The Jonah Rap

A four week series in Junior School Chapel on the book of Jonah brought forth ... the Jonah Rap. It may be true that there is a YouTube video (definitely amateur but vastly improved thanks to my creative, and long-suffering, colleague), but the words below are probably better on their own!

The Jonah Rap

Have you heard about the story of Jonah and the whale?

Jonah and the Whale? Now that’s an old tale …

Chucked overboard by sailors and then swallowed by a fish!

Bet he never thought that he would end up as a dish!

But that’s the least of Jonah’s woes, he barely bats an eye

He’s totally angry at his God, and here’s the reason why:

Jonah came from Israel and followed the Lord,

Nineveh - a great city who wielded the sword

Who came against her enemies with ferocity,

They beat and broke small Israel a quick victory.

So, Jonah wanted Nineveh to get judged, you see?

The wrath of God, for evil done, justice should be.

But Yahweh ordered Jonah, ‘Go warn that city!’

Despite their reign of terror God would show them pity.

For Yahweh, Lord of Heaven, creator of land and sea,

doesn’t see the world as I see you or you me.

He is gracious and compassionate,

relents from disaster.

Yes, he punishes the wicked,

but his mercy is faster.

But Jonah just can’t stand it and he bolts east to west.

To escape the hand of his God, he sure tried his best.

But Yahweh, God of Israel, formed the sea and the land,

There’s no way you can run from him, do you understand?

The sailors threw him overboard, and begged for reprieve

the tempest stopped, the waters calmed, they fell on their knees.

That day they learnt to fear the Lord, he granted salvation -

their lives were spared, for Yahweh cared, about other nations.

[beat change – heartbeat]

But Jonah sank // below the waves //

Surely this was // his watery grave//

But Yahweh who formed // the sea and all //

Within its mighty // wat’ry walls //

Told a fish // of massive size //

to swallow Jonah // To his demise? //

Oh no! The fish // was his salvation //

For Yahweh cares // about all nations //

So, Jonah got his second chance to obey God’s word,

to go to Nineveh and speak so that they heard.

Their reign of terror ‘round the world, would come to an end,

Unless they turned to Yahweh judgements comin’ for them.

For Yahweh, Lord of Heaven, creator of land and sea,

doesn’t see the world as I see you or you me.

He is gracious and compassionate,

relents from disaster.

Yes, he punishes the wicked,

but his mercy is faster.

At God’s command the fish threw up Jonah on the shore,

Sent again to Nineveh - a three day tour.

“Forty days and then this city will be overthrown,”

All the folk, from King to serf, believed this God unknown.

[beat change - heartbeat]

They tore their clothes // and sat in dust,

an expression of // their repentance must

Show they’d turned // from their evil ways,

and repented of // their violent days.

They called on God, // hoping he’d relent

From the disaster // of the message sent,

They didn’t know // whether they’d survive

Destruction come // or mercy arrive ...

Jonah hated Nineveh, he thought God’s mercy evil –

Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, Bin Laden or Nineveh get reprieval?

Jonah knew God’s mercy was the reason he was alive,

But he didn’t like that mercy meant his enemies survived.

For Yahweh, Lord of Heaven, creator of land and sea,

doesn’t see the world as I see you or you me.

He is gracious and compassionate,

relents from disaster.

Yes, he punishes the wicked,

but his mercy is faster.

So, Jonah’s not about a big fish in the sea!

It’s all about God’s mercy that sets sinners free.

The warning of God’s judgement is to let us know,

if we turn back to God, then his compassion with flow.

Yahweh, Lord of heaven,

he made each of us too!

His grace never wavers,

and he cares for you.

His grace never wavers,

and he cares for you.