This is Daniel Whyte III president of Gospel Light Society International with The Scripture & the Sense Podcast #530, where I read the Word of God and give the sense of it based on an authoritative commentary source such as the Bible Knowledge Commentary or Matthew Henry Commentary. This podcast is based upon Nehemiah 8:8 where it says Ezra and the Levites “read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.” The aim of this podcast is that through the simple reading of the Word of God and the giving of the sense of it, the church would be revived and the world would be awakened.
Today we are reading Jonah 1:8-9.
8 Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; What is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou?
9 And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land.
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That was Jonah 1:8-9. Now here is the sense of it.
The Matthew Henry Commentary reads:
Jonah gave an account of his religion, for that was his business. We may hope that he told with sorrow and shame, justifying God, condemning himself, and explaining to the mariners what a great God Jehovah is. They said to him, Why hast thou done this? If thou fearest the God that made the sea and the dry land, why wast thou such a fool as to think thou couldst flee from his presence? If the professors of religion do wrong, they will hear it from those who make no such profession. When sin has raised a storm, and laid us under the tokens of God’s displeasure, we must consider what is to be done to the sin that raised the storm. Jonah uses the language of true penitents, who desire that none but themselves may fare the worse for their sins and follies. Jonah sees this to be the punishment of his iniquity, he accepts it, and justifies God in it. When conscience is awakened, and a storm raised, nothing will turn it into a calm but parting with the sin that caused the disturbance. Parting with our money will not pacify the conscience, the Jonah must be thrown overboard.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary reads:
Though rebellious against God’s command Jonah responded to the sailors’ barrage of five questions by stating with no uncertainty his nationality (I am a Hebrew) and the worth and power of His God. Though disobedient to God, Jonah at least knew what He is like. Jonah said that God is the Lord (Yahweh), the covenant-making and covenant-keeping God of Israel. The prophet also said his God is the God of heaven, the one true Sovereign, in contrast with the sailors’ many false gods. Jonah also affirmed that Yahweh is the Creator, the One who made the sea and the land. As Creator of the world He can control nature, including storms on the sea. The sailors clearly acknowledged this fact in their question. It may seem strange that Jonah claimed to worship this God when he did not obey Him, but this is often true of believers.
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Thank you for listening to the Scripture & The Sense Podcast. Remember to read the Word of God each and every day and pray without ceasing to God for wisdom to understand it and apply it to your life. Most importantly, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. Please stay tuned for a complete presentation of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ so that you can get your soul saved from Hell to that wonderful place called Heaven when you die. May God bless you and keep you is my prayer.
BCNN1 WP 