the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
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THE MESSAGE
Jonah 2:8
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- AmericanEncyclopedias:
- CondensedParallel Translations
Those who cherish worthless idolsabandon their faithful love,
Those who regard lying vanities forsake their own mercy.
They that obserue lying vanities, forsake their owne mercy.
They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.
Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love.
"Those who are followers of worthless idols Abandon their faithfulness,
"People who worship useless idols give up their loyalty to you.
"Those who regard and follow worthless idols Turn away from their [living source of] mercy and lovingkindness.
They that waite vpon lying vanities, forsake their owne mercie.
"Those who regard vain idols Forsake their faithfulness,
Those who regard worthless idolsForsake their lovingkindness,
Those who cling to worthless idols forsake His loving devotion.
All who worship worthless idols turn from the God who offers them mercy.
As my life was ebbing away, I remembered Adonai ; and my prayer came in to you, into your holy temple.
They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.
"Some people worship useless idols, but those statues never help them.
All those who revere false idols forsake thy mercy.
Those who worship worthless idols have abandoned their loyalty to you.
Those who worship vain idols forsake their loyal love.
Those who observe vanities of idolatry forsake their faithfulness;
They that regard lying vanities Forsake their own mercy.
The worshippers of false gods have given up their only hope.
When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the LORD; and my prayer came in unto Thee, into Thy holy temple.
They that holde vpon lying vanitie, forsake his mercie.
When my soul was failing me, I remembered the Lord; and may my prayer come to thee into thy holy temple.
They that regard lying vanities forsake their own mercy.
Those who regard lying vanities forsake their own mercy.
Thei that kepen vanytees, forsaken his merci idili.
Those that regard lying vanities Forsake their own mercy.
They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.
Those who worship worthless idols forfeit the mercy that could be theirs.
"Those who regard worthless idols Forsake their own Mercy.
Those who worship false gods turn their backs on all God's mercies.
Those who worship false gods have given up their faith in You.
Those who worship vain idols forsake their true loyalty.
They who take heed to the vanities of falsehood, do, their own lovingkindness, forsake.
(2-9) They that in vain observe vanities, forsake their own mercy.
Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their true loyalty.
Those observing lying vanities their own mercy forsake.
They that holde of vayne vanyties, wil forsake his mercy.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
1 Samuel 12:21, 2 Kings 17:15, Psalms 31:6, Jeremiah 2:13, Jeremiah 10:8, Jeremiah 10:14, Jeremiah 10:15, Jeremiah 16:19, Habakkuk 2:18-20
Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 32:21 - with their vanities Judges 10:13 - General 1 Kings 16:13 - vanities 2 Kings 1:3 - ye go 2 Kings 21:22 - General Job 15:31 - trust Psalms 4:2 - love Psalms 16:4 - Their Psalms 40:4 - as turn Psalms 115:8 - General Psalms 119:29 - Remove Proverbs 12:11 - he that followeth Isaiah 28:15 - we have made Isaiah 50:11 - all ye Jeremiah 2:5 - walked Jeremiah 3:23 - in vain Jeremiah 51:18 - vanity Hosea 12:11 - surely Acts 14:15 - from
Cross-References
Then God planted a garden in Eden, in the east. He put the Man he had just made in it. God made all kinds of trees grow from the ground, trees beautiful to look at and good to eat. The Tree-of-Life was in the middle of the garden, also the Tree-of-Knowledge-of-Good-and-Evil.
Cain left the presence of God and lived in No-Man's-Land, east of Eden.
Lot looked. He saw the whole plain of the Jordan spread out, well watered (this was before God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah), like God 's garden, like Egypt, and stretching all the way to Zoar. Lot took the whole plain of the Jordan. Lot set out to the east. That's how they came to part company, uncle and nephew. Abram settled in Canaan; Lot settled in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent near Sodom. The people of Sodom were evil—flagrant sinners against God . After Lot separated from him, God said to Abram, "Open your eyes, look around. Look north, south, east, and west. Everything you see, the whole land spread out before you, I will give to you and your children forever. I'll make your descendants like dust—counting your descendants will be as impossible as counting the dust of the Earth. So—on your feet, get moving! Walk through the country, its length and breadth; I'm giving it all to you." Abram moved his tent. He went and settled by the Oaks of Mamre in Hebron. There he built an altar to God .
"‘Haran, Canneh, and Eden from the east in Assyria and Media traded with you, bringing elegant clothes, dyed textiles, and elaborate carpets to your bazaars.
The Money Has Gone to Your Head God's Message came to me, "Son of man, tell the prince of Tyre, ‘This is what God , the Master, says: "‘Your heart is proud, going around saying, "I'm a god. I sit on God's divine throne, ruling the sea"— You, a mere mortal, not even close to being a god, A mere mortal trying to be a god. Look, you think you're smarter than Daniel. No enigmas can stump you. Your sharp intelligence made you world-wealthy. You piled up gold and silver in your banks. You used your head well, worked good deals, made a lot of money. But the money has gone to your head, swelled your head—what a big head! "‘Therefore, God , the Master, says: "‘Because you're acting like a god, pretending to be a god, I'm giving fair warning: I'm bringing strangers down on you, the most vicious of all nations. They'll pull their swords and make hash of your reputation for knowing it all. They'll puncture the balloon of your god-pretensions. They'll bring you down from your self-made pedestal and bury you in the deep blue sea. Will you protest to your assassins, "You can't do that! I'm a god"? To them you're a mere mortal. They're killing a man, not a god. You'll die like a stray dog, killed by strangers— Because I said so. Decree of God , the Master.'" God 's Message came to me: "Son of man, raise a funeral song over the king of Tyre. Tell him, A Message from God , the Master: "You had everything going for you. You were in Eden, God's garden. You were dressed in splendor, your robe studded with jewels: Carnelian, peridot, and moonstone, beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald, all in settings of engraved gold. A robe was prepared for you the same day you were created. You were the anointed cherub. I placed you on the mountain of God. You strolled in magnificence among the stones of fire. From the day of your creation you were sheer perfection... and then imperfection—evil!—was detected in you. In much buying and selling you turned violent, you sinned! I threw you, disgraced, off the mountain of God. I threw you out—you, the anointed angel-cherub. No more strolling among the gems of fire for you! Your beauty went to your head. You corrupted wisdom by using it to get worldly fame. I threw you to the ground, sent you sprawling before an audience of kings and let them gloat over your demise. By sin after sin after sin, by your corrupt ways of doing business, you defiled your holy places of worship. So I set a fire around and within you. It burned you up. I reduced you to ashes. All anyone sees now when they look for you is ashes, a pitiful mound of ashes. All who once knew you now throw up their hands: ‘This can't have happened! This has happened!'" God 's Message came to me: "Son of man, confront Sidon. Preach against it. Say, ‘Message from God , the Master: "‘Look! I'm against you, Sidon. I intend to be known for who I truly am among you.' They'll know that I am God when I set things right and reveal my holy presence. I'll order an epidemic of disease there, along with murder and mayhem in the streets. People will drop dead right and left, as war presses in from every side. Then they'll realize that I mean business, that I am God . "No longer will Israel have to put up with their thistle-and-thorn neighbors Who have treated them so contemptuously. And they also will realize that I am God ." God , the Master, says, "When I gather Israel from the peoples among whom they've been scattered and put my holiness on display among them with all the nations looking on, then they'll live in their own land that I gave to my servant Jacob. They'll live there in safety. They'll build houses. They'll plant vineyards, living in safety. Meanwhile, I'll bring judgment on all the neighbors who have treated them with such contempt. And they'll realize that I am God ."
"‘Which of the trees of Eden came anywhere close to you in splendor and size? But you're slated to be cut down to take your place in the underworld with the trees of Eden, to be a dead log stacked with all the other dead logs, among the other uncircumcised who are dead and buried. "‘This means Pharaoh, the pompous old goat. "‘Decree of God , the Master.'"
Gill's Notes on the Bible
They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy. They that worship idols, who are nothing, mere vanity and lies, and deceive those that serve them, these forsake the God of their lives, and of their mercies; and so do all such who serve divers lusts and pleasures, and pursue the vanities of this life; and also those who follow the dictates of carnal sense and reason, to the neglect of the will of God, and obedience to his commands; which was Jonah's case, and is, I think, chiefly intended. The Targum, Syriac version, and so Jarchi, and most interpreters, understand it of worshippers of idols in general; and Kimchi of the mariners of the ship Jonah had been in; who promised to relinquish their idols, but did not; and vowed to serve the Lord, and sacrifice to him, but did not perform what they promised. But I rather think Jonah reflects upon himself in particular, as well as leaves this as a general instruction to others; that should they do as he had done, give way to an evil heart of unbelief, and attend to the suggestions of a vain mind, and consult with flesh and blood, and be directed thereby, to the disregard of God and his will; they will find, as he had done to his cost, that they forsake that God that has been gracious and merciful to them, and who is all goodness and mercy,
Psalms 144:3; which to do is very ungrateful to him, and injurious to themselves; and now he being sensible of his folly, and influenced by the grace and goodness of God to him, resolves to do as follows:
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
They that observe lying vanities - , i. e., (by the force of the Hebrew form , that diligently watch, pay deference to, court, sue, “vanities of vanities,” vain things, which prove themselves vain at last, failing the hopes which trust in them. Such were actual idols, in which men openly professed that they trusted Such are all things in which men trust, out of God. One is not more vain than another. All have this common principle of vanity, that people look, out of God, to that which has its only existence or permanence from God. It is then one general maxim, including all people’s idols, idols of the flesh, idols of intellect, idols of ambition, idols of pride, idols of self and self-will. People “observe” them, as gods, watch them, hang upon them, never lose sight of them, guard them as though they could keep them. But what are they? “lying vanities,” breath and wind, which none can grasp or detain, vanishing like air into air.
And what do they who so “observe” them? All alike “forsake their own mercy;” i. e., God, “Whose property is, always to have mercy,” and who would be mercy to them, if they would. So David calls God, “my mercy.” Psalms 144:2. Abraham’s servant and Naomi praise God, that He “hath not forsaken His mercy” Genesis 24:27; Ruth 2:20. Jonah does not, in this, exclude himself. His own idol had been his false love for his country, that he would not have his people go into captivity, when God would; would not have Nineveh preserved, the enemy of his country; and by leaving his office, he left his God, “forsook” his “own mercy.” See how God speaks of Himself, as wholly belonging to them, who are His. He calls Himself “their own mercy” . He saith not, “they who” do “vanities,” (for Ecclesiastes 1:2. ‘vanity of vanities, and all things are vanity’) lest he should seem to condemn all, and to deny mercy to the whole human race; but “they who observe, guard vanities,” or lies; “they,” into the affections of whose hearts those “vanities” have entered; who not only “do vanities,” but who “guard” them, as loving them, deeming that they have found a treasure - These “forsake their own mercy.” Although mercy be offended (and under mercy we may understand God Himself, for God is Psalms 145:8, “gracious and full of compassion; slow to anger and of great mercy,”) yet he doth not “forsake,” doth not abhor, “those who guard vanities,” but awaiteth that they should return: these contrariwise, of their own will, “forsake mercy” standing and offering itself.”
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Jonah 2:8. They that observe lying vanities — They that trust in idols, follow vain predictions, permit themselves to be influenced with foolish fears, so as to induce them to leave the path of obvious duty, forsake their own mercy. In leaving that God who is the Fountain of mercy, they abandon that measure of mercy which he had treasured up for them.
