MINOR PROPHETS – Joel, Amos, Zachariah, Jonah

I.       JOEL

A.     CHAPTER 2: 1 - 11

1.        There is a great and powerful people (2)

* Some Chinese Bibles have it as a plague of locusts

2.        The hosts is exceedingly great (11)

3.        Like a mighty people arranged for battle (5)

4.        Great and powerful (2)

5.        They march each on his way (7)

6.        They do not swerve from their paths (7)

7.        They do not crowd each other (8)

8.        They march everyone in his path (8)

9.        They burst through the defenses (8)

10.     They do not break ranks (8)

11.     Nothing at all escapes them (3)

12.     They climb the wall like soldiers (7)

13.     They rush on the city, they climb on the wall; They climb into the houses, they enter through the windows like a thief (9)

14.     They run like mighty men (7)

15.     They run like war horses (4)

16.     The sound of leaping as the noise of chariots, like the crackling of a flame of fire (5)

17.     A fire consumes before them (3)

18.     A flame burns behind them (3)

19.     The land is like the Garden of Eden before them (3)

20.     A desolate wilderness behind them (3)

21.     The people are in anguish, all faces turn pale (6)

22.     The earth quakes, the heaven tremble, the sun and the moon grow dark, and the stars lose their brightness (10)

23.     There has never been anything like this (2)

24.     No will there be again after it

B.     THE SCIENTIFIC WARFARE

Nuclear weapons are formed from the nuclear fusion or nuclear fission of the atomic nucleus. At the present moment, there are three types of nuclear weapons.

·         1st Type

Atomic Bomb

·         2nd Type

Hydrogen Bomb, or known as the Thermonuclear Bomb

·         3rd Type

Neutron Bomb, Pressure Wave Bomb, Electromagnetic Pulse Bomb, X-Ray Laser Weapons form through the excitation of Nuclear explosions, Particle ray weapons.

1.        Element 

Besides radioactive reactions, all matter that cannot be divided into two or more simpler substances is called elements.

2.        Element

 All matters or substances are made up of elements.

3.        An element is made up many similar atoms.

4.        The atomic nucleus is made up of neutrons and protons.

5.        The elements will be dissolved by fire (2 Pet 3:10). Under a nuclear reaction, the radioactive element will be split into smaller elements.

6.        At the present moment, nuclear physicists have only discovered two radioactive elements that will cause a nuclear reaction. They are Uranium and Plutonium.

7.        A single piece of Uranium could be used to produce up 10, 000 billion over uranium atoms. This has a definite shape and size. When an atom of Uranium is hit by a fast moving neutron, it will split into two and the fission process begins. This emits a great deal of nuclear energy. At the same time, this nuclear fission process also emits three more neutrons which will be used to excite the rest of the Uranium atoms. This escalating effect of 1 neutron producing 3, 3 neutrons producing 9, 9 producing 27.... in a thousandth of a second, the atom will be split up. The accumulated energy emitted from a single atom is tremendous.

8.        The first atomic bomb, formed from the Uranium element was detonated in ten-thousandth of a second, causing a heat explosion of over 10,000 degrees.

9.        The Sun is a radioactive mass, constantly having atomic reactions, giving off both heat and light. The temperatures on the surface of the sun are estimated to be over 6000 degrees. This energy travels for over 150,000,000 kilometres before it reaches Earth.

10.     When an atomic bomb explodes, a bright flash like lighting is first emitted, then a great ball of fire will gush out from the centre of the explosion with a loud rumbling sound. The temperature would be 10,000 times greater than the sun, and the light would be brighter than light from 1000 suns. Under such high temperatures, all living creatures would turn to gas or dust, forming a hot and dark cloud that shoots up to the sky, forming a mushroom shaped cloud at an altitude of 20 kilometres.

11.     Hiroshima

When Japan became aggressive and wanted to extend their territories, Hiroshima Island was the largest naval base and shipyard of the Japanese. The naval commander was himself stationed there. In the 2nd World War, Japanese troops entered into China, South East Asia and attacked Pearl Harbour. Hence, in 6th August 1945, America released the first Atomic Bomb upon Hiroshima.

12.     Hiroshima

Upon detonation of the atomic bomb, great pressure waves moving towards the sky and the earth were created. The great pressure waves on the grounds caused an earthquake and over 70,000 buildings were all flattened. The atomic bomb explosion also released strong radiation, so that in less than one second, 400,000 people were killed. At the end of that year, 140,000 more died. After five years, the death toll increased by 260,000. Altogether, 800,000 people perished through this atomic bomb.

13.     The 2nd Atomic Bomb used by man was released in Nagasaki. Men were amazed and afraid of these two great nuclear fires that were released in Japan. On one hand, they profess they want peace, on the other hand, they fall over each other, trying to ensure they are ahead in the nuclear arms production race. Presently, America, Russia, Britain, France are the Nuclear powers of the world. India, Israel, South Africa, Pakistan, Brazil, Iraq and Libya are also researching and storing up for themselves Nuclear weapons.

14.     The first atomic bomb that was released at Hiroshima had an explosive power of over 12,500 tons of T.N.T. The 2nd atomic bomb at Nagasaki had an explosive power of around 22,000 tons of T.N.T.

15.     The Americans and the Russians have nuclear warheads which have and explosive power of 50,000,000 to 100,000,000 tons of T.N.T. Just a single warhead could destroy a piece of land 2,500 to 5,000 times the size of Hiroshima.

16.     According to 1989 America statistics: America has more than 26,000 nuclear warheads. Its accumulative power would exceed that of 50 hundred million tons of T.N.T. Russia has 20,000 nuclear warheads whose power exceeds that of 100 hundred million tons of T.N.T. If we were to neglect the nuclear warheads of the other countries, just the combined nuclear power that America and Russia has, it could be used to destroy the world 50 times over.

17.     According to the Singapore Straits times report on 6th February 1992: America and Russia wants to destroy all nuclear weapons but China refuses to do so, and the British do not want to see an increase in the stockpile of the nuclear weapons.

18.     Uranium and Plutonium are quite rare in its natural form. The isotope of Uranium, Uranium235 which is used for the production of Nuclear warheads, exists in only 7% of the natural element, Hence, extraction and purification of this particular isotope is very difficult. Just to manufacture a small nuclear bomb would require 10 over kilograms of U235. Hence, it is very expensive.

19.     Hydrogen Bomb - This is actually a variation of the Nuclear Bomb. This bomb uses 2 isotopes of Hydrogen - Deuterium, otherwise known as heavy hydrogen. When these two isotopes fuse together, large amounts of energy are released.

20.     In nuclear physics, the splitting of Uranium is called Nuclear Fission. The combining of the two isotope of Hydrogen is called Nuclear Fusion.

21.     It is necessary for temperatures exceeding 10 million degrees Celsius to cause a fusion of Deuterium. Then only will large amounts of energy be released.

22.     Inside each hydrogen bomb is a small atomic bomb. Outside the hydrogen bomb is a cartridge shell made of Uranium. The atomic bomb is first detonated.  During this nuclear reaction, temperatures would rise by 1,000,000 degrees. This temperature would in turn detonate the hydrogen  bomb, causing a thermonuclear reaction. The Hydrogen Bomb burns as a nuclear fusion reaction. This induces a nuclear fission reaction with the Uranium cartridge shell. This whole bomb is known as a thermonuclear weapon. Hence, thermonuclear weapons undergo three stages of reaction: Nuclear Fusion (of the atomic bomb), Nuclear Fission (of the hydrogen bomb), Nuclear Fusion (of the Uranium cartridge shell).

23.     Hydrogen Bomb

Thermonuclear weapon. Its power exceeds a hundred times that of the atomic bomb. Its destructive and murderous power is 10 times greater than the atomic bomb. Also known as the Super-Hydrogen bomb. The high temperatures caused by the hydrogen bombs ranges from 10,000,000 degrees to 1000,000,000 (1 billion) degrees. All matter at the center of the nuclear reaction would be turn to dust or gas.

24.     Missile

The means of transport for the nuclear weapons. This is made up of the nuclear warhead and a rocket. The common term for this is the Ballistic Missile. All missiles which can travel in excess of 10,000 kilometres are known as Strategic Missiles.

25.     The missiles fired from western fields of Russia takes only 30 minutes to reach America. The American missiles based at Europe takes only 15 minutes before it reaches Russia.

26.     The rockets used to fly the nuclear warheads are propelled by solid or liquid fuels. When they fly, they emit a stream of fire at its tail end. When it re-enters the atmosphere in its trajectoral flight, due to friction, the whole rocket will start to burn, from head to toe, just like a burning and glowing torch.

27.     In order for the Ballistic Missiles to burst through the atmosphere, it needs a 5 minute, then a 2 minute rocket firing stages. These rocket boosters will then separate itself from the nuclear warheads, allowing the missile to fly in its desired trajectory in outer space. However for the X-ray laser weapons can be activated within a minute to retaliate against the incoming missiles.

C.     THE GOLDEN CUP OF BABYLON

1.        Iran, one of the major countries in the Persian Gulf is an upstart amongst the oil producing nations.

2.        The Iranian Crescent. This is a common geological term used throughout the world.

3.        The Iranian Crescent looks like an Arabian Wine cup - a moon shaped crescent. Iraq - ancient Babylon, the land where the 2 rivers flow through. This part of Mesopotamia was also called the fertile crescent shaped land.

4.        The Persian Gulf is surrounded by the                        , Minor Asia, the highlands of Arabia. This gulf is almost surrounded by these and looks like a basin.

5.        The Persian Gulf accumulated much sediments in its sunken land throughout the many years. Due to a lack of a certain isotope of oxygen, the basin land caused the death of many creatures. Adding the small pebbles, vegetation and sand of that land, organic materials were formed. All these organic materials accumulated to become organic fuels. At moderate temperatures and high pressures in the earth's crust, these organic fuels are transformed to the crude oil that we know today. This black crude oil is also known as black gold by the people of the world.

6.        Before the 20th century, the precious basin of the Persian Gulf has already accumulated a large deposit of crude oil, long embedded underground. In the year 1901, an Austrian by the name of Desi paid US $20,000 for a large piece of the Persian Gulf in Iran. He conducted an oil expedition to search for oil resources to be used in the industries.

7.        The Persian Gulf owns around 70% of the world's crude oil reserves. In its peak, 20 million barrels of crude oil are pumped out each day. In the year 1933, two American petroleum companies, Mobil and Texaco, had a joint venture.  They purchased a land on the eastern part of the Saudi Arabia measuring some 930, 000 square kilometres.  There, they discovered the largest oil reserves in the world - the oil fields of Dhama. Its initial output was 30,000 barrels a day. Although each barrel was sold for US $1, its expenditure per barrel was only a few cents.

8.        This highly profitable golden cup of Babylon, who will not drink of it? Who will not get drunk? Who will not go mad? (Jer 51:7; Jer 25:16)

9.        In the 1950 - 1960, the four major oil producing countries in the Persian Gulf of Iran, Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia found that the oil prices in the world were largely controlled by 7 major petroleum companies. These Western multinational companies - Mobil, Shell, Exxon, Socal, Texaaco, BP and CFP -formed a consortium which based in New York. They controlled the prices of crude oil and these were usually unfavourable to the oil producing countries.

10.     In 1960, the four major oil producing countries of the Persian Gulf gathered together in Ancient Babylon, in the capital of Iraq, Baghdad. Their aim: To establish O.P.E.C. (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries). They were to study into the reasons why despite the increased oil production, there was a drop in their revenue. They decided that they, collectively, would have to resist or fight the controls of the Western multinationals.

11.     O.P.E.C. was later enlarged to contain 13 member countries. They are: Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Gabon, Libya, Algeria, Nigeria, Indonesia, Ecuador and Venezuela.

12.     A look at the market share of O.P.E.C. and the Western Multinationals:

In the fifties, it was 37% to 63%. In the sixties, due to America's involvement in the Vietnam War which it could not extract itself from, and the emerging power of the Soviet Union in the areas of military and nuclear might, and the Soviet aid and training of the Arabians, the share of the market became 50% to 50%. Now, O.P.E.C. could meet together with the Western Multinationals, to have the voting rights to decide on the oil production quota and the price of a barrel of crude.

Now, the Western Multinationals based at New York had lost its power over the prices of the crude oil. This affected greatly the many industrial nations which depended upon oil, for now, they had to pay a much higher price for it. This led to great financial instability, and it was generally viewed as a great crude oil crisis.  At the present moment, the share of the market between O.P.E.C. and the Western Multinationals stands at 70% to 30%. The oil producing countries are indeed dripping with oil, they are dirt rich. The Western Multinationals saw their revenue drop by a third. However, they still had control over the technology for processing and refining the crude oil to petrol, gas, lubricants and filtering oil. These 2 key areas of technology still lie with these Western petroleum companies. Hence, they still make astronomical profits despite their loss of control.

13.     The oil produced from the Persian Gulf fulfills 60% of West Europe needs, 65% of Japan's needs and 20% of America's needs. Hence we can see the life and death relationship that Western Europe and Japan has with these oil producing countries. The oil pipes from the Persian Gulf are just like blood vessels, pumping oil to ensure the survival of the    industries in Western Europe and Japan. In 1973, the fourth great confrontation between Israel and the Arabian countries made the Persian Gulf countries raise the oil prices indiscriminately, threatening to stop exports of oil, to exact their revenge on those countries that helped Israel in their battle. This caused a global crude oil crisis, resulting in many lost jobs, inflation, financial collapses, social unrest, and the subsequent weakening of the US dollar, the British Pound, the France Franc, the Japanese Yen.

14.     Prophet Jeremiah had already prophesied long before that for the sake of fighting to drink of what is in the cup, people will be drunk and go mad, to vomit and stagger about and not even able to rise up again after they fall (Jer 25:27).

15.     During the four Arab-Israeli wars of 1948, 1956, 1967 and 1973, the Arab countries made use of oil as a weapon to instill fear in the arena of politics, economics and society. This causes everyone to be drunk by the golden cup of Babylon, to go mad and fall. This fulfills the prophecy of the emergence of the Black Horse in the book of Revelations - the emergence of black crude oil, a sign of the great depression. (Rev 6:5 - 6). A denarius is a day's wage (Matt 20:2). This denarius could originally purchase 10 times the measure of wheat, and barley was cheaper than wheat.

16.     In 1973, the price of crude jumped from US $3.50 a barrel to US $12 a barrel. 1980 - 1988 was the war between Iran and Iraq. They fought over a 100 km stretch along the 1280 km long border of Iran and Iraq. This was at the south east of the border, at the lower stream of the Shatt al-Arab waterway (the Arvand Rive, according to Iran). Whoever could lay claim to this piece of land would control the oil harvest of this rich oil land and the main oil exporting routes. The price of crude shot up from US $24 to US $32.  Recently in 1990, when Iraq, in a fit of madness, attacked Kuwait, this cause an unprecedented movement of allied troops around the world to gather themselves against Iraq. And the price of crude jumped form US $18 to US $40. The economist predicted that if there was an increase in 20% of the oil prices, this wound cause an increase of 1 point in the Industrial Index and a drop of 1% in the growth rate. Hence we can see this thing inside the golden cup of Babylon - the oil in the Persian Gulf, has a great influence on the security of the world.

17.     1901 - Desi, the Austrian discovered oil in the fields of Iran

1914 - 1918   The First World War

1939 - 1945  The 2nd World War

These wars were for the sake of this golden cup of Babylon. Everyone fought till they fell like flies.  In the most recent event of the invasion of Kuwait in 1990 by Iraq, we can see that the people of the world will fight to drink of this golden cup of Babylon - the oil in the Persian Gulf, till they vomit and stagger about.

According to newspaper reports:

1.        America had to spend US $50 million a day on the military operations. This incurred a foreign debt which totaled up to US $500 billion.

2.        Japan gave US $4 billion

3.        Germany gave US $3 billion

4.        Kuwait gave US $5 billion

5.        Saudi Arabia gave US $10 billion.

6.        Due to the stopping of oil production and trade embargoes against Iraq, Iraq lost an estimated US $20 billion.

7.        Jordan, Egypt and the surrounding Persian countries lost a total of US $10 billion.

8.        Italy and France provided soldiers.

The countries of the world were weakened, falling like flies.

D.     MESOPOTAMIA

1.        Mesopotamia

Greek for "between the two rivers" (Gen 24:10)

2.        Mesopotamia

The two rivers flow through the present day Iraq. The two rivers most probably referred to River Tigris (Hiddekel in Hebrew) and River Euphrates (Perat in Hebrew) (Gen 2:14)

3.        The Garden of Eden lies on the plains of Mesopotamia. Four rivers flow through it during those days. Now, only two are left. (Gen 2:10 - 11, 13 - 14)

4.        When Noah left the Ark, he moved from the mountains of Ararat to the plains of Mesopotamia (Gen 8:4; 10:32; 11:2)

5.        The plains in the land of Shinar refer to Mesopotamia (Gen 11:2).

6.        The plains of Shinar was a place where the people were evil and it was there, that they built the Tower of Babel. (Amos 5:11; Gen 11:1 - 9; 10:10)Hence, the ancient Babylon is also the source of evil.

7.        Nimrod - The mighty one, the revolutionary. The Bible records him as the first person to establish a kingdom. He was called a mighty hunter denoting his bravery. His kingdom was in the land of Shinar, which was later called Babylon -the ancient Babylon (Micah 5:6; Gen 10:8 - 10). From there, he went to Assyria to built his kingdom (Gen 10:11).

8.        The plains of Mesopotamia was also the plains of the Chaldeans. This is because the Chaldeans established their nations in this land (2 Kgs 24:2). The culture and literature of the Babylonians were the same as that of the Chaldeans.(Dan 1:1 - 4)

9.        The crescent shape fertile land

Mesopotamia is part of this fertile land (which is shown in maps E2). The two rivers of Mesopotamia and River Jordan transverse through parts of this crescent shaped fertile land.

10.     Mesopotamia

Abraham originally resided in the plains of Mesopotamia -Nahor, the land of the Chaldeans. (Gen 24:4 - 10). God called him to leave his land, his people, his family, to go to Canaan, a place where man originated -the Garden of Eden. (Gen 11:27 - 12:5; Acts 7:2 - 5) The history of the chosen people of God started from Mesopotamia to the land of: Canaan.

11.     Points to Note:

 a.      The Great Sea - The Mediterranean Sea. (Num 34:6) Canaan lies to the east of the Great Sea.

 b.      The Great River - River Euphrates (Gen 31:21). The famous ancient cities of Babylon, (Nebo??) and Nahor were all built by this river. This river was used to separate the west from the east (Rev 16:12). Its source is from the mountains of Ararat, which lies in present day Turkey. Refer to the newspaper cutting (E6). The ancient city of Nahor lays South-west of the present day capital of Iraq, Baghdad. The people there worshipped the moon god. Abraham and Terah too served the gods of the land when they were living in that land (Joshua 24:2).

E.     The Beautiful Land Of Canaan

1.        Canaan

Means the purplish red land. This is because of the famous purple dyes that the people made.

2.        The land of Canaan lies on the south west part of the fertile crescent shape land of West Asia. It was the centre of civilisation in the ancient times. To its east was Assyria, Babylon. To its west, the Mediterranean Sea. There lies the famous and important ports of Joppa and Tyre. To its south was Egypt, to its north, Syria. It was connected to Europe through the sea. Hence, Canaan played an influential role in the areas of culture, trade, politics, military matters and transportation. The Bible calls it the centre of the world. (Eze 38:12) In Hebrew, it means the navel. It was the centre of the origin of the cultures of Babylon and Egypt. It served as an important route connecting Europe, Asia and Africa. The true God had chosen the centre of the world to be the land for His chosen people. He allowed the Israelites to return to Canaan, to progress and become a strong nation, to propagate the Gospel to all places. The Lord Jesus was born at the peak of the Roman Empire's power. This allowed Paul and Peter to have convenient access to preach to the people in foreign lands.

3.        Canaan

A land flowing with milk and honey. (Jos 5:6) Joshua led the people into this rich and fertile land of Canaan, a beautiful land overflowing with its abundance.

4.        Canaan

In its original language, it has the meaning of "a sunken land". This is because it is below sea level. Both River Jordan and the Dead Sea were higher than the land of Canaan. (Gen 11:31)

5.        Canaan

The land of Israel. (Matt 2:20) This is because God changed Jacob's name to Israel. (Gen 32:27 - 28) His descendants were called Israelites. After their exodus from Egypt, they entered into Canaan and established their own nation, thus becoming the masters of the land. The people originally dwelling in the land of Canaan were the descendants of Ham - Canaan. (Gen 9:18; 10:19 - 20)

6.        Canaan

The land of the Hebrews. (Gen 40:15) This indicated that Abram left the Great River to journey to this place. The name Abram means "Passing by". The descendants of Abram were called Hebrews, to denote that they had come from across the river. This kind of address was also to despise them. (Gen 39:17) This is similar to the New Testament time when the disciples of the Lord Jesus were called Christians. (Acts 11:26) However, the Hebrews during those days were representative of the middle class migrants, living in the land of the Palestine.

7.        Canaan

Also called Palestine. In the early days, the Philistines were actually the ones staying by the sea in the land of Canaan. The land was called Philistine, later to be known as Palestine. Under the Roman Empire rule, the Romans wanted to extinguish the patriotic fervour of the Jews. So they specially called this land by the name of Palestine, hoping that the Jews would gradually forget about their own country. Today, many countries in the world are calling it by the same name. However the Jews are not willing for this to happen, to allow their country to be called Palestine.

8.        Canaan

The Holy Land. (Zech 2:12) The Chinese text has more than 20 references to it as the Holy Land while other languages has only one. It was called the Holy Land probably because of the peaceful dwelling in that land.

9.        Canaan

Syria (Lk 2:2) During the rule of the Greek and Roman empire, the land of Syria included the land of the Arams. This would be the present day Syria and the land of Canaan.

10.     Canaan

The Promised Land (Num 10:29). God called Abram to be a great nation. He will cause the name of Abraham to be great, in that all nations would be blessed because of Abraham (Gen 12:1 - 5).

F.      THE  SAMARITANS

1.        When Assyria destroyed the northern kingdom of Israel, the king of Assyria transported some Assyrians to the conquered land.  He did this to replace the exiled native Israelites. There is much confusion concerning the background of the cultures of these people. These Assyrians later married the Israelites in the land and begot their future generations. They became known to the world as Samaritans. This forced migration of the king of Assyria caused much chaos in  the issue of religion. Gradually, the  Samaritans begin to have their own religious sect. This also had much bearing upon the history of Palestine. (2 Kg 17:24)

2.        Samaritans

They reckoned that they were the true Israelites. They worshipped Jehovah, kept the Sabbath, were circumcised and even had their own  holy temple up at Mount Gerizim. They only recognise the 5 books of Moses as scriptural.

3.        Samaritans

After the mixed marriages with the Assyrians, the Jews called them a "mixed race". They followed the religious practices of the Jewish  traditions and the laws of Moses, although these were laced with influences from the Gentiles. For this reason, the Jews refused to accept them, calling them heretics and absolutely despising them.

4.        Samaritans

They hated the Jews very much.  They treasure the earliest trade and business city of Shechem, which was in the holy land of the Israelites. Jacob  had bought this land from the  sons of Hamor, Shechem's father. (Gen 33:18 -19) The bones of Joseph were buried in this city. (Jos 24:32) The Samaritans had high regard for this particular piece of history. Joshua had led the people to stand between Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal to receive a blessing and a curse. (Deut 11:29 - 30; Jos 8:33 - 35) Shechem lies between this two mountains. Hence, the Samaritans had their holy temple in Mount Gerizim as opposed to the holy temple of the Jews in Jerusalem. (Jn 4:5, 20)

5.        If the Jews wanted to go to Galilee, they will first cross River Jordan and then move northwards. They will never cross through the land of the Samaritans to go into Galilee via its south entrance. However, Jesus broke this obstacle of racial discrimination. He drew close to the Samaritan woman. Strictly speaking, the Jews should keep themselves away from the Samaritans, what more of drinking from the vessels of the Samaritans, lest they be unclean. However, Jesus tradition breaking actions honk the disciples by surprise. (Jn 4:3 — 4, 7 - 9, 27)

6.        During the time of Jesus, the temple at Mount Gerizim had already been destroyed. However, the Samaritans still continued their worship in places surrounding this area. Jesus  told the Samaritan woman that when He was glorified, the worship of the man would not be made in the destroyed temple at Mount Gerizim, nor the temple at Jerusalem, which was soon to be destroyed, but the worship of God would be done in spirit and truth. (Jn 4:21, 23 - 24)

7.        Philip was the first disciple  to go to Samaria to preach. He made a great breakthrough for the Gospel of Christ. He imitated Jesus, followed in the Master's footsteps. As a result, the Council at Jerusalem sent Peter and John to Samaria, to. help the people to pray and to lay hands on them. This signified acceptance and acknowledgement of one another, thus destroying the age old enmity between the two nations. This too testified of the unity in the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8:5, 14 - 17; Lk 9:51 - 55)

II.    Zechariah

A.     The Eight Visions

1.        B.C. 722

Northern Kingdom of Israel was conquered by Assyria

2.        B.C. 606

Assyria was conquered by Babylon. First captivity of the Jews to Babylon.

3.        B.C. 597

Second captivity of the Jews to Babylon

4.        B.C. 587

Third captivity of the Jews to Babylon. Babylon conquered the Southern Kingdom of Judah, and the temple was destroyed.

5.        B.C. 539

Persia conquered the Babylonians - Chaldean Kingdom.

6.        B.C. 536

Cyrus, King of Persia made a proclamation throughout his kingdom to allow the Jews to return to their country to rebuild the holy temple (Ezra 1:1 - 11, 2:64 - 69).

7.        The first captivity of the Jews in B.C. GOG to the first time that the Jews were allowed to return to rebuild the holy temple in B.C. 536, fulfills the prophecy made by Jeremiah that the chosen race shall be captured and shall serve the Babylonian kings for 70 years (Jer 25:8 - 12).

8.        When the chosen people returned to rebuild the foundation of the temple, the Samaritans requested to join in the rebuilding work but were rejected by the Jews. In their anger, the Samaritans wrote an accusation letter to the Persian courts, accusing the Jews of rebellion, and asked the Persian king to decree that the work of rebuilding of the temple by the Jews must be stopped. Thus, the rebuilding work was stopped for 15 years from the time of king Artaxerxes till the reign of king Darius (Ezra 4:1 - 2-1).

9.        Prophets Haggai and Zechariah called upon the chosen people to rebuild the holy temple, that they must not rest in rebuilding the temple and leave it in desolation (Haggai 1:1 - 4). Darius, king of Persia made a new decree that anyone who hinders the work of the Jews in rebuilding the temple shall be made to perish. Thus, the temple was completed 4 years later (Ezra 6:1 - 15).

10.     The 3 prophetic books of Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi as well as the 3 historical books of Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther gives an account of the Jews' 70 years of captivity in Babylon and their return to rebuild the holy temple and the city wall.

11.     In the Old Testament, when Samuel was old, the chosen people asked to anoint a king (1 Sam 8:4 - 9; 19 - 22). Saul, David and Solomon were kings of the united kingdom. After the time of Solomon, the kingdom was divided into two, namely the Southern kingdom and the Northern kingdom. (1 Kg 12:20, 17).

12.     The kings of the Northern kingdom were from Jeroboam to Hoshea. The kings of the Southern kingdom wore from Rehoboam to Zedekiah.

13.     In the Old Testament, before the time of the united kingdom, there were no prophets who wrote the books of the Old Testament.

After the kingdom was divided, a total of 16 prophets were authors of Biblical books in the Old Testament.

A classification of the period of work and object of the prophets is as follows:

 a.      Israel - Hosea, Amos

 b.      Judah  - Joel, Isaiah, Micah, Zephaniah, Habakkuk,

 c.      Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Zechariah, Malachi

 d.      Gentile kingdoms : Edom - Obadiah

 e.      Nineveh - Jonah, Nahum

14.     The work of the Old Testament prophets towards the Southern kingdom of Judah is divided into 3 categories:

 a.      Before captivity -Jonah, Isaiah, Micah, Zephaniah,

 b.      Habakkuk, Jeremiah

 c.      During captivity -  Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel

 d.      After return to country - Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

15.     There are a total of 31 Zechariahs in the Old Testament. The author of the minor prophetic book, Zechariah, like Jeremiah and Ezekiel, was a priest as well as a prophet. Zechariah means remembered by God; and the minor prophet Zechariah was indeed one who was remembered and thought of by God.

16.     Haggai and Zechariah were contemporaries, and they had similar duties and work - to lead and encourage the chosen people to rebuild the holy temple. Haggai called upon the people and led them in the rebuilding work; Zechariah then prophesied and encouraged them to complete the rebuilding work.

17.     The 8 visions of the minor prophet Zechariah contains many prophecies of the last days. Prophecies and scenarios concerning the last days are the most difficult to decipher and understand.

18.     The  8 visions in the book of Zechariah:

 a.      The horseman among the myrtle trees (1:7 - 17)

 b.      The 4 horns and the 4 craftsmen (1:18 - 21)

 c.      The measuring line of the Holy City (2:1 - 13)

 d.      The high priest before God (3:1 - 10)

 e.      The golden lampstand and the olive trees (4:1 - 14)

 f.       The (lying scroll (5:1 - 4)

 g.      The woman in the basket (5: 5 - 11)

 h.      The 4 chariots from the bronze mountains (6:1 - 8)

19.     Vision of the horseman among the myrtle trees (1:7 - 17)

 a.      Myrtle trees:

Leaves grow abundantly, used to make booths during the feast of the booths (tabernacles) (Neh 8:15), but the tree trunks are delicate and short, unlike those of cedar and oak trees which are tall and big. The trees are the chosen people (Isa 5:7).

 b.      The myrtle trees in the glen:

It. means that the chosen people were once honorable (Num 7:6 - 7), however, they disobeyed the commandments of God, hence were captured, despised, and when they returned to their homeland to carry out their rebuilding work, they met with hindrances. They were exceedingly lowly and inferior, and their status was very much lowered, just like the delicate and short myrtle trees which are hollow in the centre.

 c.      Red horse, sorrel (yellow) horse and white horse:

Represents the many horsemen that God has sent to patrol the whole earth and to observe the whole earth. God will check on all actions and thoughts carefully iPs 139:1 - 12).

 d.      All the earth remains at rest and is peaceful and quiet:

Cyrus, king of Persia made a proclamation to all his kingdom to allow the Jews to return to their country to rebuild the holy temple. However, king Artaxerxes believed the false accusations made by the Samaritans and the people living in the region beyond the River, and he made a decree that the rebuilding work should stop. As a result, the temple was left desolate for 15 years (Ezra 4:17 - 24; Zech 1:1 - 4). The whole land was at peace and rest. Here, rest, peace and quietness refers to coldness, retreat, stillness and cessation, casting everything aside and not ignoring them. Refer to the famous words of our Lord Jesus concerning the scenario of the last days (Matt 2-1:12, 20).           

 e.      God answered with gracious and comforting words:

God wanted Zechariah to announce that His heart was burning with Zeal for Jerusalem and Zion, and that He has returned to Jerusalem and will continue to bestow mercy. God's temple shall be rebuilt, the measuring line will be pulled again and God's city shall once again be prosperous and thriving. God will comfort Zion again, and will choose Jerusalem. The holy temple in the ancient days was like this, the true church in the last days as well as the spiritual temple inside each person will also be likewise (Micah 7:11; Eph 2:20 - 22).

20.     Vision of the 4 horns and the 4 craftsmen   (1:18 - 21).

 a.      Horn :

Symbol o kingdom, authority, power and ability. (Dan 7:24; Lk 1:69) or it may refer to each individual (Ps 75:10).

 b.      The 4 horns and the 4 craftsmen:

The horns which have scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem. From history, we can see that several powerful empires rising one after another. Those which have been used by God as instruments to punish the chosen people include Assyria, Babylon, Persia and Medes, Greece, Rome, etc. Ezra 5:12

21.     Vision of the Measuring Line of the Holy City (2:1 - 13).

 a.      Measuring Line:

One of the tools used in construction, to measure if the city wall is at a right angle to the   ground, thus checking the standard of the construction work (Rev 21:15). The standard of the holy temple is set by God, the dimensions of the spiritual temple (1 Cor 3:16) must be in accordance to the word of God (Isa 8:20; Eze 43:10 - 12). The true church is also likewise iJn 14:6; Jonah 5:6 - 8; Deut 12:32; Rev 22:18 - 19).

 b.      Measuring Jerusalem:

Like villages without walls - The length, breadth, height and depth of God's love surpass knowledge and all that we ask or think (Eph 3:16 - 20). The love of God enables the chosen people to be filled with faith and hope, thereby obtaining strength and power to build the temple. To break through all boundaries and barriers, just like when the Lord was alive.

 c.      Zech  2:5    

wall of fire around you; 

Rev 20

well of love of Jesus

 d.      Rejoice, 1 will dwell in the midst of you:

The Spirit of truth - the Counsellor, will always and forever be with us, to dwell in our  hearts, so that we would not be troubled or afraid, but we will rejoice instead (Jn .14: 16 - 17, 25 - 28; 17:13).

 e.      Repossess the holy land and chouse again:

We must be nurtured and sanctified through the words of the Lord and through His Spirit (Jn 17:17 - 18; Heb 6:4 - 5, 7).

 f.       To be silent before Cod:

Owing to the presence of God and the Holy Spirit, we shall be united with the Lord in His name, in His Spirit and in His love (Jn 14:23; 15:7, 9 - 12; 17:11 - 12, 26, 21 - 24). When we rely on the name of the Lord, we only have to be still and keep quiet, and God will fight the battle for us and we shall be saved (Ex 14:14; Acts 4 : 12).

 g.      He who touches you touches the apple (pupil) of His eye:

God protects His precious Holy nation carefully (Deut 32:9 - 10), so much so that they are unable to fully understand and grasp the extent of His protection. The chosen people had hated the Lord and the Father even before us (Jn 15:18, 23), truly, this is the mystery of being in one spirit.

22.     Vision of the High Priest Before God (3:1 -10)

 a.      High Priest:

Joshua : Satan stood on the light of Joshua to oppose him. Satan accused him saying since the chosen people had been taken captive to Babylon, the work of the priest had ceased, the holy temple was destroyed, the ark was missing, the holy of holies had no ark and hence the absence of God's glory and blessings. Joshua was no longer fit to go into the holy of holies to perform the duties of a priest (Ezra 2:1 - 2; 3:1 - 2, 8). Joshua was also clothed with filthy garments, and had iniquity, thus he was not worthy to be called a holy person, and the priest could not continue being a priest. Satan's wiles are such that he will first seduce the people to sin. He will then pretend to be reverent and tell the people that since they have already sinned, they have no more hope and are no longer worthy to draw near to God, thus there is no need for them to offer sacrifices and pray anymore, and it will be to no avail even if they were to repent.

 b.      A brand plucked from fire:

God rebuked Satan for his half-truths. God is holy, and without holiness, no one can see God (Heb 12:4). God is just. Those who are sinful and filthy cannot become the vessels of God (2 Tim 2:19 - 22). However, God is also a kind and loving God who is merciful towards men and wishes for all men to repent and be saved (Lam 3:19 - 25, 40 - 41; Micah 7:7 - 11; 2 Pet 3:9). Hence Joshua represents all the chosen people. All spiritual chosen people are a royal priesthood (1 Pet 2 : 9), saved through the mercy of God, not to be condemned.

 c.      The Transformation of Joshua

(a)     He took off his defiled garments –

(i)       To leave sin. No matter how filthy we are, how heavy our sins may be, the precious blood of the Lord Jesus washes it away, the salvation grace of our Lord Jesus forgives us completely (1 Tim 1:15 - 17)

(b)     Dressed in rich apparel –

(i)       To put on Christ, to have true righteousness and holiness, to put on a new nature (Gal 3:27; Eph 4:22 - 24).

(c)     To put on a clean headdress –

(i)       To be consecrated for Yahweh's use (Ex 28:1 - 5, 36 - 37). This clearly shows the greatness of the love of the Lord. His incomparable love, far more abundantly and than all that we ask or think - these qualities makes Him worthy to be the high priest, to restore the glory of the high priest. (Eph 3:14 - 2.1).

 d.      Warnings To Joshua:

If you will walk in My ways and keep My charge, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here. If we keep ourselves in the Words of God, and in the love of God, our paths would be free from obstacles, and it would be a safe highway to walk  (Jude 20 - 21; Psalms 84:5). However, we must not use the grace of God to give way to our passions, for our God is not to be mocked (Jude 4; Gal 6:7; 2 Tim 2:21; Heb 10:26 - 31).

 e.      The companions too must listen:

Those who have left sin through the precious blood are just like the friends of Joshua - The priest of the Heavenly Father (Rev 1:5 - 6).

 f.       One stone set with seven eyes: 

The Lord  is the living stone, spiritual rock, the cornerstone (1 Pet 2: 4; 1 Cor 2:1; Eph 2:20). Seven is a complete number. Seven eyes represents the spiritual eyes of God searching, and that the protective eye of the Lord is perfect (Psalms 139: 1 - 16). He sees all things, whether it be near of far, young or old, good or evil, inward or outward, glorified or despicable.

 g.      I will remove the guilt of this day in a single day:

God is a righteous, merciful, holy and compassionate God. The chosen people had been taken captive, their garments are filthy, they are full of sin. However, if they sincerely repent, to be humble and acknowledge their sins and repent, God's precious blood will wash away all unrighteousness. Not only for the chosen race, but this sacrifice for sins is done for all the people in the world. (1 Jn 1: 8 - 9; 2: 1 -2).

 h.      Everyone of you will invite his neighbor under his vine and under his fig tree:

When Paul knew God. when he tasted the goodness of God, he understood that it was good for everyone to receive this same blessing that he had received. (1 Cor 9:23). The Lord Jesus is the true vine (Jn 15:1). The Lord Jesus had no form or comeliness that we should look at Him, and yet we are able to taste the goodness of Him, just like that of a fig tree (Is 53:2; Judges 9:11). Hence, when we have tasted the Heavenly gift, to be partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the Word of God (Heb 6:4 - 5), we must declare the wonderful deeds and the peace bestowed by the Lord (1 Pet 2:9; Luke 2:14). This is just like the beautiful vision which prophet Micah saw (4:1 - 4).

23.     The Image Of The Golden Lampstand and The Olive Trees (4:1 - 14).

 a.      A lampstand all of gold:

The lampstand is the church (Rev l:20b). Gold is Truth and Sincerity (Ps 119:160). The church is the body of Christ (Eph 1:23). There is only one body (Eph 4:4a). Hence, there is only one true church, a church that truly belongs to God.

 b.      There are 7 lamps on the lampstand:

Lamps are used to shine the light (Num 8:1 - 3). The number 7 in the Bible refers to a complete number. This means a perfect light shining. The Lord Jesus is the light of the world, and also the light of life (Jn 8:12). Only the church which truly has the spirit of Jesus, is a church with life and a living body (James 2:26a). Only then, is this a perfect-lamp, shining the light of life for all to see. Only then, can light be provided for those who are dwelling in the darkness of sin (Luke 1:78 - 79; Is 60:2) His salvation may reach to the ends of the earth (Is 49: 5 - 6).

 c.      There are 7 lips on each of the lamps:

The lips are used for transportation, connection, absorb and reception. The seven lips refer to a perfect reception and communication. We have received the fullness of the grace of the Lord (Jn 1:16). We have freely received (Matt 10:7b), for by grace, we have been saved through faith (Eph 2:4 - 9).

 d.      The two olive trees beside the gulden lampstand:

These are the two anointed who stand by the Lord of the whole Earth (Zech 4:1 l - 14). God directed Zerubbabel that if he relied on the Spirit of God, he can do all things (Zech 4: 3 - 6). Olives is one of the three major produce of the land. In the ancient times, olives was a main source of oil. Furthermore, this olive oil was used to anoint the priest (Ex 30:24b - 25). Hence, in the Bible, the main responsibility of the olives is to provide its fatness, by which gods and man are honoured (Judges 9:9). God through prophet Zechariah encouraged Zerubbabel and Joshua to put off the filthy garments to arise and rebuild Che Holy temple (Ezra 5:1 - 2). The shepherd of the church - the priest Joshua, the administrative leaders - Zerubbabel, must be filled with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of wisdom, the Spirit of power which can make the big mountain before us to become a flat plain (Zech 4:7b). God saw the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel - rejoicing (Zech 4:10b). Hence, he shall bring forth a top stone to be put in the Holy Temple (Zech 4:7). This means that Zerubbabel by relying on the Spirit of the Lord had laid the foundation of the temple, his hands have also completed it (Zech 4:9). Today, all those who have been chosen becomes a kingdom of priest (Ex 19:6), those who believe shall be called priest of the Lord (Is 6l:6a). The precious blood of the Lord Jesus has enabled every tribe and tongue and nation and people to become priests in the kingdom of God (Rev 5:6 - 10; 1:4 - 6). This anointing that we have received is true, it is not a lie (1 Jn 2:27). All of us have a part in the Holy Spirit (Heb 6:4). We should be strengthened in the grace of the Lord (2 Tim 2:1). God will not be pleased with us if we were to backslide (Heb 10:38b). We must by relying on Jesus be joined together, growing into a holy temple in the Lord (Eph 2:21 - 22), to become a spiritual house (1 Pet 2:5). When the Holy Spirit works within us, things will be done far more abundantly than all that we ask or think (Eph 3:20).

 e.      The two branches of the olive trees, which are beside the two golden pipes from which the oil is poured out:

Those who are filled   with the Holy Spirit, out of his heart shall flow rivers of water to serve the Lord (Jn 7:38 - 39). The gold oil refers to the Holy Spirit of truth, definitely not the spirit of error - filthy oil (1 Jn 4:1, 6). Golden lips are holy, not defiled. Those with clean lips are worthy of the Lord's use (Is 6:5 - 8). If anyone has not made a mistake in his speech, he is a perfect man (Jas 3:2). A true religious man is able to bridle his tongue (Jas 1:26). Only those who are truly sanctified, truly religious, are they able to enjoy the blessing of being able to serve God with the gold oil that flows out of the gold lips.

 f.       Who has despised the things as small? What is man that God regards him and cares for him? (Ps 8:4; 144:3). Just as Paul said, we had sinned initially, but through the salvation, mercy of God, and through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are able to serve God (1 Tim 1:12 - 16). We have the treasure of the Holy Spirit in a weak earthen vessel, to show that the transcendent power of God (2 Cor 4:7). How can this be a small thing?

24.     Vision of the flying scroll (5:1-4)

 a.      Dimensions of the scroll

Its length is twenty cubits and its width is ten cubits. The Jews' cubit is equivalent to two, about 45 cm or 18 inches. Such a long and broad scroll is comparable to the size of the corridor in the Holy Temple, used for the reading of books of the law. The largeness of the book signifies the aplenty of events recorded inside.

 b.      Contents of the scroll

(a)     wide and general in nature :

Over the face of the earth means that  there is no  distinction made  between races,  lands, noble or the lowly, big or small, rich or the poor, strong or the weak,  beautiful or the  ugly, man  or woman,  old or  the young. Everyone  cannot escape, avoid and hide away because the sight of God  is  over  the  whole earth.(Lev  19:15;Zech  4:10;Ps  139:1-16;69:5;90:8)

(b)     judgmental  in  nature: 

A curse is  the  result  of judgment.   The consequence of judgment is either a blessing or a curse; if not  eternal life then  eternal death; if not  reward then punishment; if not a blessing then calamity; if not the book of  life then  the book  of death.(Gen  2:17;Deut 27:11-13;30:15-20;Rev 20:12-15)

(c)     openness in nature:

On this side, on  that side  the scroll is  open and is  made known to  all.  Everyone’s conduct, speech and thoughts  is clearly and correctly  recorded under the scrutiny of  God.  They are  entirely made opened for  all to see and  there  is no  covering up  or  shifting of  blame.(Ps 139:1-16;8;69:5;Jn 15:22;Heb 4:12-13)

(d)     representing nature:

The perjurer and those who swears falsely.   God is wholly holy, the  Lord Jesus is without blemish and hence the God of heaven and earth wants us to be like him and to put  on Jesus Christ, becoming children of light.(Heb 7:26;Eph 5:8;Gal  3:27;Eph 4:20-24;Jude 24)   Even if there  are deeds and mistakes that are clearly wrong to us, we must not  dismiss it as small, common evil and go ahead to commit it.  Just like stealing a  sheep by simply  leading it away  or indiscriminately swearing falsely, all these are not acceptable by God and if  one does not repent, he shall not enter the  kingdom of God and will receive a curse.(Gal  5:19-21;Rev 22:15;Eph  5:5-7)    Furthermore, if  our lives and all that  belongs to us are  not put to the  Lord's use then we are just  having them in vain and  we are not living  for our Lord. We  expressed with our lips,"Lord! Lord!"  but we fail to  obey the truth and practice it.   Though we are baptized into Christ, we are able to manifest the image of Christ in our lives. By name we  are living but in actual fact we are dead.  Hence, we are  more unaware  of committing  perjury, even  robbery, telling lies  and  swearing  falsely.(I  Chron  29:11-18;1 Jn  l:5-6;Rev 3:l;Matt 7:21-23)

 c.       The mission of the scroll

(a)     it  went forth before God:

According to  the will and timing  of God, relying on God's standard, standard of the truth, standard  of the  bible, not  according  to standards  derived by self-appraisal and standards set by self-righteousness.(Eccl 3:1-8,  11,;Zech  2:l-2;Rev  11:1;I  Cor  3:16-17:II  Cor  10:12:Prov 30:12;I Cor 8:2-3; II Cor 7:1)

(b)     goes  out over the face of  the whole earth :

The delay of  the judgment of God is actually God's grace, magnanimity and forbearance towards man, wishing  that all man will  repent; it is not that  God does not  know or see  that he does  not administer judgment.   If we  reckon the grace  of God as  an opportunity to gratify our carnal  desires, resulting in  laying evil upon  evil and  adding  more  sins to  existing  sins,  then  we are  indeed pitiable and to be sorrowful about.  This is because if judgment were to come upon us,  it will be  very swift and  in a moment's time all shall  be made  plain throughout the  earth.   Sorrowful cries of repentance will be too late for there would be no longer any opportunities to do so.   Asking the mountains  and hills to cover  us so that we can  avoid his judgment is  of no avail for there  will  be no  escape  throughout  the  whole earth.(II  Pet 2:3;3:8-9;Rom  2:4-ll;Ps  10:4;Isa 30:l-2:Jer  9:3;Matt 24:27:Hos 10:8,-Rev 1:7)

(c)     entering into  every house  : 

No matter what land  or people, all things  cannot be  hidden from the  judgment of  the Lord and all  will not be able to hide from it.  Before the Lord, all will be revealed, wrong or right shall be made clear, good or evil  shall be made plain, light and darkness shall be separated, all shall  be made equal,  all shall be  justified, all  shall be laid  open, the  goat  and the  lamb,  eternal life  and  eternal damnation,   left   and   right  shall   be   distinguished.(Eccl ll:9;12:13-14;Lev 19:15;Matt 25:32-33,46;7:15-23;Heb 4:13)

(d)     consume man, house, timber and stones :

Do not deceive oneself, God  is not mock; all that  deserve to be destroyed will be destroyed and there  will be utter destruction even  the house with its timber and stones and even angels, who have sinned, were not  able to escape.(Gal  6:7-8;Lev 11:32-35;Jude 23;Neh 12:30;II Pet 2:4-8;3:6-14;Ps 101:7-8)

25.     Woman in the ephah (5:5-11 )

 a.      The likeness of evil men in the whole land :

(a)     Woman :

Wickedness refers to evil men, sinful men.  This is just like the vision apostle John saw on the island of Patmos. Babylon is the great city which controls all the kings of the earth, it portrays the adulteress and the mother of all detestable things in the world.(Rev 17:18,3-5,2,6)

(b)     In all the land :

The ephah is the Jews' largest vessel for measuring solids of a definite shape, it is the largest unit on the measuring scale.  This means that in all the land throughout the whole earth man is corrupted before God. Man's sins in the land is great, his conduct is corrupted and his thoughts are continually evil; he is truly wicked.(Gen 6:5,11-12;18:20;Rom 5:12)

(c)     A leaden cover on the mouth of the ephah :

The cover is used as a seal, to seal the mouth completely.  Lead has a usage of protection  against  radioactive  radiation,  the  cover  means completeness, having no holes or leakages.  The meaning is to seal the wickedness in the ephah, killing it and giving no way to it, so that there may not be any remnant of evil or harm.  Regarding wickedness coming from our passions, no matter big or small, we must not have pity but to entirely annihilate them, giving no opportunities to the devil.  Individually speaking, all of us is like a vessel.   We must put our sinful desires to death, not allowing it to conceive and giving birth to sin, not allowing it to mature, and giving birth to death.  By relying on the power of the Holy Spirit, fleshly passions and evil conduct, must be completely put to death; acute conspicuous passions must not be spared either. We must always compare ourselves with the truth, letting the Words of God to pierce our thoughts and intentions, not allowing sins, wickedness, and unrighteous thoughts to harbor inside us, so as to utterly put to death  evil  passions and wicked  desires.(Gen 6: 13; 19: 13 ; 7 :21-23; 1 9 : 24-25; 2 Pet 2:4-8;Rom 6:12-13;7:18,24;8:13;Jas 1:15;Gal  5:19-21;I Cor 5:6-8;6:9-11;II Cor 7:1;Heb 4:12)

 b.      Two women were seen :

(a)     Woman :

Lady, church (II Jn :1); the holy city Jerusalem comes forth from God and descends from the heavens just like a bride, and is the bride of the Lamb. (Rev 21:2,9) The two women means two churches, and it must belong to God, must belong to Heaven, must be spiritual, established by the Holy Spirit and descends from heaven. The Pentecostal Autumn Rain apostolic church and the Spring Rain True Jesus Church established by the Holy Spirit in Beijing, China are personally chosen and established by God.

(b)     Wings like wings of a stork  : 

Stork belongs to a particular specie of aquatic birds.  It has long legs, long beak, and large wings. Wings manifest power (Ex 19:4). There is wind in the wings and hence signifies spiritual power (Acts 2:1-4), this power is not any ordinary power, or any secular power but is the great power and strength of the Holy Spirit and it is beyond our supplication and imagination.(Ezek 1:24;Eph 3:20)

(c)     Flew fast and lifted up the ephah :

The power of the Holy Spirit of the Apostolic Church and the power of the Holy Spirit of the True Jesus Church is the great power of the one true God.  Only when a church which has the powerful Lord abiding with her that she has the power for the forgiveness of sins, has the power to overcome the devils, the power of removing sins swiftly and the grace  of  sanctification.(Zech  4:6;3:1-5;Jn  20:21-23;1:16;Acts 4 : 1 2 ; 3 : 6-12,16;2:38 ; 5 : 1 - 11 ;16:16-18)

(d)     Land of Shinar :

Land where ancient Babylon was situated, that is the Mesopotamia Peninsula plain, the Shinar plain, the land of the tower of Babel, the land of evolution of the sins of man.(Gen 11:1-9)

(e)     To build a house for it, awaiting the preparation of the house :

God has his own time and when the time is ripe, evil men will be cut-off and utterly eradicated.  Since there is little time left, what is intended to come will come for there is no delay. All sins and evils shall come to nothing for all will be utterly burnt.  Only by hoping in the new heaven and new earth that we shall not be so afraid but rather be fearless.(II Pet 3 :7-14;Heb 10:32-39,-Ps 37:10;Lk 21: 24-28;Rev 6:9-11;Jn 14:1-3)

26.     Four chariots from mountains of bronze (6:1-8)

Four chariots, four horses (red, black, white, dappled grey), four winds.

 a.      From the Lord of all the earth :

This means the messenger of the Lord, the command of the Lord, the power of the Lord, the Spirit of the  Lord.(Ezek 37:9-10,14;Jn 20:21-22;Acts 2:1-4;Ps 104:4)

 b.      Came forth from between two mountains, mountains of bronze :

(a)     Bronze mountains :

In the beautiful land of Canaan, bronze can be extracted (Deut 8:9). Bronze has the meaning of brightness and refinement(Rev 1:15;Ezek 1:7;Dan 10:6). The bronze mountain is filled with precious truth, it is the church of the well tried words of God. She preaches teachings that are according to the truth and the will of God. Man obtaining it is like obtaining treasure and his spirit receives light and is cleansed. The more he seeks it, the closer he gets to it, and the more he will see of it. It comes forth continually, there is no end in obtaining it and its use will never expire. The Lord's words and truth is certainly the most precious.(Ps 119:140;Prov 30:5;Isa 2:2-3,5;Phil 3:8;Lk 11:9;Jn 1:16-17)

(b)      Two mountains :

Two bronze mountains, the mountains that contain large amount of bronze. The church that is filled with the spirit of truth - the apostolic church established by the Holy Spirit on the day of the feast of Pentecost, the True Jesus Church established by the Holy Spirit in 1917 at Beijing, China. The truth never cease, the more one extracts of it the more there are, the more one seeks the more one understands, the more one understands the more one is complete and joyful, the more one preach of it the wider it spreads until the end of the earth.(Acts 1:8)

 c.      Four chariots, four horses, four winds :

(a)     Patrol the earth :

Go to all corners of the earth without preference to the East, West, South or North, the north or the south hemisphere.  No matter what land or race, country or nation, the Spirit of the Lord, the truth of the Lord, the great power and ability of the Lord, the wonderful grace of the Lord exceeds all men, assimilates into the midst of men and dwells within all men.(Eph 4:6)

(b)     Those who goes toward the north country have set my Spirit at rest in the north country :

The historical background during the time of Prophet Zechariah was the most prosperous period of the Persian Empire which dominates the three continents - Asia, Europe and Africa.  However, the heart of the Persian king, Cyrus, was moved by  God and  he allowed  the Jews  to  returned  to Judah(recognized as a province of the Persian kingdom), to rebuild the holy city Jerusalem.  He issued a proclamation to rebuild the Holy Temple of God.  Moreover, he brought out the vessels that King Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, putting Mithredath the treasurer to be in charge of bringing out the  vessels  in  their  original  numbers  and  giving  them  to Sheshbazzar to bring back to Jerusalem(Ezra 1:1-11).  In the days of King Artaxerxes, Rehum the commander of Judah, Shimshai the scribe and their associates, that is the people who dwells in Samaria and the province Beyond the River, presented a letter to falsely accuse the Jews and forcing them by using high authority to stop their work(Ezra 4:7-24).  However, in the second year of the reign of King Darius, the Spirit of the Lord through Prophet Haggai and Zechariah once again wakened, admonished and encouraged the entire chosen race.  The Spirit of the Lord stirred up the hearts of Zerubabbel the governor of Judah, Joshua the high priest, and the remnant of the people, telling them that they should rebuild the temple of God, not to be afraid and their limbs should be strong for the temple will be rebuilt, the city shall prosper, it shall be called the faithful city and the holy mountain, and it shall put the Spirit of the Lord to rest(Haggai 1:1-15;Zech 1:1-17;8:1-23).   Hence, the dominant Persian Empire which span the three continents of Asia, Europe and Africa, a kingdom north of the Holy land of Canaan, whose kings Cyrus and Darius was stirred up by the Spirit of God and putting the Spirit of the Lord to rest by allowing the work of the rebuilding of the Temple to complete smoothly.

B.     Conclusion :

Thank the Lord, under the arrangement of Deacon John Teh who urge in sincerity the entire Singapore church congregation to fervently and in one accord respond and participate in the seminary. And I wish to thank the members who helped in the translation, photocopying and binding work. The entire content is a report on the impressions derived through my learning and if there are mistakes, I shall be personally responsible. Also, I wish to accept in humility from everyone any reminders in love and corrections, and never to be stubborn and selfish to indiscriminately explain the Bible so that I shall not acquire condemnation for myself. If it be the Lord's will, may all glory be given to the Holy Name of the Lord Jesus, Amen.

Chang Kuo Ching 4th Apri1 1992 Adam Road Church Singapore

III. Amos

A.     Introduction

1.        AIM:

With the Book of Amos as a focus of study, this class intends to familiarize students not only with Amos but also with aspects of Israel­ite history and the Old Testament teaching on prophetic oracles, covenant, and divine judgment and deliverance. In addition to a broadening knowledge of the Scripture, students will learn the modern significance and spiritual application to our faith growth and church ministry.

2.        METHODOLOGY:

Class lecture 75%; Discussion/student presentation 25:. Study groups are to be assigned for report on specific topics or study questions.   Students are expected to take notes or to write simple paragraphs in class.

3.        GENERAL FORMAT OF THE CLASS:

 a.      Reading through Amos 1-9.

 b.      Chapter analysis of Amos in the historical and theological context of the Old Testament and the New Testament.

 c.      Discussing important Biblical terms and their background information.

 d.      Exploring the relevance of Amos for our contemporary spiritual and ministerial needs.

4.        CLASS SYLLABUS AND TIME DISTRIBUTION:

Hour 1:  A Sketch of the Old Testament History and Religion

Hour 2:  An Introduction to the Prophets

Hour 3:  An Overview of Form, Setting, Purpose in Amos

Hour 4:  Discussion:

Hour 5:  Amos 1-3: Oracles against the nations

Hour 6:  Amos 4-6

Hour 7:  Amos 7 and the symbolic vision in OT

Hour 8:  Discussion

Hour 9:  Amos 8-9

Hour 10: Summaries and Conclusions

B.     AN OUTLINE OF THE BOOK OF AMOS:

'Let justice well up as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream' says outside a wall of a synagogue in St. Paul, facing Mississippi river. It is a central theme of Amos's teaching.

1.        Amos 1.1-2 l

 a.      Locate the space and time of the prophet: 

Tekoa of Judaea in the days of Uzziah (785-742) and Jeroboam II (784-746). The earthquake is mentioned again in Zech. 14.5, but it cannot be dated with precision.

The divine summons goes forth like the roaring or a lion, a roaring that causes pastures to dry up and forests to wither. Amos' experience with the Lord (3.4,8) and Israel's encounter with the Lord in lion imagery (3.12; 5.19).

 b.      1.2

This motto is to be interpreted with 9.11-15.

2.        Amos 1.3-2.16  

ORACLES AGAINST THE NATIONS AND EVEN ISRAEL

A genre in the OT prophecy, the oracles against the nation culminates in the oracle directed against Israel, God's own covenantal people. The Lord's judgment of crimes against common humanity.  These seven oracles are a prelude to what is to follow in 2.6-16.

The sins of these neighbour States were mainly acts of barbarism, viola­tions not of God's law but of basic humanitarian principles.  The Syr­ians of Damascus had carried bout brutal raids on Gilead, probably quite literally mangling the bodies of prisoners under heavily-studded thresh­ing-sledges (the Roman tribula, from which we derive the word for 'trib-ulation').  The Philistines took captive a whole population to sell them into slavery (2.6).  Tyre and Edom both broke faith with nations with whom they had ties by treaty or by kinship (2.9,11).  The Ammonites com­mitted horrible atrocities simply for the sake of territorial aggran­disement (2.13).  The Moabites desecrated the bones of the king of Edom (2.1), an act which in Near Eastern thought meant the elimination of the total personality of a dead victim, making it impossible for him to participate in any life after death.

For all these atrocities God will punish the nations.  Men do not have to know the full revelation of God's law to come under His condemnation: they only have to violate the standards that they in their relatively unenlightened state can yet recognize (cf. Rom. 1.18-20; 2.12).

 a.      1.3-5

Damascus Capital of the Aramean kingdom. It had reduced Israel and Judah to complete subjection in the reign of Hazael (843-796), whose barbarity was notorious.  Ben-hadad was the name of the two kings who came before and after Hazael.

Transgressions means acts of rebellion against Yahweh rather than breaches of a code (cf. 1 Kgs 12.19; 2 Kgs 3.5; Isa. 1.2;  Mic 3.8).

 b.      1.5

Valley of Aven means the valley between the Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon mountains, represented here as 'wickedness' (Hebrew 'awen, cf. 'Beth-aven' in Hosea 4.15,5.8,10.5,8 meaning 'house of wickedness'). Beth-eden (in Assyrian records, Bit-adini) was a city-state between the Euphrates and Balikh rivers (cf. 2 Kgs 19.12; Ezek 27.23), and Kir was a region in Mesopotamia from which the Arameans came and to which in 732 B.C. they were exiled (cf. 9.7; Isa 22.6; 2 Kgs 16.9).

 c.      1.6-8

The Philistine cities:

Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, and Ekron (the fifth: Gath destroyed by Assyria in 711). Their offence was slave-trading with Edom (cf . 2 Chr 21.16,17).

 d.      1.9-10

Tyre:

The principal city-state of Phoenicia (taking from phoinix, the Greek translation of Canaan, meaning 'land of purple [dye]').  It is an ancient area of civilization known to us from its principal city-states — Tyre, Sidon, and Byblos (Gebal ) . Tyre is the dominant city-state which saw the beginning of a golden age with the accession of Hiram to throne in 981 B.C.  For its subsequent relation with David and Solomon, cf. 2 Sam 24.7; 5.11; 1 Kgs 5.1-12.  The covenant of brotherhood is bond of kingship (1.11).  Tyre's slave-trading was not only inhuman, but unnatural (cf. Ezek 27.13).

 e.      1.11-12

Edom:

Indictment against Edom (along with its cities of Teman and Bozrah) is that Edom ravaged its own kinsmen (cf. Edam's exploita­tion of Judah's weakness after the fall of Jerusalem in 587 B.C. which Obadiah has in view; cf. Lam 4.21,22; Mal 1.2-5; Ps 137.7; Isa. 34.5-7; 63.1-6; Ezek 25.12-14; Deut 2.4, 23.7).

 f.       1.13-15

Ammon: 

Rabbah is their capital (now Amman, Jordan's capital). The Ammonites of Transjordan (also called Cis-Jordan) had raided Gilead, Israelite territory on their northern border.  Ammon's crime is hideous cruelty in pursuit of their selfish ambition.

 g.      2.1-3

Moab.

Kerioth was presumably Moab's capital. Any crime against human decency is an affront to Yahweh's universal moral sovereignty and will be punished. To deny a body decent burial was an act of desecra­tion reserved for criminals (cf. burning in Lev 20.14).

 h.      2.4,5 

Compared with concrete detail of the other oracles against the nations, these verses are flat and conventional. Apostasy is the crime of Judah.

3.        Amos 2.6-16

ORACLES AGAINST ISRAEL

The divine intolerance of heathen's inhumanity draws an inevitable conclusion that God will not be tolerant towards the abominable beha­viour of his own people, who stands the same condemnation.

Four situations are described in 2. 6-8:

·         innocent men are sold up by harsh money-lenders when their debts are only trifling ('a pair of shoes', 2.6);

·         The poor, with no influence, are trampled underfoot by well-to-do competitors in rigged legal proceedings (2.7a);

·         young and old alike make use of temple prostitutes (2.7b; the word 'same' does not appear in the Hebrew);

·         men attend roisterous sacrificial feasts without any scruples about the way the drink was obtained or about the cloaks they are lying on, which ought to have been returned to their rightful owners before night­fall (2.8; cf. Exod. 22.26)... But God's verdict is expressed firmly at the end of v.7.  If morality means anything at all, it must touch the practical details of the way we live and how we treat our neighbours, especially those less fortunate than ourselves.  Failure here makes a scandal of our religious profession.

 a.      2.9

Amorite is a term describing the pre-Israelite population of Pales­tine, who invaded the land about 2300 B.C. and were called Amurru by the Sumerians (cf. Gen 15.26; Num 13.29, 21.13; Josh 10.5; 2 Kgs 21.11)

 b.      2.11

Nazarite were men who took a vow to abstain from the products of the vine, from cutting their hair, and from the ritual uncleanness acquired by contact with the dead (Num 6.1-21; cf. Judg 16.17; 1 Sam 1.11).

 c.      2.13-16

Yahweh's coming judgment of the people: In a vigorously metaphor­ical language, Amos announces the theme which dominates his message. God is dynamically alive and is about to inaugurate new dealings with Israel, which will result in the people's utter destruction.

The punishment is pronounced in vs.13-16.  As Israel's oppressive rulers trampled on their fellow men, so God will trample down these same men, like the threshing-sledge pressing down upon the floor full of sheaves (cf. 1.3; this is more likely than the 'hay-wagon' figure of most Eng­lish translations).  No one will escape God's judgment, however strong or capable he may be.  when God acts, human ability is powerless to frustrate Him.

4.        Amos 3.1-8       

CAUSE AND EFFECT

The last thing Amos wanted to do was to teach a new religion, and it is quite misleading to regard, him as the 'founder of ethical monotheism', as some of the older textbooks used to say.  Instead he was for ever calling the people back to the faith of the past and to the covenant which the Lord had made with them in the wilderness at Sinai.  This was evident in. 2.10 and it recurs in 3.1 f. (see also 5.25; 9.7, 11, 15). The point of Amos' message was that the covenant had been misunderstood by Israel, and. that its exclusive demands and ethical implications had been completely neglected by a people who saw in it merely a ground for uncritical self-congratulation.  This simply would not do...Just as punishment inevitably falls upon the covenant people because of their failure to keep the covenant standards, so Amos goes on to in­stance a number of other cases of cause and effect (3-6)...The application follows 7, 8) .  God never acts (effect) without first giving warning through the prophets (cause).  But He has spoken; the prophet must prophesy; and the judgment will surely fall.

 a.      3.1-8

The prophet reminds the people of who they are, while setting forth his own credential to the compelling utterance of God (cf.1 Kgs 22.13,14; Isa. 8.11; Jer 5.14, 6.11, 20.9; Ezek 3.14).  3.1,2 state Israel's special position: God's chosen people by virtue of its creation at the Exodus and the people could still be addressed as though they had themselves been brought up out of the land of Egypt 3.1,2; cf. Hosea 11.1). Yahweh's choice of Israel was a genuine and significant choice, because he was the God of all the families of the earth and out of all the nations he had selected this one as his special care (cf. Deut 7.1-11). The word 'know' (3.2) has a special connotation in the OT as to care for in an intimate and personal way (cf. Gen 4.1,17; 39.3; Prov 12.10; 29.7). But this intimate relationship gave Israel no licence to sin (cf. Gal 5.13).

5.        Amos 3.9-4.3  

SAMARIA DOOMED TO DESTRUCTION

With relentless consistency, Amos invites two heathen nations to come to Samaria, capita of the northern kingdom, and confirm that its behaviour is repugnant to common humanity.

 a.      3.9,10 

The nations are called to bear witness. Note Hebrew text of Ashdod is in Greek Assyria in 3.9.  The nations are called to bear witness.  Amos prophesies against a people who feel secure with their strategic defence system. The Israelites revel in the perks which accom­pany affluence, and are busy themselves with religion (4.4-5; 5.21-23), but are not heartbroken over what is happening to their nation (6.6). The powerful Assyria, is coming to destroy the kingdom of Israel.

 b.      3.11,12

Samaria's annihilation.  Yahweh will use an unnamed enemy to sack Samaria (3.11) and leave only a few scraps as evidence of its total destruction (cf. Ex 22.13).  The RSV translation represents the corner of a couch and a part of a bed as the bits left over.  An alternative would be: '...so shall the people of Israel be rescued., who is in Samaria on the corner of a bed and a Damascus couch'.  On this interpre­tation, Amos is condemning their idle luxury.

Amos wastes little time in attempting to justify God's intention to punish Israel. To him it is a simple matter of fact: God has spoken, and it will surely happen.  But he does give the underlying reason for judgment in 3.10.   Israel is both socially corrupt and spiritually ignorant.  The former is, of course, the outcome cf the latter, and the reason why nations are still plagued with the unhappy manifestations of social evil (crime, perversion, addiction, racialism, and so on) is usually because they have lost their bearings morally and spiritually: 'they do not know how to do right.'  A nation's downward spiral begins with its failure to exercise moral discrimination; and the same can be said to apply to the individual member also.

In 3.12 the prophet makes use of his pastoral knowledge. It was an under-stood thing that the only evidence a shepherd could bring to his master to excuse the loss of a sheep to a wild beast was few scraps of the torn carcass (cf. Exod. 22.13).  Otherwise   there was always the suspicion of a dishonest deal having been done. So Amos declares that when God ravages Israel in judgment there will   only be tiny indications left of the luxury that once was hers.

Bethel, too, will suffer the same fate as Samaria, despite its honoured place in patriarchal traditions (Gen. 12.8; 28.18f; 35.1). It has become a royal sanctuary where the worship of Yahweh was contaminated by the presence of Jeroboam's calf-image (1 Kgs 12.29). A city cannot live on its past (nor can a church!); it is judged by what it is what it is in the present.

Its most sacred features would therefore be destroyed by the very God who was allegedly worshipped there.  The horns (14) were the four cor­ners of the altar on which the blood of the sacrifices was smeared to make atonement for sin (Lev.4.30), but atonement would no longer be made.  The fine houses of the nobility would also come to an end (15). Ornate worship and gracious living were no substitutes for basic morali­ty in the eyes of a righteous God.

 c.      3.13-15

The destruction of Bethel. The royal sanctuary of Bethel will snare with Israel's fate.  The God of hosts (1 Kgs 18.15) is a title of Yahweh characteristic of the teaching of the prophets (who claim 247 out of its 278 occurrences). It means 1) with the Ark of covenant as the emblem of divine presence in the holy war, the Lord is the leader of the military hosts of Israel (1 Sam 17.45; 2 Sam 6.2, 18).  2) the title stands for Yahweh as the one transcendent God (Isa. 44.6), sovereign over the nations of the earth (Amos 5.14,15; Isa. 1.24, 2.12.. 29.6, 47.4), as he was sovereign over all the host of heaven (Deut 4.19; 1 Kgs 22.19, cf. Isa. 1.2, 42.5, 45.18, 51.6).

6.        Amos 4.1-5

THE COCKTAIL SET

 a.      4.1-3

Amos contemptuously calls the fat, pampered women of Samaria prize cows (cf. Ps 22.12; Deut 32.14).  Their callous indifference to human values epitomises Israel's corruption (cf. Isa. 3.16,17).  in 4.2 instead of 'they shall take you away with hooks', translate, 'they shall carry you away with ropes' for the hooks are used to drag the dead battle whereas ropes lead away livestock; the last  of you means 'the remnant' (cf. 9.1; 8.10; 1.3) or 'your children'.   The second word 'hooks' means, though hardly angling hooks, harpoons, a cattle prod (or fish-pots instead of the fishhooks)

There are very few parts of the Bible where women as a class are criticized.  Isa. 3.15-4.1 and Ezek. 13.17-23 are two of the passages which share this distinction with these verses in Amos.  it was the wives of the rich merchants of Samaria who receive the lash of the shepherd's tongue.  For it was the unceasing demands that they made upon their husbands that urged them on to more brutal forms of oppression of the poor.  all that these women live for was bigger and better parties, the status symbols of the well-to-do.  Amos regarded them with the same suspicious eye that English country folk today cast at the cocktail parties of their affluent neighbours. The sin, however, was not in the occasion but in the greed and vanity which caused other to be exploited for mere personal gain.

 b.      4.4,5

are a separate oracle and consist of an ironic call to worship on the lines of 'O come, let us sin unto the Lord!'  This is coupled with 'the caricature of their exaggerated zeal' (G. Adam Smith) in prolifer­ating religious ceremonies and in blazoning abroad the generosity of their freewill offerings.  The condemnation of all this is not in the observances themselves but in the motive: for this kind of religion is basically self-centred.   It gratifies the feelings of the giver and thinks nothing of the awful majesty of the One who should be worshipped in humble, silent adoration.

During the enemy's attack, women would be driven out of the city 'straight ahead' (cf. josh 6.5, 20; Jer 31.39).  They would run through the gaps of the wall (3.11; 1 Kgs 11.27, Neh 6.1).  They are to be 'cast out. toward' Hermon (note its variants as an unidentified Harmon;  Remman in LXII;  Armon in Vulgate; 'place of banishment' in M).  Hermon (2800-ft elevation, today called Jebel'et-Teji) lies in the general direction cf Damascus (cf. 5.27), the capital city of the Aramean kingdom, the old archenemy of Israel.

7.        Amos 4.4-5.15 

RITE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS

This section is underlined by "Where is God to be found and what does he want?' God is to be found and served in everyday experience and human relationships instead of popular religious sanctuaries or festival. Ps 95.6-7 implies 1) an invitation using imperative verbs and 2) the reason, expressed in the sentence beginning with 'for'. But what is God's demand for the genuine worship?

 a.      4.4-5

Futile festivals. With sarcasm, Amos invites the people to carry on with their festivals and come to the sanctuaries of Bethel (cf, 7.13) and Gilgal (cf. Hos 4.15)--to rebel against the Lord!

'Sacrifice in the morning. . .tithes on the third day" describes the regular custom; The freewill offering, as optional extra to the regular programme, were something to boast about!  These people revelled in their religion, but God was not well pleased (cf. Matthew 6.2-4).

 b.      4.6-12 

Israel's failure to learn its many lessons:  They have failed to recognize the warnings of the Lord. Five occurrences which we would describe as natural disasters are here attributed to God: famine (4.6), drought (4.7,3), bad crops (4.9), plague and loss in war (4.10). and devastation by fire or earthquake (4.11), all with the intention of bringing Israel to  repentance.   But Israel did not listen and did not repent.  They had become hardened before a continuous barrage cf threats, warnings and misfortunes.  But one day God's forbearance would come to an end.  The door would be shut.  The threat of judgment would be replaced by the fact of judgment.  Man would have to face the God described in 4.13, the One who is the Creator of the massive mountain-ranges and the Maker of the fickle wind and who car: also see into 'the hidden depths of every heart'. Since they had not come back to Yahweh,  He was about to come to them: prepare to meet your God, 0 Israel!  The precedents of Sodom and Gomor­rah (4.11), cities of the plain which were utterly destroyed (Gen 19.1-28), as is with other prophets (Isa. 1.9; Hos 11.8; Jer 23.14; 49.18; Ezek 16.46-58; Lam 4.6). Israel will suffer like the unrepentant wicked people in ancient Sodom and Gomorrah!

8.        Amos 5.1-15 

LAST MINUTE CALL: 'SEEK ME AND LIVE'

In the dirge over Israel (5.1-3) Amos is convinced that Israel is as good as dead and with astonishing courage he offers in 5.2 a regular dirge.  The people is personified for the first time as a virgin (cf. Jer 13.13, 31.4,21).  The more prosaic 5.3 means not that a remnant will be spared but that the whole people will be decimated (cf. 3.12).

Here is a last-minute call to repentance.  It is preceded by two brief laments which suggest that all is over for Israel.  The nation has been hurled to the ground and has neither the strength to recover nor an ally to help her up (5.2). Her armies have been reduced to a tenth of their former size (5.3).  But it is still not too late for Israel to repent and seek the Lord.  Three times the people are exhorted to turn to Him (5.4,6,14).  Pilgrimages to holy places will not do any good, however venerable the sanctuaries may be, for they too are going to share in the coming destruction (5.5).  True repentance is a matter not of outward observances but of inward contrition, a personal turning to a personal God,.  Self-reformation is not substitute for it, but that does not mean that a man's way of life is not to be transformed.  Those who seek the Lord must hate evil and do good (5.14,15), reforming deeds worthy of their repentance (cf. Acts 26.20).

The sins with which Amos charges his hearers (5.7,10-12) are to do with social injustice (5.10,12,15). In 'Seeking God' (5.4-15) Amos affirms unambiguously that the Lord is not to be found in the sanctuaries, but, rather, in right human relations (Mic 6.8).

Note: Jeremiah's prophecies about true and false forms of worship and the true and false conceptions of God underlying them (Jer 7.1-10.25). Jer 7.1-8.3 which begins in 7.1-15 with what is usually entitled Jere­miah's 'temple sermon' given in the court area of the temple itself on the occasion of a major public festival (cf. Jer 26). Do not trust in these deceptive words: 'This is the temple of the Lord' if the people do not follow the commandments of the Lord but do evil works: guilty of theft, murder, adultery, or false testimony in a legal assembly (7.9). Just as Ezekiel declared in a visionary insight that judgment was to begin at the sanctuary of God (Ezek 9.6), Jeremiah perceived the fore­most institution of religion as the greatest obstacle to spiritual realism. The popular mind, not only of ancient Israel but throughout the history of all religion, has too readily regarded 'religious' benefits as available to men and women apart from and regardless of the moral sincerity and integrity displayed then. Jeremiah's temple sermon insists that this is never the case, and to believe that it could be so is to trust in deceptive words.  Ultimately this deception lies in the belief that the visible institutions of religion, in this case the temple of Jerusalem, can function in a mechanical fashion. The symbol of trust, becomes identified with the object of that faith and trust and thereby distorts and ultimately falsifies the very nature of faith itself.

 a.      5.4-6

Seek is a technical term for going to sanctuary to 'inquire of the Lord' on some question or other (cf. 1 Sam 9.9, 2 Kgs 3.11; Deut 12.5; Hos 2.6,7).  Israel should seek Yahweh and He is not to be met at the sanctuaries of Bethel, Gilgal, or Beersheba.  The house of Joseph stands for the northern kingdom.

 b.      5.8,9

are a doxology in praise of the God who controls the constella­tions above and who orders the succession of night and day, and the ebb and flow of the tide.  Verse 9 conceals the names of three further con­stellations , Taurus (the Bull), Capricornus (the Goat) and Vindemiator (the Grape-gatherer), but these were not recognized by the Massoretes who inserted the vowel-points, and so we have to translate them by 'destruction', 'the strong' and 'the fortress'.  The point to note is that God demands righteousness from his creatures.  He is a God of perfect order and control within His universe.

 c.      5.7,10-13 

Justice is perverted to a poison in society (5.7,10,12) and the poor are oppressed and exploited (5.11).  In 5.12 the righteous are the innocent who are persecuted; turn aside the needy in the gate means push the poor out of court.  On city courts held in gate, cf. Ruth 4.172; Job 31.21, Deut 21.3,4,18-21. However, the fine stone houses and vineyards obtained by twisting and bullying will never be enjoyed (cf. Luke 12.16-21).

 d.      5.14,15

Seek good. .. that you may live is identical in the prophet's thought with Seek me and live (5.4), for to do good is to turn to the Lord.  It is a theological statement of individual responsibility in Ezekiel 18.  Israel's future is wholly determined by its moral response to Yahweh', the avoidance of destruction by the people's reformation must always have remained a possibility (5.4-6,14,15).

9.        Amos 5.16-27     

THE DAY OF THE LORD

This central section of the book contains the most powerful negative presentation of the prophetic message.  It assumes throughout the positive affirmation of 5.24.

 a.      5.15,17

The day of Yahweh's visitation will be a day cf lamentation for the whole people. 1S-2C The origin and meaning of the day of the Lord are still vigorously debated  These verses show:

·         that the people of Israel looked forward to such a day

·         that the prophet radically reinterpreted its character: it. is dark-ness, and not light.  For Amos, the popular expression became a way of speaking about Yahweh's coming to judge Israel; it. became part, that of the main theme of all his preaching.  Later prophecy continued to speak cf the Day cf the Lord and it always retained its association with Yahweh's coming in judgment. The judgment, however, came to include the Gentile nations, sometimes in addition to Israel (Isa. 2.6-22; Zeph 1.2-2.15) and sometimes instead of Israel (Isa. 13.2-22; 34.1-17; Ezek 30.1-19; 38.1-19.29).  In the popular religion of the eighth century B.C, it was the day, a day of battle (Joel 2.1-11, Isa. 9.4), on which Yahweh came to assert his sovereignty over the Gentile nations (who were regarded as his enemies) and Israel rejoiced to shared his universal dominion.  Amos retained the idea of Yahweh's coming to asset his sovereignty in the world, but he declared that  it was Israel (and not the Gentiles) who was Yahweh's target of wrath.

 b.      5.21-24

Roaring, Rolling Stream

This saying, which climaxes in the call for justice and righteousness roll through the land, stands as the centrepiece for 5.1-6.14.

Why is it so significant in the verbs employed 'I hate, I despise' followed by 'I take no delight in' (: do not like the smell of) 'I will not accept' 'I will not. look upon... I will not listen'.   The Lord's rejection of the people's worship is total. He odes not like the smell, the sight, or the sound of what is happening in Israel's sanctuary.

After the general announcement of rejection, the prophet lists seven aspects of Israel's worship, all of which are rejected: three festivals (Deut 16.16), the 'solemn assemblies' (worship gatherings (2 Kgs 10.20), burnt offerings (literally, 'going up') 'cereal offerings' (gifts of grain), 'peace offering' (accompanied by a sacred meal in which parts of the animal offered were eaten.  The 'noise' and 'melody' refers to the singing, the instrumental music, all the sounds emanating form a place so busy with activity.

How should these sharply negative words against worship be understood? Why was this worship not acceptable? 5.4-5 helps to answer thins question.  The people should seek the Holy One, not the holy place.  Reli­gion had become a matter of solemn gatherings, sumptuous feast, sacrifices, and singing, nothing more.  The soul had gone out of it. There was no communion with the Holy One, only a commotion at the holy place.

 c.      5.21-24

5.21-24 climaxes with a call for justice and righteousness, reinforcing what has been said in 5.14-15. Exposition of teachings (Eph 1-3) is followed by expectations expressed with imperatives (Eph 4-6),   In Colossians, the meaning of the Christ event (Col 1.1-3.4) is followed by the imperatives in the remainder of the letter (cf. Ex 20.2, 3-20; Romans 1-11; 12-16).    To do justice is to act as advocate for the powerless (Jas 1.26, 27).  God detests those who are making laws which deny justice (Isa. 10. 1-4) and exhort to do good (Isa. 1.17).

10.     AMOS 6.1-7

BEWARE of LUXURY

Two woe oracles against the luxury-loving leaders in Israel. The first (6.1-3) is addressed to those who by virtue of their nobility disperse justice to the people (6.1b).  They are accused of maintain an irrational confidence in the security of their cities whether Jerusalem or Samaria, and Amos has to remind them that other great cities had proved vulnerable, and their self-confidence would be rudely shaken (6.8,10,14).  Gath, which had fallen to Uzziah in ca. 760 B.C. (cf. 2 Chr 26.6) and would fall to the Assyrians in 711 B.C.; Calneh and Hamath in the north would soon be toppled by Assyria in 733 and 720 B.C. re-spectively (cf, Isa. 10.9).  What right had the little pocket-kingdoms of Israel and Judah to expect immunity when eventually God allowed the storm to break upon them?  By fancying that the day of crisis was far away their leader were in fact only hastening it on (6.3). Bring near the seat of violence in 6.3 is an obscure expression and it seems to mean 'giving way' to violence and endowing it with authority.

The second woe (6.4-7) describes vividly the plush elegance of the wealthy men of Israel, whose lives were surrounded by comforts an whose main concerns were food and drink music and cosmetics. 6.4 describes how the leaders lounge and sprawl on beds of ivory (cf. 3.15), and demand specially fattened calves . None of these was intrinsically wrong.  The sin of these men lay in their carelessness of the awful doom that threatened their countrymen (6.6).  When things are going wrong in a community, God does at least expect His people to be concerned, even though they may be unable by themselves to do anything about.  When Jerusalem was on the point of falling, it was his which saved some her inhabitants from destruction (cf. Ezek 9.4).  Prosperity can be more dangerous to a nation's morale than poverty.  It breeds a selfishness and unconcern for the needs of others that can cripple society.

11.     AMOS 5.8-14 

PRIDE AND ITS PUNISHMENT

Hard on the heels of prosperity comes pride, and Israel developed all the unpleasant characteristics of the self-made man.  In fact 'the pride of Israel-Jacob' became almost a byword in these days before the coun­try's overthrow (cf. Hos 5.5; 7.10; 12.8; Amos 8.7).

Israel had beer: encouraged by tow minor military successes over towns that can hardly be identified today (13), but God was going to bring against them a real foe, the Assyrians, who would crush them from one end of the land to other (14). The 'entrance of Hamath' appears frequently as a northern frontier area, and is probably the name of a town in Lebanon (Lebo-Hamath); the Arabah is the dried-up watercourse running south from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Akaba.  Israel's topsy-turvy standards and her futile expectations are nothing short of ridiculous, as plain in 6.12a. Under threat of siege the population of whole cities will be wiped out.  The picture cf the kinsman, acting as undertaker and collecting up dead bodies to take them away for crema­tion, suggests the horrors of 3 plague.  so dreadful will things be that men will be terrified or even mentioning the Lord's name in case they too are struck down (1???).   Such is the awful end of those who persistently profane His name,

 a.      6.12-14

By using a wisdom saying (6.12), Amos represents the Israelites' corruption of the courts as an unnatural perversion (cf. 5.7).  Their confidence in their own capability is ridiculed by the prophet's selecting two of the towns they had captured and of which the names allow him to prick the bubble of their pride.   La-debar, a town in Transjordan just south of the Sea of Galilee, means a thing of nought; Karnaim, another town to the northeast in the same region, means horns, symbolic of power (Ps 132.17).  The thought of these two verses and their echo of the methods of the wisdom teachers are found again in Isa. 10.13-19.  I  will raise up against you a nation: Assyria as Yahweh's agent of judgment will hurry Israel from the far north to the far south (cf. 2 Kgs 14.25).

12.     AMOS 7.1-0 

THREE VISIONS

'Visions' of this section are closely resemble the 'object-lessons' of the wisdom teachers as well as a visionary experiences of the prophet. Amos' insight into his people's peril and his awareness of the Lord's patience reveal a degree of sensitivity comparable to that of Hosea and find an entirely appropriate mode of expression in these snatches of quiet and intimate dialogue.

 a.      The first vision (7.1-3) concerns a swarm, of locusts on the point of devouring the whole of the spring crop of grass, i.e., the second crop which grows after the latter rains. This is the main crop and the king has commandeered as his royal due (the king's mowings).  The prospect of such a disastrous and irreparable loss moved the prophet to plead with the Lord for mercy on the grounds of. Jacob's (Israel's) insignificance and inability to stand such devastation.  The people show no sign of repentance but. on the basis of Amos' Intercession, the Lord relented and stopped the destruction (translating 7.2 as 'when they were on the point of completely eating the grass...' and so too in 7.4).

 b.      The second vision (7.4-6) is a 'judgment by fire', i.e. a drought which had dried up the subterranean sources of water and was devastating the countryside (4).

 c.      The third time (7.7-g) is about demolition. Amos could, however, not see his way to interceding for Israel and God's final words of judgment were pronounced through the vision of the plumbline, a symbol of righteous­ness and truth. Significantly it was the nation's religious centres and her royal family which were to bear the brunt of the nation’s punishment (9), and this was entirely appropriate. When a people degenerates, the responsibility may usually be laid upon its leaders in church and state.

13.     AMOS 7.10-17

PROPHET VERSUS PRIEST

A classic form of confrontation between divine authority represented by the prophet and human authority in the person of Amaziah, the royal chaplain.  Amos appeals to the God who has called him and given him His message; Amaziah hides behind the authority of his king.  It is the nial clash between the charismatic and the ecclesiastic which the church's history has seen repeated over and over again.  The professional does not understand.  He regards the prophet's message as being politically dangerous, and misrepresents him  to the king ('Amos conscathing attack  on him, accusing him of being deluded ('0 Visionary'), of being a foreigner ('Judaean, go home'), of being a professional ('Sing for your supper there'; of. Mic 3.5,11; Ezek 13.9-16) and of trespass ('Bethel is a royal preserve').

Amos's reply is without rancour. It is certain that 1) Amos is not a professional nor is he a member of a prophetic guild (a 'son of a prophet', of. 2 Kgs 2.3,5,7,15). 2) His calling was from a secular occupation (unlike Amaziah the priest), where he had cared for animals and tended fig-trees. 3) His message was not of his own invention or construction; it had been given him as a word from God.  It carried within all of God's authority, and he had to speak it out because of the inner compul­sion he felt (of. Jeremiah's experience, Jer 20.9). 4)  As a spokesman for Yahweh Amos believed that he was sent to prophesy to my  people Israel (of. Isa. 6.1ff; Ezek 2.1-7; Jer 1.4-10).  5) It was as wrong for him to try to keep silence as it was for anyone like Amaziah to try to silence him (7.16).

Therefore another prophecy, addressed personally but not vindictively to Amaziah, makes it clear that in the coming invasion and overthrow of Israel the priest of Bethel will be able to claim no exemption.  His family and property will be treated in the way  all conquered peoples must have come to expect, and he himself would die in exile (17).

14.     AMOS 8.1-8  

"THE END HAS COME”

The fourth vision which is a play on words ('pun'), the Hebrew word for summer is qayc and the Hebrew word end is qec.  The pun is coupled with a repetition of the phrase in 7.8, "I will never again pass by them'. The artistry and balance of these four visions is worth noting.  The first two are of potential disaster-situations, and in response to Amos' plea the Lord changes His mind with the repeated words 'It shall not be' (7.3,6).  The second two visions are of apparently innocuous objects, but they both carry a power message on the finality of judgment.  This is expressed in the words spoken, especially in the 'never again' of God's speech, but it may also be concealed in the things seen.

If the wall in 7.7 was a bowed and sagging wall, Amos would have seen all too clearly the discrepancy between God's standard of uprightness (the plumbline) and the building which should have conformed to it (Israel).   Similarly, what are called 'summer fruit' may have been the 'end-of-season' produce whose edible life was strictly limited, and so they naturally suggested speedy deterioration.

 a.      8.4

Introduces a further list of sins (8.4-5) and their condemnation (8.7,8). Note that condemnation of commercial dishonesty appears in many traditions of the Old Testament: prophecy (Hos. 12.7; Mic 6.10,11; Ezek 45.10-12), law (Deut 25.13-15; Lev 19.35,36), and wisdom (Prov 11.1,

Not all the sins are serious crimes, e.g. impatience to get on with business after a festival (8.5); but they are mixed with shady practices involving buying and selling and not giving good value.  The merchant was the sole controller both of the scales and containers in which his goods were sold, and of the weights  with which the customer weighted out his silver in payment.  So an undersized container (ephah, 8.5) or a heavy shekel weight could bring the merchant double gain in one transac­tion.  It is interesting that of all the weights discovered by archaeol­ogists from O.T. 'digs', no two have tallied exactly.  An honest mer­chant who gave good measure was a rare find (cf. Luke 6.38), and corrup­tion in this business was all too frequent (cf. Deut. 25.13-15; Prov 11.1; 20.10).  Those who suffered were always the poor and needy, arid God was particularly concerned for the under-privileged.  So the judg­ment would fall and it would come like an earthquake and the might inundation of the Kile (8.8).  No sin is too 'pretty' to pass God's notice.

15.     AMOS 8.9-14 

THE FAMINE OF GOD'S WORD

It is recorded that a total eclipse of the sun, centred on Asia Minor occurred in June 763 B.C. Amos would certain have experienced this and he probably draws on it for his imagery of the last days of God's judg­ment on Israel (8.9).  In these verses there is unrelieved disaster: Amos, can see not the slightest hope for Israel.  The day of the Lord will be a bitter day when everyone who is left will have someone to mourn for (8.10). But the crowning tragedy will be the famine of the word of God.  Men who in prosperity neglect, ignore, and even deride God's spokesmen will in days of suffering be searching frantically for someone to speak to them in His name.   In Amos' day the word of the Lord was essentially a living message spoken through His servants, the prophets.  When there were few original prophets, as against the many professionals who mouthed empty words or quoted second-hand oracles, true religion was at a premium, as had been the case in Samuel's day (1 Sam 3.1).

The verb used in 8.12a means to stagger, like a fainting person (cf. 4.8), and people will traverse the whole land from south to west (Dead Sea to Mediterranean), as well as from north tot east in a vain search for God.  Their youthful strength will not supply their needs (13), nor will any profession of loyalty to any number of local deities (14).  The goddess Ashimah was worshipped by the people of Hamath (2 Kgs 17.30), and was associated with the worship of Yahweh at the Jewish colony of Elephantine in Upper Egypt many years later.  The Elephantine papyri (datable in the fifth and fourth centuries B.C.) name her as Asham-Bethel, and this affords further evidence of the way in which individu­al gods were attached to important cult-centres.  The word 'way' also conceals the name of a deity associated with Beersheba.  But like Dagon (1 Sam 5.3f), they have power neither to rise up themselves nor to raise up their followers.

16.     AMOS 9.1-10 

THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF ESCAPE

In his fifth vision, the vision of the end (9.1-4), Amos sees the Lord, presumably standing in the sanctuary at Bethel , pronouncing judgment upon it and upon all who worship in it.  There will be not one person who will be able to escape (cf. 2.14,15), unless it be specifically within God's purpose (9.3c).  Whenever people try to hide, they will be search out and taken by God's hand (cf. Oba. 4); not even the underworld (sheol) will be able to conceal them. God will command sea serpents to get them.  If they become refugees in the foreign lands, they will not escape the swords (9.3-4).

 a.      9.7-8

9.7-8 asserts that all nations are under God's control, and that Israel's exodus from Egypt was the only tribal migration that was His respon­sibility.  The Philistines moving from Crete (Caphtor) and the Syrians from Kir (east of Damascus: cf. 1.15) were just as much acting under the motivation of the Lord.  This is a rhetorical statement and the intended meaning is implied.  The covenant of Sinai set Israel apart from all other nations (3.2), but it is a valuable cautionary word to Israel to prevent them thinking that they are the only people God has an interest in.  By their failure to live by the covenant they have reduced them­selves to the level of ether nations.  They are a sinful kingdom (9.8), and this fact empties the Exodus of all supernatural meaning.

The closing verses present a problem and many regard 9.8c and 9.9 as the words of  a later writer.    But it is not unusual in the prophets for a statement of universal judgment to be finally tempered with a glimmer of mercy, and 5.15 has at least held out the possibility of restoration for Israel.

17.     AMOS 9.11-15 

BLESSING TO COME

These verses are commonly considered an appendix on the grounds that they are not agreeable to Amos's earlier message, that they would be meaningless if spoken at Bethel and that they refer manly to the house of David and so to the southern kingdom of Judah.  A post-exilic back­ground is postulated for them, when reconstruction work was in progress and the atmosphere was optimistic.  If this view is accepted it" must at least be separated from the doctrinaire assumption that all the 'happy endings' of the prophets must be late, for such a view is surely suspect.  It ought, too, to be challenged on a. number of counts: 1) Amos has already shown signs of some degree of optimism for the future (5.15; 9.8c, if original);  2) he has shown that his concern is not restricted to Israel, but takes in Judah also (1.2; 2.4f; 6.1;  cf. ref to Beersheba, 5,5. 8.14), and that he sometimes likes to think of all Israel, i.e. Judah and Israel combined (cf. 2.10f; 3.1f);  3) there is no suggestion in the text that all of Amos' prophecies were uttered at Bethel this could well be the prophet's addition as he records his message for posterity.

The language is typically materialistic, in the normal style of such aschatological pronouncements (cf. Isa. 11; Joel 2.21-27; 3.9). The future age of blessing is described in terms of agricultural prosperity, but this is not to be taken literally, as v.13b indicates. It simply expresses, in as extravagant language as the prophet can muster, a manner of life which is indescribably good. Taken symbolically, this rural setting for the golden age is complemented and not contradicted by the urban setting of the new Jerusalem in Ezekiel. For both prophets, the ultimate future of God's faithful people was beyond man's wildest dreams.

IV.  JONAH

A.     Introduction

1.        Jonah; Hebrew personal name, meaning 'dove.' He was the son of Amittai (Jon. 1.1), from Gath Hepher (2 Kgs. 14.25), a town of lower Galilee in Zebulan (Jos. 19.10,13), located in the vicinity of Nazareth.

2.        He ministered as prophet in the reign of Jeroboam II of Israel. He predicted the territorial expansion achieved by Jeroboam II at the expanse of Syria (2 Kgs. 14.25). (During the reign of Jehoahaz in Israel, Syria was in conflict with Israel. Israel was reduced in size, moreover the king of Syria had even been able to control the internal affairs in the northern kingdom (2 Kgs.13.3,7). However, after the Assyrian campaign against Damascus, Syria, Jehoash/Joash, king of Israel, had been able to recover the territory lost to the king of Syria (2 Kgs.13.22-25). Later internal troubles in Assyria subsequently allowed Jeroboam II to complete the restoration of Israel's northern borders 'according to the word of the Lord God of Israel which He had spoken through His servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet who was from Gath Hepher' (2 Kgs,14.25-28).

3.        Prophet Jonah was sent by God to preach repentance to the wicked Ninevites ( Nineveh was founded by Nimrod, great-grandson of Noah (Gen.10.6-12). Nineveh was for many years the capital of the mighty Assyrian Empire. By the time of Jonah, Assyrian cruelty had become legendary- in the reign of Ashur-nasirpal II; his usual procedure after the capture of the hostile city was to burn it, and then to mutilate all the grown male prisoners by cutting off their hands and ears and putting out their eyes; after which were piled up in a great heap to perish in torture from sun, flies, their wounds and suffocation; the children, both boys and girls, were all burnt alive at the stake; and the chief was carried off to Assyria to be flayed alive for the king's delectation. The repentance of Nineveh probably occurred in the reign of Ashurdan III (773-755 B.C). But about 125 years after Nineveh repented under the preaching of Jonah; the Assyrians have forgotten their revival and have returned to their habits of violence, idolatry, immorality and arrogance. As a result, Babylon will so destroy the city that no trace of. it will remain. Prophet Nahum predicted this destruction. In 612 B.C Nineveh fell after a long siege by an alliance of Medes, Babylon and Scythians).

B.     THE BOOK OF JONAH

1.        Outline:

 a.      Chapter   1    

Jonah's commission, disobedience, and punishment.

 b.      Chapter   2   

Jonah's penitent prayer and deliverance.

 c.      Chapter   3    

Jonah's preaching and Nineveh repented.

 d.      Chapter   4   

Jonah's disappointment and God's mercy and love.

2.        Audience: Jonah; Israel: and believers in the last days.

3.        Purpose:

 a.      Jewish nationalism (patriotic zeal), however, blinded both God's prophets and covenant people to God's universal love and worldwide purposes of salvation,

 b.      The book depicts the larger scope of God's purpose for Israel: that she might rediscover the truth of His concern for the creation and that she might better understand her own role in carrying out that concern,

 c.      It declares the love and mercy of God and proves that God is not only the God of the Jews, but of all nations (to correct a narrow. nationalistic outlook on the part of the Jews; the thought that salvation was for the Israelites only).

4.        The Christ of Jonah:

 a.      Jonah is the only prophet whom Jesus likened to Himself (Mt. 12.39-41; Lk. 11.29-32).

5.        Literary characteristics:

 a.      Biblical narratives; the author has compressed much into a small space; 48 verses tells the entire story; compact and vivid.

 b.      The author uses structural symmetry effectively. The story is developed in two parallel cycles that call attention to a series of comparisons and contrasts.

 c.      The author uses the art of representative roles in a straightforward manner. In the story of God's loving concern for all people, Nineveh, the great menace to Israel, is representative of the Gentiles. Correspondingly, stubbornly reluctant Jonah represents Israel's jealousy of her favored relationship with God and her unwillingness to share the Lord's compassion with the nations.

 d.      The book seems to have no conclusion; leaving the readers to think by themselves, ‘Should the Lord not pity ....'

C.     COMMENTARY ON THE BOOK OF  JONAH             

1.        BACKGROUND.

 a.      AUTHOR  OF THE  BOOK -  JONAH

(a)     Since there is no evidence to the contrary,   the unique prophetic style indicates  that Jonah was  the author.    Though it is written from a third person's  perspective,  this  is consistent with the style of the  other prophets.

(b)     Jonah was  the son of Amittai,  who was of Gath-helper  (1 ;1;   2 Kings 14:25).

(c)     Jonah"   in Hebrew means   'dove'.    A  characteristic  of  the  dove  is innocence   (Mat 10:16).     Its work  is  to carry news   (Gen  8:8-11). Jonah did not live up. to his name - he was not as innocent as a dove.  God commanded him to preach to Nineveh but he ran to Tarsus instead.     Eater,  he was chastised by  the Lord and obeyed this command­ments by preaching in Nineveh.     Consequently when God did not bring forth calamity to the  Ninevites,   he became angry and  even twice requested to  die.    Such a person does not deserve to be called a dove. Instead he  should be  called a  tiger,   leopard,   lion or wolf!

 b.      PERIOD OF MINISTRY.

(a)     Prophet Jonah's ministry was during the second generation after King Jeroboam of Israel  (around 793  or  792 B.C.).

 c.      Reliability of the Book.  

Theologians who are skeptical towards miracles doubt the authenticity of this book.  They regard the book as a legend or myth - "For where in the world is there a big fish that swallows a man, allows him to remain unharmed and undigested for three days and three nights in its stomach and finally spits out the man, fully alive? But the following four points help us to believe that the book is indeed, reliable.

(a)     Jonah is a historical figure.  The First and Second Kings are the historical books of the Jews which they regard as reliable and trust-worthy.  According to Second kings 14 :25, we know that

(i)       Jonah was a prophet of God;

(ii)     Jonah was the son of Auittai who was of Gath-hepher;

(iii)    Jonah did prophesy and the prophecies. were fulfilled.

(b)     The description of the events was written in proper historical style. There are no other ways that can be used to explain this book.

(c)     If this book is only a legend or parable, then it oddly stands unique among the writings of the Old Testament,

(d)     The Lord   Jesus believed   the facts concerning the miracle on Jonah and the repentance of the Ninevites.     He said,   "just  as   Jonah was  three days and  three nights   in  the  belly of  the  sea monster, so shall  the  Son of man be • three days  and three nights  in the heart of the earth.     The men of Nineveh shall stand up with this generation at the   judgment,   and shall condemn it because of Jonah,” (Mat.12:39-41).

 d.      Special features of the book.

(a)     This  book and  the Book of  Ruth were written to correct  the  extreme nationalistic  fervour  of  the  Jews which tended  to dull  their basic human feeling    towards   others,           .

(b)     It declares the love and mercy of God and proves that God is not only the God  of the Jews but of all nations (Ref: Acts   10 :34,35;   11 :18; Rom 3:29).      

(c)     (Jonah 4 :1) Jonah was the pioneer of world evangelism.  He was the first recorded man to have gone overseas to preach, prefiguring that the salvation grace of Christ shall be preached to people all over the world.

 e.      Jonah and Jesus.

Jonah was the only prophet that was singled out by Jesus as a comparison with Him.  Jonah prefigures Jesus Christ.

(a)     Both were Galileans. Gath-hepher was only a few miles north of Nazareth. When the Pharisees rebuked Nicodemus saying that no prophet had ever arisen out of Galilee,   they were neglecting Jonah.

(b)     Jonah was in the fish's stomach for three days and three nights. This prefigures that Jesus will be in the heart of the earth for 3 days and 3 nights.

(c)     Jonah was willing to sacrifice himself by being. thrown into the sea to save others.     Similarly,   Jesus gave up His life willingly to save the people of the world.

2.        ANALYSIS BY CHAPTERS

 a.      CHAPTER 1    :   

DISOBEDIENCE  OF  JONAH

(a)     God called Jonah (1:1, 2).

(i)       Arise     

When God  called  Jonah to arise,   He wanted him to realise  his commission and to arise to do God's work  (ref; Acts  8:26,2?). Today,  we,  Christians,   need to arise to do God 's work because  He has called  us   (Mk 16:25).    We should imitate  Isaiah by saying,  "Lord 1 Here  am I.  send me !"   (Is  6 :8).       

(ii)     Go to Nineveh.

Nimrod, the descendent of Ham, built the city of Nineveh,  It was situated on the eastern coast of the River Tigris.  It was a strong fortified city which was built on a foundation of huge rocks-and bricks. It was surrounded by a trench of width 140 feet.  It had a perimeter of about 24 miles with area of 10000 acres. The bazaar outside the city was large (information obtained from a Bible Dictionary).  It was an exceedingly great city of about 3 days' walk (Jonah 3:3). Nineveh was a sinful city. God said, "Their wickedness has come up before me."  Using Nahum 3:1-4 as reference, one can sec their following evilness :      

1.         full of deceit    

2.        full of violence and             

3.        full of immorality.  The world today is similar to the city of Nineveh, crooked and perverse (Philip 2:15), evil and adulterous (Mat 12:39) and full of sins.  There is a need for us to go out to preach the. gospel to save men.

(iii)    Cry against the city.

According to the translation by Lu Zhen Zhong, 'Cry( has the meaning of 'declare warning'. The modern Chinese Translation translates it as 'public rebuke'. God wanted Jonah to go down to Nineveh and cry against it i.e. to rebuke them for their sins publicly and warn them to repent.

To 'cry' is the responsibility of a prophet.  Before Paul's departure from the Epheians, he said, "And now, behold, I know that you all, among whom I went about preaching the Kingdom.... For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God." (Acts 20:25-27),  Evangelist should not fear men or seek their approval by not rebuking their sins. This is neglecting the responsibility of 'crying' against the evil ones.

(b)      Jonah disobeyed and evaded God (1:3).

(i)       Reasons for his disobedience. 

Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord," Why should he disobey God's instructions and flee from God's presence? The following are solve of the possible reasons.

1.        Patriotism.

The Jews reckoned themselves as a superior nation since they were chosen ones of God. They regarded the gentiles as dogs (Mat 15:26). Nineveh is the capital of the Assyrians. The Assyrian king had often intimidated the Jews and this caused enmity between them. There is no reason for Jonah to preach salvation to save his enemies.  The patriotic Jonah loved his own nation and being partial, he disobeyed God.

2.        His lack of love.

Nineveh was full of sins and they deserved punishment.  Further­more, Jonah's country was often attacked by them.  So if his bar-baric enemies were punished by God, his nation will escape suffering and live more peacefully.  So, why should Jonah feel comparison for his enemies? After Jonah's preaching to the Ninevites, the people repented. But Jonah still hoped that they would be destroyed.  Expecting the disaster of the city, Jonah made a shelter outside the city end sat under its shade to see how the Ninevites would be punished. This proves his lack of love and compassion for others.

3.        The fear of difficulties.

Nineveh was a great city ( a three days ' work).  Her population was large (the children who were unable to know the difference between night and left amounted to 120 000).  The language barrier, the possibility of rejection, persecution and even death were ample deterrents.  The responsibility was indeed too great for him.

4.        His concern over his reputation.

A prophet speaks on behalf of God.  If his words were fulfilled, it will prove that he is a true prophet and he will receive the respect of man.  Jonah knew that God. is full of compassion.  So if the ninavites were to repent and God withdrew the disaster that was spoken, then Jonah's prophecy would not be fulfilled.  Consequently, he would lose his reputation;  In order to preserve his reputation, he fled to Tarshish.

(ii)     His flight to Tarshish:

Tarshish is the present town of Tarifa in Spain.  At that time, it was well know city.  The journey by sea from Joppa to Tarshish was about 1900 miles.  Jonah thought that by fleeing to a distant land he would be able to escape from God. God wanted Jonah to go to Nineveh which was North-east of Israel. Instead, he escaped towards - the West which was in the opposite direction. This is a serious act of disobedience.

(iii)    Can a man escape from God?

Jonah thought his flight to Tarshish would successfully evade God.  This is a total misconception. for God is omniscient and If I ascend to heaven,   thou art  there;     If  I make my bed in Shcol, behold,   Thou art  there."     (Ps 139:7,8).     How can a man escape from God?    The end of Jonah’s attempt to escape from God was a chastisement from God.     He met with the danger of a storm and suffered in the big fish's stomach for  3 days and 3 nights.  There are  2 reasons  for a man's  attempt to escape from God's presence:

1.        When he has disobeyed God’s commands,   he flees from Him for he fears God will come after his sins.     After Adam and Eve  disobeyed God's commands  by eating the fruit of  the knowledge  of  good and evil,   they hid themselves among the trees on hearing God's voice  in order to  escape  from  the presence of the  Lord God.' (Gen 3:8).    Today,   there are believers who after committing sins dare not attend services. They will even try to escape from preachers who visit them.

2.        Men may want to avoid divine work just as Jonah did.     An example is Saul who hid in the baggage   (ref :   1  Sam 10:20-22). Man's attempts to escape from God's presence are futile and they will be chastised consequently.          

(iv)   Jonah on the ship  (1 :4-10). 

Jonah paid the  fare and went   into the ship to flee  to Tarshish. The subsequent misfortunes. were  the chastisement from    God for  his  disobedience. a) The Lord hurled a great wind  on the sea.     In order to stop Jonah's flight to Tarshish,   the  Lord hurled a great wind  on the  sea and   there was a great storm which caused   the ship to nearly break up  (vs 4).  'And the  Lord hurled a great wind on the sea. '    This    . great wind was caused by the command of God.   God  is  the        Lord of creation so that  the winds and  seas are under His sovereignty   (Ps  103:19;   107:25,29;   135:6;   Mat  8:24-27). In the midst of the tumultuous storm,   the different altitudes of the people  in the ship were revealed.

1.        They were afraid (upper portion of vs 5). when danger and disaster come before a man, fear and helplessness are but common human reactions (ref: Mat 8:24-26; Acts 27:4-21).

2.        Every man cried  to his God   (upper portion of vs  5).    There is a Chinese adage which says, “Calling unto heaven in extreme poverty; calling unto mother in extreme pain."    When a crisis comes,   the hidden religious inclination of a man will naturally manifest itself.    Though in normal times,   one may openly declare his disbelief in the existence of God,   yet when danger comes, one will cry to God.

3.        They threw   the cargo into   the sea   (middle portion of vs  5). Their purpose was to lighten the ship’s load to prevent it from sinking - to preserve their own lives. .  Though the boat was lightened,   the storm persisted in its fury and their lives remained   in jeopardy. During difficult   times,   man   often resorts   to his   own wisdom and strength   to save himself   (ref:  Acts 27:14-20).

4.        Jonah was sound asleep in the hold of the ship (lower portion of va 5).  In the midst of the storm when everyone else was fearful, Jonah remained calm.  He went below into the hold of the ship, laid down and fell sound asleep. This was indeed fascinating!

(c)     The Captain's reproach.

In the  midst  of   the  storm when  everyone was   finding all  possible means   to  save  their   lives,   the  captain discovered  Jonah  sleeping below   (perhaps   the  sound of  Jonah's  snoring had caught the attention of others).     He reproached him,   saying,   "How  is  it  that you are sleeping?   (vs.6).  The prophet  of God is  one who corrects   the  sins of others.     He should be doing the rebuking under  the  instructions   of God.     Now,   on the contrary, he was being rebuked.  This   is indeed a shame.  The children of God should conduct their lives   in a way    that none can find any faults  to speak against them,     For  it would be shameful  for others  to rebuke us  for our mistakes.

'Get up and  call  on your God.     Perhaps your God will be concerned about  us so  that we will not perish. (vs  6).    The captain wanted Jonah to  get up and pray.    That such words could come from a gentile serves  to remind us  how pitiful  it is for Christians  to forget Cod and pray  to  Him when encountering problems.     Though the captain  had beseeched  Jonah to pray,   he did not.    What was the reason?    This was  because   Jonah knew  that his  sin against God by evading Him was the cause  of  this   storm.    Sin had  made  Jonah fearful  to  draw near to God and  to pray to Him.     For even if he prayed,   God would  not  have listened  (Ps  66:18;   Jn 9:31).

'Come,   let  us  cast  lots  so  we  learn on whose account   this  calam­ity has  struck us.'   (vs  7).     The  people  used   the method of drawing lots  to determines  the  truth  (ref:Joshua.7:16-18)   .     Finally,   the lot fell on  Jonah.  It is  impossible  to hide  sins.    For  there  is nothing covered that will not be revealed,  and hidden that will not be known (Mat 10:26,   2 Sam 12:12).

(d)     The questioning by the men.

The men said to Jonah,   "Tell us  now!  on whose account  has  this calamity struck us?"   (va.8).    Though the lot had fallen on Jonah, the men dared not simply put the blame of sin on him.     Instead he was   given a chance to explain.     They continued  to  ask  Jonah:  

(i)       What   is  your occupation?  

(ii)     And where do you come   from? 

(iii)    What  is your country?   

(iv)   From what people are you?

Due to the  questioning,   Jonah spoke truthfully,   "I am a  Hebrew, and  I fear the  Lord  God of heaven who made  the sea and  the dry land."   (vs 9).     He also told them that he was fleeing from the presence-  of   the  Lord.'(vs  10).  "What  is   this  you nave done?"   is  the  question posed  by  the men.     This  question   is worth a  deeper thought.:

(i)       God  had  once asked Eve,   "what  is  this you have done?" after she  had  taken the forbidden fruit,   disobeying God's  commands   (Gen 3:13).

(ii)     After Cain killed his  brother,   Abel,   God    asked,   "what  is this  you have done?"   (Gen 4:10)  

(iii)    After  Laban had  cheated Jacob,   Jacob asked  him,   "what  is   this you have done  to  me?" (Gen   29:25).   

(iv)   After Saul   offered  the   sacrifice himself, Samuel  asked  him,   "what  is   thin  you have  done?"   (1  Sam   13:11). Today,   we  need   to   examine  our character closely   to prevent God or  men from asking,   "what  is  this  you have done?" 'Then  the men became exceedingly frightened.'   (vs  10), After hearing Jonah's reply,   the men realised  that  the storm was   the result of  Jonah's attempt  to flee from God's   presence.     God was   angry and chastised  him.   They were   exceedingly frightened  for  they thought  that it was  impossible  to  escape   the   fate of  shipwreck.

(e)     Jonah in  the  sea  (1:11-17).

(i)       The   sea became  stormier.

The  men rowed  desperately  to  return  to  land  but  they could   not,   for   the  sea become stormier   (vs   11,13). Diligence   is the  secret  to   success.     But   if sins  are not removed,   our utmost  exertion will do nothing to remove the wrath  of God.

(ii)     Jonah's willingness  to bear  punishment

Knowing that his plan to flee  from God   had failed and  that he was  the reason for   the  others'   mishap,   Jonah was  willing to  suffer punishment himself so as  to  save  the  others.     Therefore, when   they  asked  him,   "what  should we  do   to you that  the see  may become calm for us?",   he replied   immediately. "Pick   me  up  and   throw  me   into   the  sea.     Then  the  sea will become  calm for   you,   for   I  know  that   on account   of  me this   great  storm has come upon you. "   (vs   11,12).

(iii)    The  sea  became calm.

Before  the men followed   Jonah's  instructions,   they called on God,   and said,   "O,   Lord,....   do not put  innocent  blood on us;  for thous,   O Lord,   hast done as  thous hast  placed." (vs   14).    This was  to  declare  that their action was   intend­ed  to follow God 's will. 'So  they picked up  Jonah,   threw him into the sea,   and the sea stopped its  raging.'   (vs   15).     Jonah was  the  root  of  the crisis.     The   impact of  one's  sins  upon  others   is   indeed frightening.     If  the sin  is not removed,   there will  not  be peace.     But  once removed,   everyone will  enjoy peace   (ref. Joshua   7).

'Then  the  men  feared   the   Lord  greatly... ' (vs16).   Though the  gentiles were superstitious,   upon experiencing this miracle   themselves,   they feared   the   Lord   greatly and   even offered   sacrifices and   made vows   (ref : Acts   19:11-20).

d)God appointed   a great  fish   to swallow  Jonah  (vs 17) 'And   the  Lord  appointed a great  fish  to  swallow Jonah. ' Cod   is  sovereign of all  (Ps   103:19).     The winds  and sea  obey this commands.     Of course,   He  is able  to appoint a  great fish  to swallow  Jonah, in order to  preserve his life.     Nothing is   impossible to God   (Gen   18:14;   Jer 32:17).

Jonah suffered  greatly for  3 days and  3 nights  in the   fish's  stomach.     It was  dark,   smelly and  probably he had   problems   in   breathing.     No wonder he thought  he was in  the   depths   of  Sheol   (2:2).     This  was   the  chastisement of God   to  allow him to understand  -   'who has  defied   Him without harm?'   (Job 9:4).

To   the   skeptics,   this   miracle  of   Jonah   is  reckoned as a legend  or  parable only.     But we  have  sufficient reasons  to believe   that   this  was  a  reality because   the   Lord   Jesus  had   personally  testified  and said   that  this  miracle prefigures  His death and  resurrection     (Mat  12:39-11;   16:4).

(f)      Meditation

(i)       The   stages  of deterioration  of  Jonah are  similar to  the situation  of  those who are worldly  in that   they   'went down'   step by step:

1.        'went down   to  Joppa  (1:3);   to flee from God 's  presence.

2.        'went down'  into a  ship  (1 :3);   to go  to Tarsus.

3.        'went down'   into  the hold  of   the  ship   (1:5); to  lie down and  sleep.

4.        'went down'   into the sea   (1:5);   to face  depth rather  than to submit to God.

5.        'went down'   into a big fish's  stomach  (1:17); lost hope.

6.        'went down'  into the deep,   roots  of mountains (2:3,6),   into  Sheol;   hopeless eternally. Spiritual collapse  occurs   step by  step.     The  spiritual   life   goes down slowly and   {gradually  becomes corrupted   (Ept 4 :22)    The   evilness becomes more and  more rotted     (ref : Joshua 7:21).     The  steps   of Achan's sins involve  seeing,  coveting,   taking and hiding.     2 Sam  11   records the steps of David's  sins which are  seeing,   inquiring,   inviting,   having sexual relations and  killing Uriah to cover his  sins.

As Christians,   we should always examine whether we are going downwards   in our faith;   (Heb  3:14).   love   (Rev  2:4,5),   church  attendance    (Heb 10:25),   prayers   (Mat  26:40,41),   offerings   (Mat  3:8-10)  and  divine  work  (1 Cor  15:58).     Let us  not fall from our steadfastness (2 Pet  3:17) but  grow  in   the  grace  and  knowledge   of  our  Lord   (2  Peter  3:18).

(ii)     The effects of sins are fearful - one man’s sins will many others.

‘Dead flies    make a perfumer’s oil stink.'   (Ecc   10:1). Just one dead fly can destroy   the scent of   the entire perfume.     Similarly,    'A   little leaven leavens   the whole lump.'   (2 Cor 5:6).  The  disobedience  of the   single man,   Jonah,   caused  great loss   to  the entire crew:

1.        Loss of property.

Their goods were   thrown into   the sea.

2.        Mental suffering.    

The crew was fearful and panic striken   . We  should   not  neglect small   sins  because   one  sinner destroys   much  good '   (Ecc   9:18)  instead  we  should  catch  the   "foxes" (Sol 2:15).

(iii)    Awake,   Sleeper!   (Eph 5:14).

When Jonah was   sleeping in   the hold   of   the ship,     the captain rebuked him for sleeping.     Sleeping   is dangerous.

Samson’s hair was shaved   off during his sleep and he lost his strength consequently   (Judge   16:18-20).     Peter slept  in  the  garden of  gethsemane and  was  not alert  in prayers.     He denied  Christ   three  times   (Mat 26:40-45; 69-75).     Entychus   fell asleep during service and fell to his   death   (Acts 20:8,9).     These are examples   for  us.

The   Bible says,” Let  us  not  sleep as   others do,   but let   us  be alert and sober."   (1  Thess  5:6).    'It   is already the hour for you to awaken from your sleep. (Rom 13:11). Prayerfully, our spiritual lines are not asleep.

(iv)   The Lord chastises those whom He loves (Heb 12:5,6)

This chapter reveals to us the love of God towards, His children.  God appointed a storm in the sea to stop Jonah's flight (1:4).  Later,  he admitted his sins before the men (1:10).  God also appointed a big fish to swallow Jonah so that when he suffered in its stomach, he would pray and repent of his sins.                                .                             

The Bible: says, "Blessed is the man whom Thou doest chasten, O Lord, "God's chastisement will benefit us and make us share His holiness (Heb 12:9-11). Let us not take lightly the Lord's chastisement!

 b.      CHAPTER 2 :

THE PRAYER OF JONAH (1-10)

The prayer of Jonah was written as a poem in the Hebrew language. It is a prayer of repentance and thanksgiving.

(a)     The suffering of Jonah in the belly of the fish.

Jonah's suffering in the belly of the fish can be seen from the prayer of Jonah.

(i)       vs. 3-5 - this could be the time when Jonah was tossed into the ocean.

(ii)     vs. 5   - the depths of the ocean were like the bottomless pit, and it was agonizing as seaweeds have entangled the head.

(iii)    vs. 6 -   it was not possible to escape from the belly of the fish.

(iv)   vs. 7 - if this fish was a whale (warm-blooded), then it would be very humid, odorous, dark and difficult to breathe within its stomach. It made people faint, vs 2 (in the depths of the pit).

(b)     The   prayer   of   Jonah.

Praying to God in the midst of calamities (2 vs 1-2). Jonah did not pray when he was in the ship but he prayed earnestly when he was in the stomach of the fish. This is the nature of a man. Not until disasters befall him that he will come to his senses. When Jonah was in the stomach of the fish, he lost all hope of survival, and hence he prayed earnestly to God to forgive his sins. He knew then that only God could save him and this was the only way to survive. "When I was in calamities, I seek the Lord God". Man will seek God when he is faced with calamities. Calamity is a punishment from God for sinners. Many people will not turn their hearts back to God and pray until they are faced with calamities. (Ps 18:6,Ps 120:1,Is 26:16, Ps 107:10-13 cf Lk 15:17,18). ii) 

(i)       The contents of Prayer ( 2 vs 3-9)

1.        To confess and repent ( 2 vs 3,4)

In the context of Jonah's prayer, though there was no mention of the word 'repentance', from the words he had spoken , it can be seen that he had already admitted his own mistakes and had asked God for forgiveness.

"You have tossed me into the bottomless depths". (2:3)

Clearly, it was the sailors who had tossed Jonah into the ocean and it was also the request of Jonah to be thrown down. Then why did he say these? This is because he knew that it was God's will for him to be thrown off the ship by the sailors.

"I am cast out from thy presence".

Jonah realised that since he had disobeyed God and hid himself away from Him, the calamity he faced then was the chastisement of God. And what he was experiencing was due to the sins he had committed.

2.        To believe and entrust (2:4-7)

"thou  didst hear my voice"

Jonah believed that God would hear and  answer his prayer.

"I want to look upon thy holy temple"

It shows that Jonah had entrusted all to God and believed that he shall once again be able to praise God in the holy temple.

"Yet thou didst bring up my life from the Pit"

"My prayer came to thee, into thy holy temple"

These are all words of faith. He believed that God would certainly save him from the stomach of the fish and he would be able to enter God's temple again. All these words of prayer were written in the past tense, showing Jonah's faith that God had heard his prayer.

3.        To give thanksgiving to God (2:8-9)

Jonah remembered that the people in the ship had worshipped vain idols. They had all forsaken the merciful God. Jonah considered himself blessed as he had the God of Heaven as his reliance and he was full of thanksgiving, saying," I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to Thee."

"what I have vowed I will pay"

What Jonah had vowed was not clearly written. However, from deductions, he might have vowed that from then on he would listen to the calling of God , to obey God's will and to work for Him. Vows must be repaid. If a vow cannot be repaid, then it is better not to make a vow ( Ecc 5:4,5). If a vow is not repaid, God will definitely require it from us (Deut 23:21-23).

"Deliverance belongs to the Lord"

This shows that Jonah had understood that unless God saved him, he would definitely be digested by the fish and die.

(ii)     Effects of Prayer (2 vs 10)

When Jonah confessed and repented of his sins in the stomach of the fish and earnestly prayed and vowed to the Lord, God heard his prayer.

1.        "And the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land" (v 10).

The fish did not vomit Jonah in the middle of the sea but vomited him out on dry land. This is truly the grace and love of the Almighty God. His providence is indeed great.

(c)     MEDITATION.

(i)       Jonah was well versed of the book of Psalms since almost the whole content of his prayer used words from the book of Psalms.

"In my distress I cry to the Lord, that he may answer me" (Ps 120:1) .

"For God is the king of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm" (Ps 47:7, 18:6, 31:6, 116:17, 18, 3:8).

We ought to keep the truth of Christ bountifully in our hearts (Col 3:16) and also to meditate upon it day and night (Ps 119:97, 98; 147, 148). Only through trials and calamities that the word of God will become a lamp to our feet and the light to our pathway (Ps 119:105).

(ii)     Man is not comparable to a fish.

The fish could listen to the calling of God and was obedient to God, hence it was used by God; however Jonah disobeyed the calling of God and did not follow God's instructions to go to Nineveh to deliver His warning, not allowing God to use him. Truly, he was not comparable to the fish.

(iii)    Prayers can be made at any place and at any time.

The holy temple is the house of prayer for the multitudes (Is 56:7). The home is also a good place to pray (Dan 6:10, Act 10:30). Prayer can also be made in the wilderness (Mk 1:35), by the riverside (Ac 16:13, in the jail Ac 16:25), at the harbour (Act 21:5) and in the ship (Ac 27:25). All the places can be used for prayers, even in the stomach of the fish (Jon 2:1). God is omniscient. He fills the heavens and the earth (Jer 23:23, 24). Therefore prayers can be made at any time and at any place.

(iv)   A vow must be paid (2:9).

A vow is a covenant made by man towards God. God never forsakes His covenant with man. He is a steadfast and loving God (Deut 7:10; I Kgs 8:23; Num 23:19). Man should also not forsake his covenant with God. That is why a vow must be repaid. If it cannot be repaid then it is better not to make a vow (Ecc 5:4, 5). Those who do not repay vows, God shall surely require of them. They may even meet with calamities and the work of their hands will be destroyed (Deut 23:21-23; Ecc 5:6). Therefore, we should not carelessly open our mouths before God and to make vows rashly (Ecc 5:2).

(v)     Salvation comes from the Lord.

In the Old Testament times, salvation and deliverance came from the Lord. When the Israelites were in Egypt serving as slaves, they cried out to God and God appointed Moses to deliver them from Egypt (Ex 3:7-10; Ps 68:20).

Today salvation comes from the Lord Jesus (Rom 5:6-11) "because there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).

 c.      CHAPTER 3:

THE REPENTANCE OF NINEVEH.

(a)     Jonah acknowledged his commission.

(i)       The second calling of God.

(vl)"Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time."

After the chastisement of God, God gave Jonah a second chance. This second calling was similar to the first one.

(v2) "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you."

This time he dared not disobey because he had already experienced God's chastisement (he suffered agony in the stomach of the fish for 3 days and 3 nights.

(v3) "So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh."

However, from his actions, it can be seen that his love towards the people of Nineveh was no better than the first time he was called.

(v2) "Proclaim to it the message that I tell you".

Compared with 1:2, the first calling of God, (1:2) "cry against it", there is a difference. Since Jonah had disobeyed the calling from God and had fled, this time God wanted him to obey indefinitely. This phrase (v 2) emphasises that the person who proclaims must not speak on his own accord. This shows that God wanted Jonah to proclaim according to what He had instructed. Although Jonah had a supernatural experience (swallowed by a fish) God did not want him to proclaim himself but to proclaim the message that God had instructed. (Jn 3:34) "For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for it is not by measure that he gives the Spirit." Being the servant of God, he must speak according to the Words of God (1 Pet 4:11). Paul said, "For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord (2 Cor 4:5a); "When I came to you, brethren, I did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God in lofty words or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified." (1 Cor 2:1,2). Today when we preach the gospel, it is important to preach Jesus Christ and His words (Bible) to man.

(ii)     To go to Nineveh with submissiveness.

(3:3) "So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh."

Jonah dared not disobey God anymore because he knew that if he hardened his heart against God he could not succeed (Job 9:4). He had already repented in the stomach of the fish and had also vowed. In order to repay his vow, he immediately set off for Nineveh. Submissiveness is an important requirement for the prophets of God (Ex 4:10-17; Jer 1:4-10), only by being submissive can we please God (1 Sam 15:22). Those who submit to God will definitely succeed (Lk 5:3-11).

"Nineveh was an exceedingly great city"

This shows that the task of Jonah was exceedingly great and difficult. "Three day's journey in breadth". This could mean the circumference of the city needed 3 days to complete in one round. However, Jonah only walked for one day and his preaching had already achieved its full effect.

(iii)    The preaching of Jonah.

"Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's journey."

He might have entered the city by a broad path to preach.

"Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!"

This warning was simple but severe. However, this warning also manifested the grace of God. Though the sins of the city of Nineveh was so great that it went up even to God (1:2), God did not destroy them immediately but gave them forty days' grace so that Jonah could deliver His warning to them. The love of God is indeed great, as Peter said, "The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." (2 Pet 3:9).  Jonah only journeyed for one day, and what he preached only consisted of one phrase, very simple yet effective. And the whole city of Nineveh repented. From here, it can be seen that by the submissive and dedicated preaching with God's guidance, the result will surely be great.

(b)     Repentance of the people of.. Nineveh (v 5-8)

The repentance of the people of Nineveh can serve as an example for the repentance of all sinners. Their act of repentance was used by the Lord Jesus to rebuke the Jews, "The men of Nineveh will arise at the judgement with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here." (Lk 11:32).

(i)       To trust and submit to God.

To trust and be submissive to God is the initial step because "without faith it is impossible to please God" (v 5) (perhaps it was due to the previous miracle experienced by Jonah that caused them to believe). We ought to believe in the might of God and that He does not lie but will fulfill what He has said (ref: Num 23:19). Therefore, they proclaimed a fast from the greatest to the least of them, putting on sackcloth, lamenting and repenting of their sins .

(ii)     To lament for our sins.

"They proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth" (3:5)

"Covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes" (v 6).

This is the manifestation of sorrow (ref: Neh 9:1; Est 4:1-2; I Kgs 21:27; Eze 27:31). After the people of Nineveh had heard Jonah's preaching, they knew that their wickedness was great. The whole city fasted, wore sackcloth and put on ashes, lamenting for their sins. The Bible says, "The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise."(Ps 51:17;ref Lk 18:13-14). When the people of Nineveh lamented for their sins, God did not despise them.

(iii)    To be humble and confess your sins.

Though the King of Nineveh was the head of the state, however, "when the tidings reached the king of, Nineveh, and he rose from his throne, removed his robe, and covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes." (3:6).  This shows how self-abased he felt.    

"Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; let them not feed, or drink water, but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth."  (v 7).   This is a true and complete repentance, for the whole city including the livestock was to moan for their sins. Causing the livestock to fast and put on sackcloth is something that is seldom done throughout the Biblical history.

(iv)   Depart from the path of wickedness.

Nineveh was a city of wickedness (ref: Nahum 3:1-4). Their wickedness had reached God (1:2), and now they had repented, "everyone turns from his evil way and from the violence which is in his hands." (3:8), truly repenting and earnestly sought the Lord. True repentance is not by mere confession, but by realistic action, departing and forsaking wickedness, and turning back to God (ref: I Thess 1:9; Acts 19:18-19)

(c)     The effect of repentance (v 9-10)

"God may yet repent and turn from his fierce anger......." (3:9)

The people of Nineveh awaited God's forgiveness in humility.

"When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way" (v 10).

God sees the hearts of man, his eyes are in every place, keeping watch over the evil and good (Pro 15:3). The Lord will by no means clear the guilty (Nah 1:3), and will by no means find guilt with the righteous. When God saw the deeds of the people of Nineveh, how they had departed from their sins, He repented from the evil which He was about to do unto them.

The meaning of the word 'repent' in the original language is NACHAM which contains two meanings:

(i)       To show immense regret (Gen 6:6-7; Judges 2:18; 1 Sam 15:11, 35; Jer 15:6).

(ii)     To stop the action (Ex 32:12, 14; 2 Sam 24:16; Jer 18:8-10; Joel 2:13-14; Amos 7:3; Jonah 3:9-10).

"He repented" (3:10). The Lord is merciful, he does not wish all men to perish but all to repent (2 Pet 3:9). The Lord Jesus also once said, "For the Son of Man came not to destroy man's lives but to save them." (Lk 9:55). The people of Nineveh had truly repented, so God changed His will and stopped his plan to do evil to the city of Nineveh (vs 10).

(d)     Meditation

(i)       To acknowledge one's commission to preach the gospel.

Paul said, "For if I preach the gospel that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission (1 Cor 9:16, 17). Today, the responsibility of preaching the gospel is given to us (Mk 16:15; 1 Pet 2:9). We must not be like Jonah, evading responsibilities and eventually receiving God's chastisement. We must know that after receiving physical chastisement, the task which was intended for us to do must be completed (upon God's second calling, Jonah set off for Nineveh, quietly). Paul's words are worth our meditation. Let us all acknowledge our commission and whole-heartedly preach the gospel (2 Tim 4:2), for in the future there will be a great reward (2 Tim 4:7, 8).

(ii)     The effect of one phrase.

When Jonah was in the city of Nineveh, preaching, his message only contained one phrase, "For another 40 days, Nineveh would be destroyed." Though it was only a short phrase, the eventual effect was great, for all the inhabitants of Nineveh repented.

"To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is" (Prov 15:23). One phrase of Philip, "Come and see", brought Nathanael to Jesus Christ (Jn 1:46). A woman of Samaria said, "Come and see ... is this truly the Christ?" All who heard her went out of the city to see Jesus (Jn 4:39, 40). Let us not say that we do not have eloquence or we lack in any testimony; because as long as the word or testimony is apt, it will lead men to God.

 d.      CHAPTER 4:

THE ANGER OF JONAH AND GOD'S REPRIMANDATION.

(a)     The anger of Jonah

This chapter records the 2 times when Jonah was angry.

(i)       The first occasion he was angry

"But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry," (Jon 4:1). Jonah was angry because God had forgiven the people of Nineveh and repented of the evil He would do to them. When the people of Nineveh repented and received God's forgiveness, Jonah should have been joyful and satisfied that God had worked with him and what he preached had reached its full effect since the people of the whole city were saved. However, he was dissatisfied and full of anger. This is hard to understand. We can deduce that:

1.        Jonah was selfish and jealous.

Jonah harboured racial discrimination in his heart, having the concept that all his enemies must be destroyed and are not worthy to be saved. He could not submit to God's will for sparing them of calamities.   Jonah's attitude was similar to that of the elder brother" in the parable of the prodigal son (Lk 15:25-30).

2.        Jonah was foolish and ignorant .

From the contents of his prayer, we know that his understanding of God was clear. "And he prayed to the Lord and said, 'I pray thee, Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that Thou art a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and repentest of evil." (4:2). He was angry and yet he was praying; he was sinning and yet he was communicating with God. How foolish this is.

3.        To analyse the reason why Jonah fled.

"For I knew that thou art a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in love and repentest of evil (4:2). Jonah knew that if the people of Nineveh were to repent, God would not cause the calamities to befall the Ninevites. God did not destroy the Ninevites but sustained their lives. Why had he warned and saved them? From here, we can see the selfishness and the lack of love of Jonah.

(ii)     The second time he was angry

Jonah was angry for the castor oil plant. But God said to Jonah, "Do you do well to be angry for the plant?" And he said, "I do well to be angry, angry enough to die." (4:9). The second anger of Jonah shows more evidently that he was indeed selfish and lacked love. This time it was not because the people of Nineveh were pardoned by God but rather that the plant had withered. He was angry because he was not sheltered and the heat of the sun was too extreme and he felt faint. "This is too much", he thought.

(iii)    Was Jonah's anger justified?

For the two times when Jonah was angry, God asked him the same question (vs 4, 9). Jonah replied, "I do well to be angry, angry enough to die." How hardhearted he was. It is dangerous to always show our temper. Actually God did not let him die as he wished for it is not worth dying without a good reason.

Man always gets angry. When we are angry, ponder, "Is it right to be angry?" Remember the words of the scriptures, "A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man quietly holds it back." (Prov 29:11). Christians are not hypocrites nor are they saints. Inevitably, Christians do get angry. Some are angry for the sake of righteousness. But anger is unpleasant. The Bible says, "The anger of man does not work the righteousness of God." (Jas 1:20). Is this the correct time to be angry? Is this the right person to be angry with? Is our attitude right when we are angry?

(b)     The teachings of God towards Jonah

Jonah was angry twice. This shows his selfishness, intolerance and the. lack of love. God helped him to discover and realize his mistakes in a dramatic way by arranging a castor oil plant. God made use of Jonah's words to hint to him of the injustice he had shown to the Ninevites.

(i)       God made use of examples to teach Jonah (vs .5-8),

"Then Jonah went out of the city and sat to the east of the city" (vs 5),

Perhaps, the landscape was higher on the east side of the city and the city can be viewed while sitting down .

"... and made a city for himself there" (vs 5).

Jonah had decided to stay there for some time. The grace period which God had given to the Ninevites was 40 days. Since the days were not up yet, Jonah decided to sit under the booth. "He sat under it in the shade, till he should see what would become of the city." (vs 5), how God would send disasters upon that city. This time God performed some miracles to teach Jonah.

1.        God appointed a castor oil plant.

Jonah was at the outskirts of the city, waiting to witness the destruction of the city of Nineveh. As he was sitting there, the sun shone upon his head, "And the Lord God appointed a plant, and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant." (vs 6). Gourd is a plant commonly found in the east. The seed can produce oil. If the climate and the land is suitable, it can grow to a very great height. Its leaves are large and full of sap and can be used as a shade from the sun. This is a miracle from God, Just overnight, the tree had grown taller than Jonah and its shadow covered his head so that he was sheltered from the sun. That is why Jonah was greatly pleased with the plant. This castor oil plant gave Jonah the comfort of coolness in the shade.

2.        God appointed a worm.

God appointed a worm to consume the plant and it withered (4:7). Because the plant had withered away, Jonah's head was once again subjected to the heat of the sun, God, through the worm, destroyed the plant, allowing Jonah to suffer physical discomfort and he was angry because the plant had withered (vs 10). God appointed the humid east wind, "When the sun rose, God appointed a sultry east wind." (4:8). In the middle east there is a wind called Sivocco. When it blows it is unbearable. With the east wind blowing and the hot sun upon his head, Jonah felt faint. So he asked for death, saying that to die is better than to live. From this book, we discover that God not only spoke to Jonah personally, He also arranged for many different situations to occur, in order to teach Jonah; viz-a-viz, a big fish, a castor oil plant, a worm, the humid east wind. All these are the predestination of God. The environment is the best teacher. As long as you make a point to ponder, we would receive much edification and insight from it.

(c)     God’s reprimand.    

God wanted to emphasize that the castor oil plant was not planted by Jonah. Jonah did not help in the growth of the plant neither did he water it, but he treasured the plant dearly and actually sought death when he lost the plant. Moreover, the people of Nineveh were created by God so how could God not love them? Jonah treasured the plant because the plant provided him comfort; yet he did not treasure the lives of the Ninevites, only caring for his own. He did not care about the lives of others. Being a selfish and narrow-minded person, it is indeed pitiful. God appointed the humid east wind and the sun shining on Jonah's head, causing him to faint.   God deliberately allowed him to suffer in order to stir up his compassion. Instead, Jonah was full of selfishness and anger, so much so as to seek death.  "And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons." (4:11).  Those who do not know their right hand from their left were the children.  From this explanation, the whole city of Nineveh consisted of a population of 600,000 to 700,000 people. So, to compare just one plant with so many lives, what a great disparity this is!  God treasures the lives of men, yet Jonah was only concerned for a mere plant.  Everyone has compassion but  due  to  racial  discrimination  and  religious intolerance, Jonah became a selfish and uncompassionate person.  Unfortunately, today there are many people who like Jonah,  only care about their own enjoyment and salvation, ignoring the souls of others, such as the people at Gerasene who had no compassion on the possessed person.  With no thoughtfulness except for the loss of 2,000 swine, they begged Jesus to leave.  They did not treasure men but instead the swine.  This is illogical.

"Should I not pity Nineveh?" (vs 11a).

This phrase shows the love and mercy of God. God not only loves the adults, but also the infants and other living animals.

"He will hot break a bruised reed or quench a smoldering wick." (Mt 12:20a).

God has a merciful heart. His love is so broad, long, high and deep (Eph 3:18); although the sins of the Ninevites were great but God was merciful and wanted to give them a chance to repent. Although Jonah rebelled against God, was hard-hearted and cold, God used many methods to edify Jonah. How great is God's love! Hallelujah, all thanks be to God.

This book ends here, and it seems to have no conclusion, nor is there any record of Jonah's outcome, leaving the readers to think by themselves.  This is the uniqueness of this book.

(d)     Meditation

(i)       To see what would become of the city (4:5)

Jonah went out of the city and sat to the east of the city and made a booth for himself there, to see the outcome of the city. Watching nonchalantly and rejoicing over one's woes is an attitude which we should not have.

As recorded in the Bible, "Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, 'Behold, we did not know this' does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not requite man according to his work?" (Prov 24:11, 12). Your family members, relatives, friends and even your enemies are walking on the path to destruction. Do you care about their souls? Do you preach the Words of Life to them (1 Tim 5:8)? Do not be like Jonah, who displayed a nonchalant attitude which displeased God. Beware! God will repay your deeds.

Are you concerned of the matters of the church? Are you like Jonah who just stood by to watch?

"Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles; lest the Lord sees it, and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him." (Prov 24:17, 18). God makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and send rain on the just and on the unjust (Mt 5:45b). Your enemy (you see him as your enemy) is not God's enemy. God loved the Israelites as well as the Ninevites. Therefore, love your enemies and do not be like Jonah who sat outside the city to watch the destruction of his enemies. God does not like those who rejoice over the calamities of others. For God may turn His anger away from your enemies and add calamities to you (Prov 17:5).

(ii)     God's arrangements

God teaches men diligently without complaint (ref: Job 33:14-18), In order to teach Jonah, God prepared a big fish (1:17), a castor oil plant (4:6), a worm (4:7), sultry east wind (4:8); all these came from God in order to edify and correct Jonah's shortcomings.

No matter what God's arrangements are, whether they are pleasant or otherwise, it is still His beautiful will because "We know that in everything God works for good with those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose." (Rom 8:28).

(iii)    God loves mankind (Jon 3:16)

Jonah was a patriotic prophet. He knew that Assyria was a powerful empire and often attacked them and perhaps one day Israel will be conquered by the Assyrians. Therefore, he only wished to see God destroy Nineveh and was hurt to see that the Ninevites- were being forgiven because of their repentance, The form of narrow-minded patriotism was deeply sown in Jonah's heart, so much so that he would choose to die, rather than the Ninevites receiving salvation.

This book aims to correct the attitude of the Israelites, from the book we can see God's love for mankind, that is why God is not only the God of the Israelites but also the God of the whole mankind (Rom 3:29). He is the God of all under heaven (Ac 10:34, 35; 11:18).

The Bible says, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Gal 3:28).

Paul often said, "I am under obligation both to Greeks and the barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish......... For I am not ashamed of the gospel : it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek" (Rom 1:14,16).

Christ's salvation includes every race, every place, every nation, without class' or status' distinction, without distinguishing men from women. Therefore we must follow the teachings of Christ, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation" (Mk 16:15). Actively progress in the work of God and preach the word to the whole creation. To wait for the second coming of Christ.