How we cite our quotes:
Quote #4
The LORD God appointed a bush, and made it come up over Jonah, to give shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort; so Jonah was very happy about the bush. But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the bush, so that it withered. …Then the LORD said, “You are concerned about the bush, for which you did not labor and which you did not grow; it came into being in a night and perished in a night. And should I not be concerned about Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also many animals?” (NRSV Jonah 4:6-7, 10-11)
And the LORD God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd.… Then said the LORD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in
a night, and perished in a night: And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more then six score thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle? (KJV Jonah 4:6-7, 10-11)
Jonah feels bad about the death of the plant that’s been shading him, but we doubt it has anything to do with compassion for the plant. Although God is drawing that comparison, so who are we to argue? Anyway, God’s trying to get it through Jonah’s dense skull that he had his reasons for saving Nineveh—all those clueless people and helpless animals. This is a pretty intimate statement by God in this passage. He feels their pain. God is kind of role-modeling compassion for Jonah here.
Quote #5
Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of your possession? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in showing clemency. He will again have compassion upon us; he will tread our iniquities under foot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.
(NRSV Micah 7:18-19)Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. (KJV Micah 7:18-19)
This is a common Hebrew Scriptures convention: reciting to God his mercy and compassion so that he has no choice but to live up to his reputation. Kind of like thanking someone in advance for their help. We have to say that God falls for this at times and relents when he’s reminded of the covenant. We think that’s a great strategy for resolving family conflict—remember the good times when everyone was on speaking terms.
Quote #6
The LORD has commanded concerning you: “Your name shall be perpetuated no longer; from the house of your gods I will cut off the carved image and the cast image. I will make your grave, for you are worthless.” Look! On the mountains the feet of one who brings good tidings, who proclaims peace! Celebrate your festivals, O Judah, fulfill your vows, for never again shall the wicked invade you; they are utterly cut off. (NRSV Nahum 1:14-15)
And the LORD hath given a commandment concerning thee, that no more of thy name be sown: out of the house of thy gods will I cut off the graven image and the molten image: I will make thy grave; for thou art vile. Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts,
perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off. (KJV Nahum 1:14-15)
Compassion for Israel involves destruction of other nations. This passage underscores the complex nature of peace and other squishy hippie notions in the Minor Prophets. For Nahum, peace means years of bloody warfare that result in vicarious vengeance on an old enemy. Give the man a Nobel!