Bible Stories: Jonah (Part Iv) Poem by Dr John Celes

Chapter 4:

What God had done, displeased Jonah;
In angry mood, he prayed,
‘I knew You’ll show clemency, Lord,
That’s why at first, I fled! ’

‘You’re a gracious, merciful God,
You’re slow to punish men;
And this is what I had said then;
You’re slow to anger, Lord! ’

‘Lord, take away my life from me,
’Tis better, I be dead! ’
God asked him, ‘Is your anger just? ’
Jonah had not replied.

He left the city to its east,
And built him small a hut;
And in its shade, waited to see,
What happened to men, beast!

God made a gourd plant grow over,
To give him more of shade;
Jonah was happy with cover,
His discomfort did fade!

Next day, God sent a worm to kill
The plant which withered fast;
The scorching sun then made him ill,
To faint, he turned almost.

The sun made Jonah angry more,
‘Better I die, ’ he said;
When God asked him, he thus replied,
‘The plant’s death made me sore! ’

And then the Lord explained Jonah,
‘You feel for gourd, not own.
You neither sowed the seed, nor raised,
The plant that lived one night! ’

‘Concerned are you, about a plant
For which you labored not;
And when it perished over-night,
You’re angry enough to die! ’

‘Oh, should I not show concern for
Great Nineveh city?
One twenty thousand men live there,
And beasts- what a pity? ’

Copyright by Dr John Celes 4-25-2007