Jonah 3:6–The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

I remember as a kid when I would get corrected by mom on my behavior or what I said.  Because of my respect for her, I would sense this shame and remorse that covered me, replacing my bad attitude…

The thought of being “pliable” or having the desire to listen and respond, has a lot to do with the person demanding change.  For example if I didn’t respect my mom as a child growing up, I would’ve been too stubborn to listen to correction and prove that I lack respect for her.  The Lord would call the Israelites a “stiff-necked” people because of their inability to be pliable and respect the Lord…

So it’s fitting that God would call Jonah to demand Nineveh, a Gentile/unbelieving nation to repent or it would be destroyed.  The King of Nineveh gets word of God’s decree, and instead of covering himself in pride, he literally removes his royal image, and sits in remorse and shame over his nations deeds…

Challenge yourself, what do you “clothe yourself with” at the rebuke from God?  Do you hide behind excuses, and justify your image of how good a person you’ve been?  Or do you like this Gentile King, humble yourself to the Word of God, and clothe yourself with humility and the need for God’s mercy?

In His Love, Ld