t mention it in his prayer and it doesn’t come up as part of his explanation of what happened in the city. Up to now, we just have a dude who heard God and thought he’d do the other thing. Now he speaks.

“That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.” Ah, this seems outlandish, but as with the rest of the story, I think there is more here for us than perhaps we first note. You see, at its core this is a gap between our sense of justice and God’s. It’s a gap between what we think people deserve and what God does. You might not be currently plotting to flee Christ to deny a major city God-offered salvation, but it’s possible that there are certain people who you think deserve the full force of whatever justice God has coming because of how they’ve treated you. It’s possible that you are surrounded by one or more people who are inept, selfish, lazy, stupid, evil, deceitful, rude, hurtful, prideful baboons (or any combination therein) and you can think of nothing better than they receive their comeuppance.

I’m not saying that any of those adjectives don’t accurately and adequately describe these people that are around you. However, picture that person or persons in your mind. And now imagine what it would be like for you to approach them straight on with an offer from God for all of their ineptness, selfishness, laziness, evilness, pride, deceit, etc. to be forgiven. And as part of that, realize that they won’t get the comeuppance they truly deserve. They will not feel the weight of the hurt they have caused others, they will not suffer for their foolishness, they will not “learn their lesson”. In short, in your eyes, justice will not be done.

Will you make the offer? Will you take the good news to this baboon who doesn’t deserve it? Who, if all was right in the world, would face the consequences they have earned? And before you answer, consider whether that is true of your life. You have sinned against man and God. Every deceit, every harsh word, every dirty thought, all of it. The cost of this is death (I know, you think it’s harsh, but all of these degrade a perfect creation, one God has intended to live forever. This sin has tainted it, separating you from a perfect Creator and trashing the perfect Creation around you with selfish things that are intended to either serve or protect you and you alone at the expense of those around you.) So you deserve death. That’s just. It’s right. It’s the truth.

But you, follower of Jesus, will not die. Because you did something to redeem yourself? No, we both know you haven’t done anything that could put all that you’ve done wrong back to right. You couldn’t do it even if you wanted to, and if we’re honest, you don’t spend all that much time wanting to and even less time actually trying. No, you will live forever because at some point, through someone or some circumstance, you came to hear of the good news; the news that Jesus came to pay the penalty for all that you have done. That Jesus came to deny you your comeuppance, to refuse your enemies the satisfaction of everything you’ve done wrong piling upon your head and squashing you unto death. That, if you would trust him and pledge fealty to the Him as your King, he would declare you “not guilty” and insist that everyone in His Kingdom treat you as such.

Did you deserve that? Of course not, you deserved to be buried under the weight of all you’ve done to jack up a perfect world. But God disagrees. He says justice is the offering of forgiveness. He says justice is the chance to repent and be redeemed and to have your offenses forgiven forever. That’s what God says is just. Do you agree with that for you? Do you agree with God’s justice when it comes to those inept baboons? And do you agree with God’s call that it is likely you personally who is to take the good news of God’s justice to those very baboons? Now you understand Jonah’s position better. It’s still ridiculous, but perhaps how you view those around you shares a bit of that as well.

Back to Jonah. He proposes that because God has shown mercy to the Ninevites, it is better that he die. And the Lord casually asks whether his anger is really appropriate. No answer from Jonah, who heads outside of the city, prepares a tent for himself (that’s the booth), and hangs out to see what would happen to the city. He seems to still be hopeful that God will destroy it, otherwise why wait and watch? Perhaps he thinks God’s question about anger to him is rhetorical, like, “don’t overreact Jonah, you know I’m going to lay waste to these posers anyhow. West Coast!” (I hope we would all agree the Lord would not react like a Cali gangster.)

In response to this, God calls nature into action. He “appoints” this plant just like he “appoints” the fish to get Jonah from the sea. The Lord has this thing under control. Anyway, he creates a giant plant to give Jonah shade while he waits. Jonah is “exceedingly glad” for this personal comfort (mirroring his “exceedingly angry” reaction to Ninevah’s repentance.) Then, God puts the plant under siege by a worm, exposing Jonah to a harsh east wind and sun. Jonah then returns to the thought that death might be the right answer given how uncomfortable all of this is for him.

God asks him the same question as before, except for this time it’s directed at whether it seems ok for Jonah to be angry that the plant has been destroyed. Giving up all pretense, Jonah affirms that he indeed is right to be angry, even unto death!” This is what you look like when arguing with God about justice as well.

God makes a pretty reasonable argument in response. Basically, you pity the plant that you had no part of creating or sustaining and that was only around for day. It’s perishing is enough to anger you so that you think dying is the right reaction. Yet, God shows pity on over 100,000 folks who were blind to knowing the true God and you’re upset at that? Perhaps the presence of a bunch of cattle could at least rile up from sympathy from you?

And the book ends with no answer from Jonah to God’s question.

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Bible Study Jonah

Jonah | Chapter 3

Chapter 3 starts very similarly to chapter 1. God calls Jonah to “Arise…” and go to Ninevah and, “…call out against it…” this time in the message God will tell him (instead of something about their evil coming to God’s attention, which was the last part of that same declaration in chapter, verse 2). This time, Jonah obeys.

Nineveh as a “great city” is kind of interesting. The ESV footnote has it saying, ”great city to God”, implying that it holds value to him in some way or another. That said, the rest of the sentence that footnote comes from talks about the size of the city itself and how long it takes to get across it. Not sure any of this makes a difference in the interpretation.

Only other thing to note is that being called a “great city” seems to imply eventual doom in the Bible as this reference is constantly being used to major earthly cities that are positioned against God. (See Revelation 11 for an interesting twist where Jerusalem is tagged with this distinction as well.) For references, see here: http://bit.ly/2v1Gisz

Jonah enters Ninevah and preaches the long and short of it: “40 days and Nineveh will be overthrown!”. Great, we think, he’s finally done what YHWH told him to do. But that’s not really what happened. We’re told that Ninevah is a 3 day’s journey but Jonah only goes a day in. He basically doesn’t go all the way to where the king is at to take the prophecy directly to him. He also doesn’t tell the people who will bring the prophecy to fruition (God, of course, but he doesn’t message it) nor does he provide any indication of what it would look like to repent. While God intends for a call to repentance, Jonah is mute on who (lest they try and petition YHWH to relent) and that there is even a chance for repentance. What looks likes obedience is not really that at all.

Either way, what Jonah ultimately proclaims is a call to destruction, Sodom and Gomorrah style. And the people receive it! I mean, they straight up accept the warning and believe it, calling for a fast, throwing on sackcloth (an indication of mourning and repentance) and turn from their ways. Even the king reacts to the same message, arising from his throne (notice his obedience in arising to mourn and repent in reaction to God’s word vs. Jonah’s failure to “arise” in similar obedience.)

We shouldn’t miss the reactions here as a whole. What you believe is reflected in what you do. When Jonah speaks, people believe God and mourn, repent and hope that God will relent so that they will not perish. There’s a consistent theme here of pagans/gentiles being concerned about people being saved compared to Jonah’s relative lack of concern for the matter. His obedience to God leads to their repentance, even if he did it begrudgingly, but we are probably well-served by the reminder that we are bearers of Good News (certainly more positively framed than what Jonah had to say) and people can be saved because of it.

And God does indeed relent, deciding not to destroy them in response to their repentance. Sounds like a good end of the story, except this story isn’t about the Ninevites really, it’s about Jonah (and likely Israel by extension). Thus we anticipate chapter 4.

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Bible Study Jonah

Jonah | Chapter 2

Notice that even the fish is obedient to God, along with the pagans and the sea; basically everyone obeys God in this book except His prophet. 

In chapter 2, Jonah prays. I think we should read this with a bit of skepticism, especially in light of his actions later on. That said, his full commitment and right submission to God in one breath and a total flip-flop with his actions in the next is something we’ve already seen in chapter 1 and is kind of the M.O. of most Christians so perhaps it’s not that far fetched.  

Jonah prays from the belly of a giant fish. His situation is a desperate one as he starts to feel the weight of being chased down by God Himself. Although the “…belly of Sheol” is obviously figurative (since he wasn’t literally in the place of the dead), any situation without God sending a giant fish to give him refuge would have ended up there so it’s certainly a relevant perspective.  

I do wonder if we’re supposed to get an image of those who were not Noah and his family from the “…and the flood surrounded me, all your waves and your billows passed over me” stuff. Jonah was thrown into an existing body of water, not a flash flood or something. He could be using the language to reflect the positioning of him not repenting and basically facing God’s consequences (although God’s patience and persistence are the prime aspects of this whole book.)  

In fact, the back half of the prayer trades between a reminder of the circumstances Jonah has brought upon himself through rebellion and God’s patience within it. Jonah has hope that he will pray again, on dry land, towards the Temple (like a good Jewish boy.) Then  back to the situation, which pictures nature surrounding him, almost attacking him, and being near death (that’s the “…land whose bars closed upon me forever”, which is again Sheol action.) Then the  reminder that God brought him up from the pit (not literally, he was rescued from death by the fish/whale/creature.)  

The temple image shows back up again, with God hearing the prayers of the man who was perishing in his own rebellion. (Ah hem, like the mariners. And the Ninevites. Will this lesson be lost on him? Yes, yes it will.) He brings in a reference to those who follow false idols as bad and his thanksgiving voice and sacrifice as good. This is ironic, of course, because the only folks who have sacrificed so far to God in the story are those who were likely vain idol-followers prior to this Jonah incident on their boat. 

Regardless of whether Jonah lacks integrity here, his words about God are still true. Salvation does indeed belong to the Lord. And, as we will see again in a story of Jesus asking for a fish to spit something out, God talks to the fish and Jonah gets expelled onto dry land, hopefully to fulfill what God told him to do in the first place. Notice that even the fish is obedient to God, along with the pagans and the sea; basically everyone obeys God in this book except His prophet. 

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Bible Study Jonah

Jonah | Chapter 1

The opening cuts to the quick. The word of the Lord comes to Jonah (in some way or another) instructing him to head to Nineveh and call out their evil because God has caught wind of it (as He tends to do). Nineveh is in the heart of Assyria, and although they are weakened at the moment, it’s not an intriguing proposition to be sent to in effect “serve” the city by warning them on God’s behalf. So, Jonah decides to haul tail the other way.

God tells him to “arise” and do what he’s told to do (kind of the prophet’s job) and Jonah instead decides to rise and go to the port city of Joppa so he can catch a skiff heading due west, the opposite direction of Nineveh which lies to the north and east. This man, who supernaturally received the word of the Lord appears foolish enough to think he will physically flee from the “presence of the Lord”. Silly prophet.

Now, we laugh at Jonah for being ridiculous, but given the calls to serve others and make disciples that are clear words from the Lord to us, I’m confident you’ve hitched a boat to Tarshish many a time instead of doing the thing that God called you to do. That’s not a clever anecdote, boys, put the think on it.

God, of course, wants this thing accomplished and he appears to want Jonah to do it. So, he sends a storm to bring attention to that matter. The other sea-faring folk, a superstitious group as sailors tend to be, start chucking stuff off to reduce weight and crying out to their respective “gods”. Jonah, on the other hand, is taking a snoozer in the inner part of the boat. (This story should sound familiar, Jesus kind of does the same thing. Although, he was being obedient and Jonah was being a doofus, so, there’s that.)

Again, someone has to come to Jonah and say, “Arise…”, a call to a legit prophet who actually does work for the legit Lord God to wake up and pray so that people could be saved. He’s already bailed on this responsibility once to work with God and save the Ninevites, he’s now given chance number 2. Note, here, that the pagan sailors have a better concept of the power and sovereignty of “god” (in principle), even if this concept may not have them thinking in the beginning of the true God. Of course, the one guy on the boat who could speak to that is sleeping. (Ah hem, application, ah hem, for you…yes you.)

Then they cast lots, kind of like picking marbles out of bag and the dude who gets the black marble is the trouble maker. This isn’t just for pagan action, God’s people did this as well and just trusted God would handle the outcome. Scripture seems to at least passively affirm this practice, although I’m not sure if that has implications for whether we are to carry around a bag of marbles for similar occasions or not. Either way, Jonah gets pegged, sailors interrogate him and find out that he is Hebrew who “fears” the Lord God of heaven “…who made sea and the dry land.” Jonah is a real piece of work. His actions don’t obviously match his supposed “fear” of God and his belief that He controls the land and sea (which ironically is after him at the moment).

And the reaction of the mariners seems fitting. “What is this that you have done?” I get that we’re surrounded by a bunch of people who currently don’t know God, but once they start to open their eyes to it they’ll look at the Christians around them who haven’t said anything to them and who largely bailed on what God had them up to and say, “What is this that you have done?”

Either way, the problem is solved by them chucking Jonah out of the boat, a suggestion made by Jonah himself. Although he didn’t just jump in, I do wonder if that was an option. Was it important that he be thrown in by the boat bros? It’s unclear. They first tried to solve problems the man way, rowing harder, trying to get away from the problem. That fails. Then they, the pagan sailors, cry out to the Lord, ask for forgiveness for the throwing of a man overboard that is about to commence, and hope that it pleases Him. Then they chuck Jonah, offer a sacrifice and make vows (kind of a thing that happens when people rightly fear God.)

Then Jonah gets swallowed by a giant fish and is trapped in there for the 3 days. You know, like can happen.

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Bible Study Jonah

Jonah | Introduction

Jonah was a prophet of God who was working the beat in the mid 8th century BC. Unlike some of the other prophets at the tail end of the Old Testament, Jonah is speaking during a time of relative peace in Israel as the Assyrian empire hit a conquering lull and the kings of Israel, Jeroboam II and his father Jehoash before him, had reclaimed most of the land they lost to the Assyrians in the century prior.

To the question of whether we should consider this story, and some of its more fantastic events, as literal history, we should note that in Matthew 12 Jesus seems to consider the contents of the story as actual history. Thus, with little further consideration outside of this fact, we should treat it as something that really occurred while understanding that it is written to include things like metaphor, such as Jonah’s prayer in chapter 2 where he claims to be rescued from Sheol. He wasn’t literally in the “belly of Sheol”, it’s an image that speaks accurately to his circumstances without being a literal description of them.

In general, Jonah is a pretty quick and relatively easy read. However, slow down and keep an eye out for details as the story is well constructed and specifically worded. Watch for repeated phrases and who they come from as well as comparisons between different people or groups of people within the story.

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Bible Study 1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians – Chapter 1

Paul opens this letter to the Corinthians in standard fashion, introducing himself and giving his bona fides (he does what he does because God desired it so and was sent out (apostle=”sent one”) on the Lord’s behalf. Sosthenes is added here as part of the authorship of the letter. I suspect he was the guy who delivered the letter and just tacked his name on it for good measure, but that has no grounding in Biblical or historical fact. 
 
As Paul often does, he gives away some of what the letter is going to be about in his description of the folks he is writing to. Here, the people in Corinth are described as those, “…sanctified in Christ Jesus” and “…called to be saints together…” We shouldn’t be surprised, then, to see the notion of sanctification (making holy, righteousness, etc.) and unity show up as things he wants to focus on. 
 
Paul gives thanks for the Corinthian church in a way that mirrors his other letters and is almost always actually a thanks to God for what He has done in the community of believers that are in focus. In Corinth, Paul is grateful that they have heard the good news and received the “knowledge” (mind that, it’ll be important in a minute) which is sufficient to provide all the necessary gifts that come from the Spirit. Similarly, it is sufficient to sustain them until Jesus returns, guiltless in the site of God who orchestrated this whole thing and allowed them to be saved through Jesus. 
 
Then Paul hits his first appeal – unity. He wants, “…all of you [to] agree, and that there be no divisions among you.” There, the hint we got in 1:2 pays off just 8 verses later. It seems as though people are segmenting themselves by which great steward brought them to the faith (likely in a vain attempt to make themselves look good. It’s a story to tell people you met Jesus through Billy Graham. If you tell them you met Jesus through Ben Fust no one cares. There’s some pride and a wrong measure of greatness in here that is deeper than just an argument as to whether you follow Paul or Apollos, who was reported to be a big deal in the New Testament even though he really wasn’t.) 
 
In general, the church at Corinth is starting to allow some of the value systems outside of the Kingdom to influence measures of value, status and worth within the Kingdom. Obviously, this can’t stand and Paul reminds them that there is indeed only one Jesus. He is who we follow, it was he who was crucified, it is he who we are baptized into, he who provides the example of righteousness. Paul even seems to be happy that he didn’t baptize most of these folks so that he can’t be pegged for being part of this weird mess. 
 
His reaction does raise some questions (“For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel…”) I’d say that it’s a stretch to try and use this verse as an attempt to somehow diminish the importance of baptism, that’s not the point. I think it’s more of Paul saying that others do the baptizing, his job was delivery of good news in this situation. Note that he assumes all of them are baptized when he asks if they were baptized in the name of Paul. It wasn’t a question of if they were baptized, it was a reminder of by whom and for whom. 
 
Before we get too far from it, don’t miss our gal Chloe. First of all, it’s a lady who we get by name who not only is familiar and interacting with Paul about the Corinthian church but she also has “people”. It infers too much to assign her some sort of wealth or social status for having people, they could be friends, family, or folks from her household. They could also be disciples of hers (although her followers would seem to not have the same issues as the other groups because they are informing Paul of the wrong focus and behavior.) 
 
Now, to the meat of the rest of this chapter. When Paul talks about preaching the gospel, he continues the reorientation of what the world values vs. what the Kingdom values. The Good News Paul brings wasn’t what the world would consider elegant wisdom; the power of the message is its truth, simplicity and outlandishness. He spends the next few verses re-emphasizing that fact. Basically, line up those who supposedly have knowledge (the wise, the scribe, the debater) and see how the Good News makes fools of them. And it is through what they believe is foolish that people are being saved, both the Jews and the Gentiles. What’s the message? Christ crucified. For all the blowharding, arguing, temple sex, imperial worship, philosophy and whatever else goes on around them, the message of Christ crucified is what saves. 
 
To continue the point, Paul calls attention to the specific circumstances of the folks in Corinth. He says, “Look at you fellas, you all weren’t wise or powerful or noble when you got into the Kingdom. And yet here you are.” God chose what is foolish (ahem, these folks; plus, you know, kings dying on crosses to save everyone, being great by being a servant, not storing up money,) all kinds of things the world would consider foolish. 
 
Basic application for us is the same for them: remember where you belong. You will be different than the rest of the world, it’s kind of the nature of living in a different Kingdom. Also, the values of a fallen earth don’t play here. Jesus measures greatness differently and these notions of status or worth that you are deriving from the wrong sources do nothing but separate you unnecessarily. (I might note that excessive focus or deriving status on your particular church community runs the same risk. If you are deriving more pride around what church you go to than the identity you get from Jesus, that’s a problem.) 
 
So what is wisdom? Jesus. “And because of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption…” Our pride, then, isn’t in who first shared with us the Good News (Cephas, Apollos, whoever). It isn’t in the church we go to or our own knowledge or wisdom or righteousness. Where we boast, we boast in the Lord. 
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Bible Study 1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians – Introduction

This is one of at least 3 letters Paul writes to the church at Corinth (two of which are in the Bible.) It was likely written in the mid-50’s by Paul while he was in Ephesus. He has a pastoral relationship with the Corinthians and he is writing in response to specific things that he has heard about regarding them. Corinth was established at the foot a mountain called Acrocorinth. Being a Roman city with a deep Greek history as well as being exposed to heavy port traffic that brought a variety of people and their religious practices to the area, there was no shortage of gods or people to worship. It was also a wealthy city with a diverse sexual appetite to mirror its population of travelers and deity options. 
 
Remember this context as you read through  both the letters to the Corinthians. Even though Jesus turned the world right-side up with his teachings, those who remain to follow still live in the upside down world He came to save. Themes like how to live as a united group of followers, what it means to serve, to be wise, to be married, to live righteously, to resolve conflict; these are all things that will face those trying to follow Jesus within the fallen world that remains as God’s patience for more to be saved is extended. 
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Bible Study 3 John Study

3 John – Chapter 1 (well, the only chapter)

John describes himself as the “elder” – This makes sense. At this point he’s likely the only apostle still alive. For some reason I have in my head that he is pretty heavy at this point and wears a black cloak but that isn’t supported by any historical record. It’s kind of a cross between the man in the painting who prays with the Bible and the bread and a monk.
 
Gauis is likely a close friend. Sometimes we’re concerned that praying for “shallow” things like good health and soul wellness is bad because we could be praying for ways to die for Jesus or go broke. I’m not against the latter half, but John seems to think it’s not an issue to pray for the former. So, you know, don’t beat yourself up about it, it’s cool to pray for good health. I do like the thought of praying that someone’s soul might be well, we should probably do that more.
 
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in truth.” I hear that, brother. Gaius seems to be up to good things, training fellas up for the work of the good news, spreading it to the Gentiles. When he says that they accept nothing from the Gentiles, it’s not a bad thing, he’s basically saying that the church is providing for them so they don’t ask for anything from those they are trying to serve. Further, John encourages that Jesus people should support fellow workers that are up to such things.
 
Sounds like Diotrephes is a trouble maker, a selfish dude who does what he wants, talks badly about others, and is an inhospitable jackanapes to travelling Jesus fellas. Worse still, he tries to chuck hospitable folks who want to help the travelling bros out of the church. No wonder John wants to reckon with him. It’s interesting that this guy even retains any authority at all. John has more patience for him at this point than I do.
 
That said, he reminds them to not imitate evil but good and we hear echoes of his first two letters in “Whoever does good is from God…” In light of which, Demetrius seems to be doing a good job and everyone is saying so. (Hey man, are we telling folks they are doing good work? Encouraging them? Let’s do better at that.)
 
Finally, John still wants face to face time, better than a letter. He ends with some simple commands: Have peace, accept the greetings from all your friends, and greet them back, all of them. Seems easy enough.
 
 
 <<< 3 John Intro Jude Intro >>>

 

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Bible Study 3 John Study

3 John – Intro

Written by John the Elder to house church believers, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John echo the gospel of John. They emphasize that God is light and love and every true believer will demonstrate God’s light and love. Each book also addresses deceivers, teachers who no longer acknowledge that Jesus is the Messiah or Son of God but spread fear and division among believers.

All legitimate teachers will share the truth about Jesus and the cross, love others sacrificially and spread love and light rather than fear. He also reminds believers to welcome true missionaries who teach the message of the cross and love others. They should not welcome deceivers or make idols of anything that exalts itself in God’s place.

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Bible Study 2 John Study

2 John – Chapter 1 (well, the only chapter)

John’s greeting is interesting, we seem to be dropping in on a conversation between John and some woman. However, it’s hypothesized that the “elect lady” is actually a church body. Tough to be certain. And John, as in his first letter, uses pronouns in such a way that it is difficult to understand who it refers to.
 
The contents of this letter are familiar to those who have read 1st John. He kicks off with a reminder to love one another and that to love is to walk according to his commandments. And, as we have heard before, there are deceivers out there who don’t walk in truth and we are to be careful to not be deceived by them. They are the antichrists, again, because they are against the Messiah.
 
In fact, John goes so far as to say that you shouldn’t even receive someone into your house or give him a greeting. By doing so, you’re taking part in the “wicked works”. Tricky. We are here on the King’s business, and although that means loving people, loving people is defined by John as following God’s commandments. So we probably need to be careful that we don’t stray from the Biblical understanding of love (which obviously goes beyond John’s definition to include sacrifice and mercy and forgiveness and grace, but it can’t include sacrificing fealty to Jesus in the process.)
 
John ends with talking about coming to visit face to face. Letter ends with, “the children of your elect sister greet you”, which makes a strong case for “lady” and “sister” being churches, as John is obviously speaking on behalf of the latter group. Makes more sense as a church.
 
 
 <<< 2 John Intro 3 John Intro >>>