Tues.3.17.15...Jonah 1:1-17...Observation

(Note: This lesson is for Coaches. Pros, please start on Day 2. 

See the emails I have sent you on Sunday and again this morning. Thanks!)

You Are A CSI Investigator

Imagine that you are a detective questioning a suspect of a crime. If you’re old enough to remember Dragnet, Sergeant Joe Friday was famous for this line, “Just the facts ma’am. Just the facts.” He went after the facts to solve the crime. That’s what we’re going to do today with the suspect, Jonah.   We’re going to get the F.A.C.T.S. We’ll gather Fast facts, Ask questions, Check for key words for clues, Title our findings, and Summarize our findings. To lighten your load, I'll give you an example of how to do this. You'll see that I've gathered some F.A.C.T.S. already for us. But I’m handing over the Asking of the questions to you. So let's read through all of chapter 1 now and gather our F.A.C.T.S.-

Fast facts (Note the crime scene. What do you notice?)

I noted the fact that the sea grew worse and worse because of Jonah’s crime (He committed a felony of flagrant disobedience against the direct order of his King!) I underlined these phrases about the storm in my Bible and would ask you to do the same. It helps you to see the scene well.

a violent storm arose v.4

The sea was getting rougher and rougher v.11

The sea grew even wilder than before v.13
(Thus, I deduced that God has a way of making life get rougher and rougher for the wayward. Just ask Jonah or the prodigal son. "Brilliant deduction Holmes!")

I noted the fact that Jonah would rather die than have the ship turn back so he could obey God. V.12. (This crime suspect has got some real death wish issues!)
I noticed the fact that the sailors tried to row back to land, so evidently they had not traveled far from land when this great storm occurred (see v.13).

I noted the fact that Jonah ran from God's plan, but ran into God's alternate painful plan- being swallowed by a great fish God had prepared. That brings to mind a great quote- "You may get what you want, but you may not want what you get."

Ask Questions (Interrogate the witnesses- Who, what, where, when, how, why?)

Here is where I want you today to jot down questions that come to mind as you look over the crime scene of this chapter.

Check for Key words (Let's check for finger prints and clues. The Author leaves clues. It's as if he wants us to discover things:)

The word “great” is used in my NIV Bible 4x and "greatly" once. Please circle these words in your Bible-(Note: If you are new to marking your Bible, do not use a highlighter or felt tip marker. It will bleed through the page. Ugh! Yes, I learned that the hard way.)

Great city v.2; great wind on the sea v.4. great storm v.12; the men greatly feared the Lord v.16; great fish v.17. (Great is our Lord and greatly to be honored and obeyed.)

I also noted how the crime story is filled with turns of events. The words "but" or "instead" are used a few different times, which I underlined. God commands, BUT Jonah flees. v3. But God sent a raging storm. BUT Jonah went below deck and slept v.5. Jonah tells the sailors to throw him overboard, But INSTEAD, they tried to row for shore v.13. Finally they throw him overboard to drown, BUT the Lord provided a great fish to give Jonah another opportunity to reconsider. v.17.  

Title the passage (Let's title our CSI report)

Go! No! Woe!

(I noticed how God told Jonah to "Go" to Nineveh; but by his actions, he clearly was saying, "No I won’t go!" Then  I said “Woe!” when I saw the crime scene and the Woe that came upon Jonah, cargo and crew.)

Summarize the passage (Let's summarize our CSI report in seven words or less. This shows that we know the big picture of the crime scene.)

Jonah’s disobedience brought disaster.

1.-Ask questions! Who, what, where, when, why, how. Share some of the questions that came to mind as you investigated your way through Jonah ch.1.

2.-Write on your MP3 card- "Will not Assyria rule over them because they refuse to repent?" Hosea 10:5. Then do the "Did it.)

Hosea was a contemporary prophet of Jonah. Just as a great fish ruled over Jonah because he refused to repent, the great kingdom of Assyria (in which Nineveh was located) would rule over the Israelites about 30 years later because they refused to repent. We could paraphrase this verse- "Will not sin and Satan rule over the rebellious because they refuse to repent?" May this prompt us to pray for and share with those in rebellion to God. Perhaps you remember being unrepentant and can now see how sin was ruling over you. Don't forget our commission- "To open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins" Acts 26:18.

Don't forget to go to the Resources tab to get to the GREAT scoreboard and post your scores. Hopefully, all the kinks are out of it now.

Here’s a summary of our BIG Bible Interpreting Guidelines we've discovered so far-

Ask questions!

Give careful consideration to what you read.  

The purpose of rightly interpreting the Bible is to rightly obey it.

The Bible is the best interpreter of itself. So compare scripture with Scripture.

Being prayerful is commendable but it is not a dependable replacement for the careful study of Scripture.

It’s imperative that we know what kind of literature we are reading to interpret it and apply it correctly.

Knowing the background to what we are reading helps us better understand the passage. Commentaries and online resources can help us with such.

Knowing the mood of the author helps you better understand his message.

The apostles often quoted the OT from the Greek version of it called the Septuagint; thus don't be surprised that it doesn't line up exactly with our OT translated from the Hebrew. Plus,they paraphrased at times, all under the inspiration of God.

Since the Bible is God’s perfect word, if you think you’ve found an error in the Bible, it’s your error, not God’s! Many people think they’ve found a contradiction, when it may only be a contrasting statement, not a contradictory statement.

“Humbly accept the word” We don’t stand in judgment on it, it stands in judgment on us.

Keep in mind that the grand theme of the Bible is Jesus.

Don’t spiritualize the Scriptures. Those who spiritualize tell spiritual lies. Don’t read spiritual hidden meanings about Jesus into everything.

The plain thing is the main thing. And the main thing is the plain thing.

Recognize the progress of revelation. The NT supersedes the OT.

Understand Hebrew poetry- the second line gives insight into the first line.

The context of a word determines its meaning. A text without a context is a pretext.

Words also need to be understood in their historical context.

Interpret difficult verses in light of clear ones.
Look for repeated words or phrases to help you discover what the author is emphasizing. The main thing is the plain thing. 

Look for major Bible themes as you read. 

God is the true hero of the book. 

The Key Components of Accurate Bible Study

1.-Observation- Get the F.A.C.T.S. like a CSI detective- Fast facts- Ask questions, Check for key words, Title and Summarize your report.