Jonah 3:1-6 – The Ninevite Response Is Seen In Their Actions
The Spirit of God illuminated the truth of Jonah’s message to the mind and hearts of the Ninevites. The light of the truth had flooded into the black darkness of their hearts, and they were grieved to the core of their being as they stood at the bar of divine judgment. 800 years later, thousands of Jews in Jerusalem would experience the same thing when Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost.
The impact of this cutting to the heart of the Ninevites is seen in what they do. They call a fast and put on sackcloth. One commentator writes, “This was a common means in the ancient world of expressing genuine grief, humility, and penitence – the hallmarks of true repentance. When denounced by the prophet Elijah, the Israelite King Ahab responded in a similar fashion: ‘he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly’ (1 Kings 21:27). The prophet Joel, possibly a contemporary of Jonah, demanded that his hearers should fast and don sackcloth as a sign of their repentance (Joel 1:13,14). The sackcloth used was a thick course cloth, normally made from goat’s hair; to wear it symbolized the rejection of earthly comforts and pleasures. The response of the Ninevites was unanimous, from the greatest to the least. No class or section of Ninevite society felt exempt from the need to humble itself before God.”
Matters hit a critical point when news reaches the king. This is a significant detail because it gives life to Jonah’s statement from the greatest to the least. The king responds like the people, not because he is a political chameleon but because the Word comes to him. He responds by rising from his throne, acknowledging that One greater than himself is speaking to the city now; taking off his robe, he puts on sackcloth and sits down in ashes. What a phenomenal event. Imagine if those in power in our nation today were to humble themselves before the Lord in confession and repentance; what joy it would bring to us and what changes it would bring to our society.
Question
- Why do they fast and put on sackcloth?
Prayer Points
- Pray that our nation from the greatest to the least would repent.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.