Sermon Notes for: 8/17/2008
 “Jonah's Hard Heart” - Jonah 4
-- Jeffrey C. Evans --
 
I. Introduction
a. An exercise in theological speculation: Why Mosquitoes?
b. The hardness of Jonah’s heart should startle us, and so too should it rebuke us.
c. Context

II. Jonah’s Angry Prayer (vv. 1-4)
a. Verse 1, very literally: “It eviled Jonah a great evil and he was exceedingly ticked off.”
b. Angry with the mercy of God
c. Angry enough to die
d. God’s question: Doest thou well to be angry?

III. Jonah’s Exceeding Gladness and Anger over the Gourd (vv. 5-9)
a. Camping out on the east side of Ninevah
b. The gourd and worm
c. Sun, wind, and the wish to die
d. God’s question and Jonah’s response: Doest thou well to be angry?

IV. God’s Soft and Tender Heart (vv. 10-11)
a. The meaning of the gourd
b. The extend of God’s care for Ninevah

V. Application

In this life, your theology will never be big enough to circumscribe God’s love and mercy. Knowing this, trusting in Him, and praising Him for it softens hard hearts.
 
Our emotions need to be subjected and submissive to the mercy and love of God—not just in the abstract but in the real world.

Sometimes we think we are jealous for God’s grace when really we’re just jeaolous, selfish, and ungracious.

Do you do well to be angry, even if you think it lawful?

Everybody has a little Jonah they need to spit out, especially the sons and daughters of Israel.

Download | Duration: 00:34:08