After thinking and talking about it for weeks, I’m starting out to preach through the book of Jonah. It’s a short book—not even three pages in many Bibles—and it’s full of surprises.

• when God first calls Jonah, he refuses to go,
• when a storm comes up, he goes to sleep,
• when he should drown, a fish swallows him,
• the fish spits him up and he gets a second chance, but
• when God spares the wicked city of Nineveh, Jonah sulks,
• and even as a story, the book ends up in the air, without closure.

Not only that, it’s the only prophetic book in the Bible that doesn’t consist of the words of the prophet. Look at Amos, look at Zephaniah—that’s A to Z!—look at Isaiah, look at Obadiah—that’s long and short!—you have the preaching of those prophets. But look at Jonah: It’s a story about the prophet, with only five words of preaching (3:4).

We have a flyer containing the entire book in the JPS version, along with some woodcuts by Jacob Steinhardt. Pick it up at the back of the church, or email us and we’ll send you one.

This Sunday, we start at the beginning. The readings will be Jonah 1:1–16, in which Jonah refuses God’s commission to preach in a distant city, but finds that he cannot escape the presence of the Maker of both sea and dry land, and Matthew 28:16–20, in which the risen Christ commissions his disciples to make disciples throughout the world, and promises them his presence.

The earliest words of the story immediately raise the issue of national accountability to God, for God asks Jonah to go to Nineveh, saying, “Their wickedness has come up before me” (1:2). But does God hold other nations accountable to him, even those loyal to other gods? So it seems, as befits One who is Creator of the sea and the dry land (1:9). How much more, then, people who have the light of revelation! And what of our own nation? What is it of our ways that “comes up before” God? These thoughts are appropriate to Sunday, July 4.

But Jonah refuses God’s call, heading out instead in the opposite direction. That ultimately means a trip by boat—and the perfect storm!

But first, why would anyone run away from God? Why Jonah, a commissioned prophet? Would you or I do that? These thoughts, too, will occupy us this week.

We celebrate the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper this Sunday, with service at the Table. Besides the strong opening hymn, we’ll sing the acclamation of praises P&W 236 This is the day that the Lord has made and P&W 52 I will sing of the mercies of the Lord. Before the sermon, P&W 196 In my life, O Lord, be glorified (repeating it with “your church” and “our homes”). Before communion, P&W 195 Change my heart, O God. Our closing hymn is the robust “Crown him with many crowns,” #92, to close the service with strong praise to Christ our risen and ascended Lord.

Our opening hymn, “God of our fathers,” was written in 1876 for the centennial celebration of July 4. Its opening lines recall “God of our fathers, art not Thou God in heaven?” (2 Chronicles 20:6). Its author, Daniel C. Roberts, was a native of New England but attended Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, and then served in the Civil War with the 84th Ohio Volunteers. Its rousing tune was composed for these words by George W. Warren. Here are the words:

God of our fathers, Whose almighty hand Leads forth in beauty all the starry band Of shining worlds in splendor through the skies Our grateful songs before Thy throne arise. Thy love divine hath led us in the past, In this free land by Thee our lot is cast, Be Thou our Ruler, Guardian, Guide and Stay, Thy Word our law, Thy paths our chosen way. From war’s alarms, from deadly pestilence, Be Thy strong arm our ever sure defense; Thy true religion in our hearts increase, Thy bounteous goodness nourish us in peace. Refresh Thy people on their toilsome way, Lead us from night to never ending day; Fill all our lives with love and grace divine, And glory, laud, and praise be ever Thine.

During the prayers of intercession, the congregation will offer two prayers for our national life. Here they are, to engage our minds and hearts even now:

For Our Nation God of righteousness, hear our prayer for the life of our country. Bless the President and those in positions of authority. Bless the people: rule our hearts and encourage us in doing good. Help us to seek service before privilege, public prosperity before private gain, and the honor of your name before the popularity of our own. Give us liberty, peace, and joy, and bind us in service to the community and in loyalty to you; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. For Those Who Serve God of infinite mercy, we trust in your good purposes of peace for all your children. We pray for those who at this time face danger in the defence of freedom. Watch over those in peril; support those who are anxious for loved ones; gather into your eternal purpose those who will die. Remove from the hearts of all people the passions that keep alive the spirit of war, and in your goodness restore peace among us; for the sake of the Prince of peace, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Note on sources: The illustrations of Jonah are by Niko Chocheli, an artist with special interests in Orthodox iconography, and are found in The Book of Jonah Illustrated for Children, published by St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press (2000). The two prayers are from the Book of Common Order of the Church of Scotland (1994), slightly altered. Information on Daniel Roberts comes from cyberhymnal.org.