After Jonah tried unsuccessfully to run and hide from God, he was given a

second chance to go and proclaim God's warning to the Ninevites. Today on Truth for Life weekend,

we'll hear what happened when this fish-soaked prophet obediently delivered the divine message

he was originally so reluctant to share. Alistair Begg is teaching from Jonah chapter 3.

The place is Nineveh. It was, if you like, a major metropolitan area and it was pagan in the

extreme. Indeed, if you allow your eye to go down to the third verse, you will realize that it was

such an important city that a visit required three days. The best that I can do with it is this,

that in reading a little I discovered that Eastern etiquette in cities of significance was as

follows. Not only did ambassadors or diplomats have to observe a protocol upon entry to the city,

but prophets who would have been regarded with a steam and with a measure of superstition

were asked to do the same. And so there would be for someone arriving in the city of Nineveh a first

day, which would be the day of settlement and arrival. There would be a second day,

which was the day of formal presentation to the authorities of the city with the indication

given to them as to the reason for their coming to the city. And then there would be a third day,

which may be the conducting of business and may in fact be the day of departure.

So the person is Jonah, the place is Nineveh, and the proclamation is this divine message of

warning concerning its wickedness and concerning the judgment that is to come.

And Jonah's proclamation in verse four was 40 more days and Nineveh will be overturned.

In other words, the prophet had to convey the divine message and nothing else.

Jonah was not at liberty to go into the city of Nineveh and simply say what he wanted to say.

Nor was he at liberty to go into the city of Nineveh and tell them what they wanted to hear.

But rather he was to go into the city and to declare what God desired for them to know.

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