Dave used lessons from Jonah to show thta the message of the church is about forgiveness.
Jonah hated the Assyrians because of their violence towards the Israelites.
He did not want the Lord to relent from judgement because be felt he had a genuine reason for their destruction.
The Lord however loves the whole of his creation not just his people but those who don’t know him yet.
Question: What is your view of the Lord? Are you working your way toward showing those around you what God is like? Slow to anger, full of compassion and mercy.
We see at the end of the story of Jonah that the Lord supplies a plant for shade but then takes it away. This is a prophetic picture of Jonah. He wants mercy and grace for himself but his bitterness and unforgiveness (the worm) means that the Lord has to show him justice (something he deserves)by taking away the shelter of the plant.
The story of the cricketers shows the everyday effects of our sin.
Question: The story you might regard as an extreme for them and not you of revenge because of humiliation. Do you wish to see others fail or suffer because of hurts they have inflicted on you? (Schadenfruenden)Be honest because it is a very human reaction. We however have one who has set us free from the sinful nature. We have to apply that.
Corrie Ten Boom.
https://www.guideposts.org/better-living/positive-living/guideposts-classics-corrie-ten-boom-on-forgiveness
Please see the link to the story of forgiveness.
I recommend that you read this. What struck me was the analogy of the church bell ringing.
Remember you will wait for ever if you are waiting for the feeling to come and forgive someone. You need to make the choice
Do not say “God help me to forgive”. He has done this already by dying on the cross and giving us his word to be obedient and forgive.
Application
Can you help each other pray and choose to forgive people brings to your mind.
Pray, I choose to forgive ....... they made me feel ....... (angry, humiliated rejected for example). Then ask for the Spirit to come and heal you all.
