Our God is Compassionate
Opening Prayer
God, we have the privilege, the blessing of joining in with your creation, joining in with heaven itself to sing your praises, to glorify you because you alone are holy. You've already been glorified thus far. We ask that you would continue to be glorified this morning. Lord, it is truly a blessing to come into your presence this morning for the purposes of singing your praise, participating in our ultimate purpose, which is to glorify you. And yet this is not just a one-sided relationship.
The same chapter that we read from just a moment ago in Revelation 5, there's this detail. The reality is that in the midst of the right worship of you, you make mention of bowls full of the prayers of your people, which speaks to the reality that you are not just a God who is worthy of worship, but you are a God who cares about his creation. The fact that we have been redeemed such that we are able to sing your praises this morning speaks to the profound measure to which you care.
So we thank you, God. We thank you for all that you have done for us to bring us here this morning. We thank you for all that you intend to do through your word, through this service this morning. Thank you for bringing us here.
And now, as we turn our attention once again to your word, the word that you inspired, I pray, Lord, that you would bless Jason, help him with boldness to proclaim the message from your word, to proclaim the gospel, the glorious, beautiful gospel that has changed us and brought us here this morning. Sanctify us. And Lord, where repentance needs to take place, please bring us to that point. Help us, Lord. Help to restore the fellowship that we have with you to be glorified in this time.
We love you. It is in the name of your son, Jesus, that we pray. Amen. Amen. Amen.
3 Main Points with 3 sub-points
Main Point 1 — “God’s compassion defies my comprehension.”
Top 3 Supporting Sub-Points:
“Jonah sees God’s compassion as morally wrong.”
“Jonah condemns God for His character.”
“Jonah had a problem with God being God.”
Main Point 2 — “God’s compassion exposes my priorities.”
Top 3 Supporting Sub-Points :
“Jonah cared more about his personal comfort than the salvation of an entire city.”
“His happiness, his joy, rises and falls entirely on what benefits him.”
“God was using His compassion to expose Jonah’s priority.”
Main Point 3 — “God’s compassion communicates His higher priorities.”
Top 3 Supporting Sub-Points:
“God’s priority was a city full of people who needed His salvation.”
“God’s compassion always flows toward people.”
“His purpose focuses on redemption, and His priority is His glory through the salvation of those that are far from Him.”
Scriptures Used in the Sermon
1. Jonah
The sermon is an exposition of Jonah 4, and references all previous chapters:
Jonah 1, Jonah 2, Jonah 3, Jonah 4:1–11
2. Exodus 34 (quoted by Jonah in v.2)
Exodus 34:6 “Gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love…”
3. Luke 15 Used to emphasize heaven rejoicing over one sinner who repents.
4. Micah 6:8 “Do justice, love kindness (mercy), walk humbly with your God.”
5. Jeremiah 18 Explains God relenting or bringing judgment.
6. Numbers 23:19 “God is not a man that He should lie… or change His mind.”
7. 1 Samuel 15:29 Also used to affirm God does not change.
8. Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
9. Nahum 1 Prophecy regarding judgment on Nineveh ~150 years later.
10. Genesis 37 Reference: Jacob wearing sackcloth when he believed Joseph had died.
11. Daniel 9 Reference : Daniel’s repentance and wearing sackcloth.
12. 2 Samuel 12 Reference: David’s repentance and fasting.
13. Revelation 5 Referenced in the opening prayer about “bowls full of the prayers of the saints.”
Closing Prayer
Father, thank You so much for Your Word. We trust that You have preserved it for us, kept it for us even to this day, knowing in Your sovereignty that we would open our Bibles to Jonah chapter 4 this morning.
I'm familiar with this story. I've read it many times, but I'm thankful over the last several weeks that God you have caused me to come face to face with what the reality of this book is all about. It's not about the fish. It's not about Nineveh. It's really not even about Jonah. It's about you. What we learn of your character — that you're in control, that you're merciful, that you're unchanging, and that you are compassionate — and that your compassion is greater than our comprehension. It's greater than our purposes.
So God, would you help us as your people to realize that sometimes your compassion doesn't work the way that we think it will work. May you help us to let you be God. Thank you that your compassion even exposes the priorities in our life that do not line up with yours. May we lean in to that compassion, whether it's easy or it's challenging. May you make us more like yourself, and then may our priorities be what your priority is, and that is the salvation of those who are far from you.
May you use our witness and our testimony to bring those to yourself that you have decreed. Use us. God, I pray now for those that may not know you, those that are far from you right now, that have never placed faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Holy Spirit, we pray as you do the work that only you can do, as you draw those individuals to yourself, may they respond in repentance and faith. Believe the good news of the gospel for salvation.
In Jesus' name, Amen.