Dennis Spilchuk Poet Verse

Notes About The Poem

Jonah's Calling

Jonah's Calling

A vision of Jonah I did not see,
Nor did I hear the Lord speak
(Who pitied the wicked city of Nineveh)
When He said to His servant, Jonah,
“Arise and go to Nineveh for me.”
“Set me free!” Jonah cried and said to himself,
“They are but strangers to me.”
And the Lord heard Jonah’s heart
And turned.

In shame, Jonah ran away
To Tarshish, where he boarded a cargo ship,
Which got caught in a tempest.
And lots were drawn
And Jonah was thrown overboard
And was swallowed by a huge fish
(Jonah prayed, and the Lord hearkened to him)
Which, after three days, vomited him onto dry land.

And the Lord spoke to Jonah a second time,
“Arise and go to Nineveh for me.”
This time Jonah obeyed,
And the Lord’s anger was abated
Because the debaucherous city of Nineveh
Repented.
However, Jonah was jealous
Of the Lord’s compassion for Nineveh
And sulked under the shade of a tree.
“It is so cool under the gourd,” thought Jonah.
“Why should I leave? Where is my love?”

Then, a worm ate the plant,
Causing Jonah to suffer from the heat,
Who then turned and cursed the Lord.
And the Lord spake to Jonah a third time,
“And yet, you did not plant the gourd,
Nor did you tend to it.
You know not whence it lives
And canst not say when it shall die.
Shall I not have compassion for the people of Nineveh
Who cannot tell their left hand from their right?
Dost thou do well to be angry with me?”

And I remembered, written in the Book of Isaiah 1:18,
Of the Lord’s abounding love and patience.
“Come now, and let us reason together,” saith the Lord.
“Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow;
Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”
                                          ***

References:
Book of Jonah (Old Testament)
Isaiah 1:18 (KJV)

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Laura Leiser April 30, 2018 at 9:32 PM We are studying the book of Jonah at our church right now. Reading your well written poem summed it up very nicely, Dennis! Wonderful truths here..enjoyed this very much! :) Dennis Spilchuk July 7, 2018 at 9:55 AM The Book of Jonah is truly a very deep story that is referenced by Jesus. Thank you for your wonderful comment.