NYP Campus Crusade For Christ

We're very privileged to have Amy Lau from East Asia School of Theology to share with us at this week's PDA (Our weekly fellowship meetings) on the book of Jonah.

Personal Background

a. Jonah, son of Amittai, from Gath Hepher (2 Kings 14:25) which lay about 3 miles north of Galilee, making Jonah an Israelite.

b. A zealous patriot, strongly Jewish (Jonah 1:10)

c. A prophet during the reign of Jeroboam II (Israel, 793-752 B.C.; 2 Kings 14:23-27).

Prior to Amos and Hosea
Gave prophetic message concerning the geographical expansion of northern kingdom, Israel
An unwilling prophet to Nineveh

Nineveh/Assyria

a. Nineveh lay east of the Tigris river. It was part of a city-state complex that formed the capital of Assyria.

b. Assyria was a dominant world power for about three centuries (9th - 6th C B.C.)

The name Assyria came from a city-state named Asshur which lay on the western bank of Asshur (var. Ashur'Assur) was also the name of the sun-god that was prominent in the worship culture of the Assyrians.

c. Northen kingdom Israel fell to the Assyrians in 722B.C.

d. Nineveh fell to the Babylonians in 612 B.C.

The Book Of Jonah

a. Located in the Prophets section, but actually a historical narrative.

b. Contains only about 8 English words of prophecy (5 in Hebrew).

Jonah Outline

1:1-3 God's command & The Runaway Prophet

1:4-16 A conversionary voyage

1:17 The fish's bait

2:1-9 Jonah's Psalm

v 1-7 Reflection of Jonah's drowning and God's salvation
v 8-9 Vow of praise

2:10 The fish's indigestion

Exercise: Jonah Chapter 1

Question:

What did Jonah do in contrast to the LORD's command to go to Nineveh

Answer:

v 3 But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish

Q: What was the result of the LORD hurling a strong wind on the sea?

A: v4 and there was a storm on the sea

Q: As the ship was about to break up, what effect did this have on the sailors?

A: v5 Then the sailors became afraid.

Q: What did the sailors do as a result of their fear?

A: v5 and every man cried to his god, and they threw the cargo...into the sea.

Q: What did Jonah do in contrast to the sailors?

A: v5 But Jonah had gone below into the hold of the ship, lain down and fallen sound asleep.

Q: What was the result of Jonah telling the sailors that he worshipped YHWH God of heaven who made the sea and the dry land?

A: v10 Then the men became extremely frightened

Q: What did Jonah say will happen if they threw him into the sea?

A: v12 Then the sea will become calm for you.

Q: Why couldn't the sailors row to the land?

A: v13 for the sea was becoming stormier against them.

Q: What did the sailors do when they realized that they could not ride against the stormy sea?

A: v14 Then they called on the LORD...

Q: What was the response of the sailors as a result of the sea becoming calm after they threw Jonah into the sea?

A: v16 Then the men feared the LORD greatly...

Applicational Thought

What do these two chapters tell me about God?

When we disobey God, people around us would get affected. Do you care if the people around you are not saved, what are you doing about it?
What keeps you from doing what you know is God's will for you to do?
Who is your 'Nineveh'? Are you running away from your 'Nineveh'?
Are you caught in a fish belly situation - helpless, beyond your control?
Are you getting comfortable in being inside the 'fish belly'?
How can a person get out of a fish belly situation?

It's so power-packed right, the notes?! Join us for next week's PDA 3 Jun'09 (Wed) for another round of hearing in-depth on God's word with Amy Lau on Chapters 3 & 4 of Jonah. More details would be given to you soon. Do read the above chapters before you come. (: