The Sign Of JONAH. i N. Leader s Guide

Transcription

1 E N O IV I T T A A S E IC E L R C UN P M M M SA O C The Sign Of JONAH B y A R e e d B i B l e S i x S t u d y S e S S i O N S Leader s Guide S i N l e S S i N g

2 The Sign Of JONAH B y R e e d l e S S i N g A B i B l e S t u d y i N S i x S e S S i O N S E COMMUNICATIO CA TgIONS SAMPLES table of Contents Session 1: god is Calling Page 6 ATSession 2: Saved in the Storm Page 10 Session 3: Our Providing god IVPage 16 Session 4: Praying in the Belly Egre of the great Big Fish VE20 Page Session ATthe AThe 5: Tod t god of the Second Chance Page 26 Session 6: About Face Page 30 3

3 introduction COMMU MUNICATIONS SAMP MPLES these Bible studies for lent, written by seminary professor dr. Reed lessing, are based on the Book of Jonah and explore the striking connections we encounter in the disciplines of lent. these Bible studies correspond to Cthe worship series of the same name. lessing s academic expertise and his advanced knowledge of the background and language of the text of Jonah provide provocative insights into the character of Jonah and what Cour character will be as we follow Christ. each session highlights a certain section the Book of Jonah and concentrates on a prevalent theme MMparticular in these verses, applying the theme to the story of Jonah and the REof story our own lives this lent. After reading a passage of Jonah at the start of each session, we as participants Sh in this Bible study will dive into the historical background of UNthen UNhen the text. then we will evaluate e the motivations of the characters. Next, we will consult other parts of Scripture to gain a better understanding of the theme for the session. AMly, Finally, discussion questions are given to enhance our application plication of the session s theme to the modern-day world. 4

4 tips For using this Study guide 1. Always begin each session with a prayer. One is included for each session. you are encouraged to expand each of them with prayer concerns from the group. E COMMUNICA CAT ATIONS SAMPLE LES 2. Feel free to follow the format of each session as presented here or rearrange and adapt the material to meet the needs of your group. 3. Have your Bible handy for referencing verses in this study guide. it may also be interesting to have a different translation of Scripture than you are used to using to get a fresh perspective and perhaps broaden your understanding. 4. As you work through the material in this study guide, be sure to write down in the margins any questions that come to mind or any thoughts that arise in the course of the discussion and your contemplation on Reach session s Scripture verses. REthr REhroughout REoughout 5. throughout each session, think about ways in which you personally would react to the situations Jonah, the sailors or the Ninevites find themselves in. the section entitled discussion/application will help you focus your reflections on this. if there is not time to get to that section, it would be ideal for use in your personal devotional during the week. Ntime 6. if you are using this guide in a group setting, consider assigning Bible verses to various people in the class to look up and read aloud at the appropriate time, rather than having everyone look up every verse. this will move the session along more efficiently. PNote that some of the questions ask Et for facts. typically, the answers to these questions will come from the Scripture verses just read. Other PLquestions are more subjective, asking for your opinion or an example from your own experience. Since your life Er experiences are different from anyone else s, answers to these questions are neither right nor wrong. A leader s guide that accompanies anies this material is available from Creative e Communications for the IOParish (Code JB-l). ions will come fromon 5

5 Session 4 Praying in the Belly of the great Big Fish (Jonah 2:1-10) Leader s Guide For Session 4 BEFORE CLASS: Read through this session yourself. Look up the Bible readings and become acquainted with them. If you plan on having members of the group read the Bible readings, put the citations on note cards to hand out prior to class. CREA EATIVE COMMU UNI NICATIONS SAMPLES MUN CAall An Opening Prayer READ: Have someone read the Opening TPrayer or read the prayer in unison. Gracious Father, we come before you as sinful people in a fallen world. Despite our rebellion, you continue to bind yourself to us and deal with us not according to strict justice, but rather in ways that are consistently full of grace. Work in our hearts that, despite our efforts to evade your presence, we would be turned toward you and be saved from our sinful inclinations. Then we will all the more call upon you in the day of trouble for you will deliver us so that our lives honor you. In Jesus name. Amen. 20

6 READ: Read or have a member of the class read the Synopsis of Theme. Synopsis of Theme While Jonah in his psalm expresses the truth about Yahweh, his hypocritical, self-righteous behavior throughout the book forms a strong contrast with his prayer. Despite this, Yahweh continues to deal with Jonah graciously, by hearing his prayer, saving him from drowning and permanent residence in Sheol, and by being present with him in the belly of the great big fish. CREA EATIVE COMMUN UNIC ICATION SAMPL PLES SHARE: Allow participants to share with one another about childhood hiding places. Cg CWhat was your favorite small hiding place as a child? How long could you stay there before you started feeling CRclaustrop claustrophobic? READ Jonah 2:1-10. Topic for Sharing/Ice Breaker Part 1: Prayer Motivators EPa Read Jonah 2:1-10. (Printed below.) 2:1 Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the UNbelly of the fish, 2 saying, I called to the Lord out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice. 3 You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me. 4 Then I said, I am driven away PLEour from your sight; en awayons 21

7 how shall I look again upon your holy temple? 5 The waters closed in over me; the deep surrounded me; weeds were wrapped around my head 6 at the roots of the mountains. I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me forever; yet brought up my life from the Pit, O Cyou Lord my God. 7 As my life was ebbing away, I remembered embered the Lord; and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple. 8 Those OMworship who vain idols forsake their true loyalty. 9 But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will Mpay. Deliverance belongs to the Lord! 10 Then the Lord spoke to the fish, and it spewed Jonah Ah out upon the dry land. E COMM MMUNICATIONS MU ION SAMPLES 1. This is Jonah s first recorded prayer in the book, and he is only calling out to save his own scalp! He refuses to pray for the sailors and Ninevites, but only does so when his life is on the line. Twenty-four (!) first person singular forms ( I, me, mine ) in the Hebrew text indicate that Jonah is still focused on himself and not on the needs of the world around him. 2. These words are spoken by a northern prophet in the eighth century BC, a time when idolatrous shrines were set up in the northern Israelite cities of Dan and Bethel. There were intended to substitute for the true temple in Jerusalem (1 Ki 12:25 33). Jonah is affirming the true dwelling place of Yahweh in Solomon s temple, thereby dismissing these northern shrines. In the New Testament God s promises are located in Jesus Christ (2 Cor 1:21). He is the new temple (Jn 2:21) and through him we have access to the throne of grace (Rom 5:2; Eph 2:18; Tth THeb 10:19 20). Indeed, all prayers are to be directed to the Father through Jesus (Jn 14:6). 1. What motivated Jonah to pray? 3. Nowhere does the prophet express repentance or his willingness to go to Nineveh. Jonah speaks as a saint, but 2. What is significant about the references to Yahweh s Aas we have seen in chapter 1, and as holy temple (2:4, 7)? we will see in chapters 3 and 4, he often acts like a grumpy and moping 3. What features of Jonah s prayer are significant by child! In light of the prophet s actions their absence? throughout the rest of the book, his affirmations in this psalm sound hollow. It is no wonder that the fish 4. What does the fact that the fish vomits Jonah out can t stomach him for too long and (2:10) suggest? vomits him out! 4. Vomit suggests repugnance toward Jonah. It shames him for his nationalistic pride that would withhold salvation from other people. Being vomited is a sign of God s judgment (see Lev 18:25; 20:22; Rev 3:16). 22

8 1. 1:5: The sailor s prayer to their pagan gods is motivated out of their fear of the storm. 1:6: This is a request by the captain who asks Jonah to pray to his God, but Jonah ignores the request. 1:14: This prayer by the sailors is different from 1:5. Since they have been converted through Jonah s confession (1:9; see Rom 1:16), they petition to spare their life before they CYahweh throw Jonah overboard. God s Word bears fruit mainly where it is least expected and, conversely, produces the least where the most is expected in Jonah! 2:2 9: This is Jonah s psalm Cm thanksgiving OMthat of he prayed while Cin the belly of the great fish. This prayer, however, makes reference to a previous prayer that Jonah prayed (2:2, 7). While the content of the first prayer is not given, it appears pe that he prayed for God s help that he graciously responded. The Sand She psalm of praise (2:2 9) is therefore a response to the salvation Yahweh granted in response to Jonah s previous prayer. Therefore, chapter 2 suggests that Jonah prayed not once but twice: once in distress and once in thanksgiving. 3:8: The king of Nineveh issues a decree that the Ninevites should fervently pray to God that he might relent from his anger. 4:2 3: Jonah s prayer to Yahweh, expressing his displeasure of Yahweh s decision to spare Nineveh. 2. Jonah 2:2; Pss 18:6; 66:14; 81:7; 120:1 In my distress. Jonah 2:3; Ps 42:7 All your breakers and your waves crossed over me, which is the longest verbal correlation between Jonah and the Psalter. Jonah 2:4; Pss 31:22; 139:7 From before your eyes. Jonah 2:7; Pss 107:5; 142:4 My life ebbed away from me. Jonah 2:9; Pss 3:8; 68:19; 98:2 3; 118:14 Salvation belongs to Yahweh. Part 2: Other References To Prayer 1. In the four chapters of Jonah there are seven references to prayer. Read the following passages and describe the circumstances and content of the prayers: 1:5: 1:6; 1:14; 2:2 9; 3:8; 4:2 3 COMMUNICA MUN CATIO IONS SAMPLES S 2. The language of Jonah s prayer in 2:2-9 is not original or spontaneous, but is drawn from the Book of Psalms. Read the following passages and compare Jonah s language to that of the psalms. Jonah 2:2; Psalms 18:6; 66:14; 81:7; 120:1 Jonah 2:3; Psalm 42:7 Jonah 2:4; Psalms 31:22; 139:7 Jonah 2:7; Psalms 107:5; 142:4 Jonah 2:9; Psalms 3:8; 68:19; 98:2 3; 118:14 142:E LE3. What do these similarities indicate and how does Jonah s use of the psalms demonstrate the usefulness of repetition in our own worship? 3. These correspondences indicate that Jonah borrowed from several psalms. Because he obviously had no books with him in the fish s belly, Jonah must have committed these words to memory. Memorizing the liturgy, hymns, and Bible verses is of great value because it serves as a rich treasury from which to draw in times of distress. 23

9 Part 3: Discussion/Application 1. When have you felt like Jonah far from God and enmeshed in a situation beyond your control? How then was your life brought up from the pit? 1. Answers will vary. 2. Answers will vary. 3. Answers will vary. COMMUN MUN UNI NICATIONS SAM AMPLES 2. When you are in a desperate situation, do you have a tendency to pray with hope or is prayer a pessimistic last resort? Cpessim C3. What Bible texts, liturgy, hymns, or songs have you memorized? Have you ever been in a distressing situation where these words and promises of God brought you comfort? A Closing Prayer Loving Father, let our actions serve to praise you in every circumstance of our lives. Make our hearts quiet chambers where your Word turns adversity into praise. Tune our voices to clearly Sd ly proclaim your amazing grace. As we turn away from worthless idols to your matchless mercy, lift us from death to life, that we may joyfully serve you and glorify your holy name. We pray through h Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. h Jesus Christ oat READ: Have someone read the Closing Prayer or read the prayer in unison. 24

10 ASSIGN: Assign the reading and the questions for next week. Assignment for Next Week Read Jonah 3:1 4. (Printed on p. 27.) Ask yourself: 1) What does it mean for my life that the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time? 2) Do you think Jonah willingly went to Nineveh? 3) What do you think of his sermon? Where is the Law? Where is the Gospel? COMMUNICATIONS UN O SAMPLES 25

11 CREATIV IVE COMMUNICA MUN CATIONS SAM AMP MPLES The Sign Of JONAH Jonah for Lent? Seems fishy until we remember that Jesus said, This generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah (Luke 11:29). These Bible Mstudies for Lent, written by seminary pro- fessor Dr. Reed Lessing, follow the prophet Jonah on his journey of faith and reveal at MUthe same time some very Lenten concepts that guide us on our journey with Jesus on the way to the cross. In this six-session Bible study each session AMlooks at a particular section of the Book AMof Jonah and plunges into that Scripture s meaning with prayers, ice breakers, biblical IVal background questions, and topics for discussion and application. The session themes are: PLGod Is Calling Saved in the Storm Our Providing God Praying in the Belly of the Great Fish The God of the Second Chance About Face queses By Dr. Reed Lessing. Art by Sally Beck by Creative Communications for the Parish, 1564 Fencorp Dr., Fenton, MO All rights reserved. Printed in the USA. (Student Guide order code: JB-S.) JB-L