I. Jonah's First Call and Flight from Duty, Chs. 1-2.

1. The call, flight and punishment, 1:1-16.

2. The repentance and rescue, 1:17-2:10 (end).

II. Jonah's Second Call and Preaching at Nineveh, Ch. 3.

1. His second call. 1-2.

2. His preaching against Nineveh. 2-4.

3. Nineveh repents, 5-9.

4. Nineveh is spared, 10.
III. Jonah's Anger and God's Mercy, Ch. 4.

1. Jonah's anger, 1-4.

2. The lessons of the gourd. 5-11.

For Study and Discussion. (1) The different elements of character
noticeable in Jonah. (2) The dangers of disobedience, to self and to
others. (3) The possibilities of influence for the man commissioned of
God. Jonah's influence on the sailors and on Nineveh. (4) God's care
for heathen nations (4-11), and its bearing upon the Foreign Mission
enterprise. (5) The nature of true repentance and God's forgiveness.
(6) The prophet, or preacher-his call, his message and place of
service.

Micah.

The Prophet. His name means "who is the Lord?" and he was Moresheth. a
small town of Gath. He was a younger contemporary of Isaiah and
prophesied to both Israel and Judah during the time of Jotham, Ahaz
and Hezekiah, kings of Judah; and of Pekah and Hoshea, the last two
kings of Israel. He sympathized deeply with the common people, being
moved by the social wrongs of his time (Ch. 2-3), and became the
people's advocate and defender as well as their accuser. He clearly
sets forth the wickedness of Judah and Israel, their punishment, their
restoration and the coming Christ. As compared with Isaiah, he was a
simple countryman, born of obscure parentage and recognized as one of
the peasant classes, while Isaiah was a city prophet of high social
standing and a counselor of kings.

The Great Truths of the Prophecy Are: (1) The destruction of Israel
(1:6-7) (2) The desolation of Jerusalem and the temple (3:12 and
7:13). (3) The carrying off of the Jews to Babylon (4:10). (4) The
return from captivity with peace and prosperity and with spiritual
blessing (4:1-8 and 7:11-17). (5) The ruler in Zion (Messiah) (4:8).
(6) Where and when he should be born (5:2). This is his great prophecy
and is accepted as final in the announcement to Herod.

I. The Impending Calamity, Ch. 1.

II. The Sins That Have Brought on This Calamity. Chs. 2-3.

1. In their wickedness they refuse to hear the prophets and are led
into captivity, 2:1-11.

2. The promised restoration, 2:12-13.