This song was going to be my pick last Sunday, but I passed on it. I wanted to add some Scripture and a few thoughts, but in all honesty I wasn’t in the right frame of mind late last Saturday night when I was preparing the Sunday post. I listened to this song a few times this week and went back through the story of the Ninevites. Some of you may know the more popular story of Jonah in the belly of a fish. It’s the same story. Jonah just needed a little coaxing to go to Nineveh and warn them of their coming destruction. Shockingly, the Ninevites repented from their evil ways and turned to God. God didn’t destroy them. If you have the chance, read the book of Jonah in the Bible. It’s pretty short with some important lessons.
Amazingly, Jonah and the Ninevites got a mention from Jesus in one of many testy exchanges with the Pharisees. After Jesus had already hit them with a bunch of truth bombs, the following happened:
Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. —Matthew 12:38-41
Whoa boy! I think the Pharisees got a bit more than they wished for right there. British theologian Adam Clarke made some noteworthy points in his commentary on this section. Because I believe they are worth considering, I’ll shamelessly borrow them:
1. Christ, who preached to the Jews, was infinitely greater than Jonah, in his nature, person, and mission.
2. Jonah preached repentance in Nineveh only forty days, and Christ preached among the Jews for several years.
3. Jonah wrought no miracles to authorize his preaching; but Christ wrought miracles every day, in every place where he went, and of every kind.
4. Notwithstanding all this, the people of Judea did not repent, though the people of Nineveh did.
The lyrics of this powerful song make better sense if you read the book of Jonah, but even if you don’t, you can still get the message. I can’t pick a favorite verse in this song, it’s better as a whole. But, I will post the opening stanza which sets the tone for the song. It’s also the reality and choice each of us faces:
Nineveh Oh Nineveh
The Lord is turning toward you
Compassion or calamity
Will you heed the warning
Please listen to the powerful message in this song. I hope you will consider the stakes and make the right choice, before it’s too late!