Jonah 3:1-2 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”
Before we had CNN, BBC and Fox News, the internet or the big black box called Television that connects the whole world, messengers carried news, reports or important information. They were called ‘the herald’ or ‘the bearer of the news’. When the herald arrived at a town, the attention of the villagers was attracted by a loud drum beat. The herald would then read out or ‘proclaim’ the message from the king in a loud voice. The word proclaim comes from the Latin word which means ‘to shout forth’. The herald was an integral part of the royal crew. He carried both good or bad news and also warnings or alerts from the king.
The Lord God commanded Jonah the second time to go to Nineveh and proclaim the warning that their sins are going to be judged in 3 days if they don’t repent. Jonah was ‘the herald’ to Nineveh. The king proclaimed a fast for three days; even animals fasted and pleaded for God’s mercy. This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh: “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink (Jonah 3:7). The King in his proclamation said; Let everyone call urgently on God (vs 8b). When the Lord God saw that the whole throng was repenting, He was moved with compassion and did not bring destruction on them.
Proclamations are the transcripts of our future. Our proclamations to walk in God’s ways convey a profound message that we are serious about God. God watches to hear the faith in our heart proclaimed through the words of our mouth. My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord (Psalm 145:21). As we proclaim God’s goodness and His power over our life, God’s might and power will unfurl in our lives.
Proclamations are the transcripts of our future:
1. Translate: Meditation of our hearts is translated to proclamations of our mouth and proclamations fortify the faith in our heart. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer (Psalm 19:14). Even if we are gripped with fear, when we must proclaim, “in God I trust. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” (Psalm 56:3-4). Proclamations defeat pessimistic thoughts. Proclamations translate fear into faith.
2. Touch: Proclamation of praise, penitence and petition touches the heart of God. God knows that we are serious when we proclaim with authority and authenticity. He searches the heart and knows our intentions. Proclamations that transform our heart touch the heart of God.
3. Transcript: Proclamations are the divine transcripts of our future. Write a bright future, in the midst of a grim present, with proclamations.
Proclamations of God’s promises write and rewrite our future.
Psalm 89:1b With my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.
Prayer: Father God, teach me to use my mouth to proclaim your will, your plan and your promise. Amen.
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