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Jona 1

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1 Dođe reč Gospodnja Joni, sinu Amatijevom govoreći:

2 Ustani, idi u Nineviju grad veliki, i propovedaj protiv njega, jer izađe zloća njihova preda me.

3 A Jona usta da beži u Tarsis od Gospoda, i sišav u Jopu nađe lađu koja iđaše u Tarsis i plativ vozarinu uđe u nju da otide s njima u Tarsis od Gospoda.

4 Ali Gospod podiže velik vetar na moru, i posta velika bura na moru da mišljahu da će se razbiti lađa.

5 I lađari uplašivši se prizivahu svaki svog boga, i bacahu šta beše u lađi u more da bi bila lakša; a Jona beše sišao na dno lađi, i legav spavaše tvrdo.

6 A upravitelj od lađe pristupi k njemu i reče mu: Šta ti spavaš! Ustani, prizivaj Boga svog, ne bi li nas se opomenuo Bog da ne poginemo.

7 Potom rekoše jedan drugom: Hodite, da bacimo žreb da vidimo sa koga dođe na nas ovo zlo. I baciše žreb, i pade žreb na Jonu.

8 Tada mu rekoše: Kaži nam zašto dođe ovo zlo na nas; koje si radnje? I odakle ideš? Iz koje si zemlje? I od koga si naroda?

9 A on im reče: Jevrejin sam, i bojim se Gospoda Boga nebeskog, koji je stvorio more i suvu zemlju.

10 Tada se vrlo uplašiše ljudi, i rekoše mu: Šta si učinio? Jer doznaše ljudi da beži od Gospoda, jer im on kaza.

11 I rekoše mu: Šta ćemo činiti s tobom, da bi nam more utolilo? Jer bura na moru bivaše sve veća.

12 A on im reče: Uzmite me i bacite me u more, i more će vam utoliti, jer vidim da je s mene došla na vas ova velika bura.

13 A ljudi stadoše veslati da bi došli ka kraju; ali ne mogahu, jer im bura na moru bivaše sve veća.

14 Tada prizvaše Gospoda i rekoše: Molimo Ti se, Gospode, da ne poginemo radi duše ovog čoveka, i nemoj metnuti na nas krv pravu, jer Ti, Gospode, činiš kako hoćeš.

15 Potom uzeše Jonu i baciše ga u more, i presta bura na moru.

16 Tada se pobojaše oni ljudi Gospoda vrlo, i prinesoše žrtvu Gospodu i učiniše zavete.

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Exploring the Meaning of Jonah 1

Napsal(a) Helen Kennedy

Billy Graham once said that the whole of Jesus' ministry could be summed up in two words; Come and Go.

COME to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

GO and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19)

In the beginning of the Book of Jonah, chapter 1, we have a story about what happens when you do the first step, but not the second. Jonah was supposed to go preach the gospel -- the monotheistic worship of Jehovah -- to the people of Ninevah. Swedenborg tells us that the verses in Jonah 1:1-2 are about the people of Israel, who had received the Word - but wouldn't go out and share it amongst the nations.

In Jonah 1:4-6, peoples' spiritual knowledge declines, and begins to perish. It happens both in the land of Israel, and in the wider world.

Here are some key symbolic elements in this account:

- A ship represents the knowledge of good and truth useful for life (a church). (Apocalypse Revealed 406)

- A sea, storm and wind represents Hell and its influence. (Apocalypse Revealed 343[4])

- To be asleep means to be deluded by our own glory. (Arcana Coelestia 147)

In Jonah 1:7-9, the people who lived outside the land of Israel had some perception that their own spiritual knowledge was lacking, and they it had led to a collapse of their spiritual state. As Swedenborg puts it, "the state of the church was perverted among themselves".

When they perceived this, they also came to understand that they needed to reject falsified truths that they were getting from the Jewish church at that time, and pray to the Lord for salvation, to try to restore real worship, real spiritual love and wisdom.

Drawing lots, or playing a game of chance, represents pulling truths apart. (Arcana Coelestia 9942.13)

In Jonah 1:10-13, throwing Jonah into the sea represents the rejection of that hollowed-out church, to make way for a new church. Then, in Jonah 1:14-16, when the people in the boat pray unto the Lord for salvation -- it works! They are saved from foundering and drowning.

What's the takeaway for us? If we're getting false ideas from our neighbors, we need to perceive it, and stop. We need to identify our false beliefs, and reject them -- throw them into the sea. Then, we need to pray for salvation -- and then a new "church" can start in us, too, personally, with renewed spiritual life. And, when we come to the Lord, and experience spiritual "rest", then we can also go share our new true ideas and good loves with our neighbors -- coming, and going.

Here's a link to an interesting (audio) sermon on this chapter, by Rev. Todd Beiswenger.

Finally, here's a link to Rev. McCurdy's Study Guide for the Book of Jonah, which is available for free as a .pdf, for your use.

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Matthew 11:28

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28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.