Midweek Devotion 25 February 2026

Reading

Jonah 3:10

When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.

Devotion

Today's painting is entitled, "The Repentance of Ninevah."  A part of the Yale University art collection it is not currently on display.  I'm told there's another, earlier rendering by the same painter in Anglesey Abbey, Cambridgeshire, UK.  Yet another is in the Hatton Gallery in Newcastle upon Tyne. Created by British artist John Martin (1789-1854) we see the words of the Book of Jonah portrayed: 

When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. Then he had a proclamation made in Nineveh: "By the decree of the king and his nobles: No human being or animal, no herd or flock, shall taste anything. They shall not feed, nor shall they drink water. Human beings and animals shall be covered with sackcloth, and they shall cry mightily to God. All shall turn from their evil ways and from the violence that is in their hands. Who knows? God may relent and change his mind; he may turn from his fierce anger, so that we do not perish."

The painting is dark and threatening.  In the foreground we see light and people who are at least outwardly repenting, changing their ways, and perhaps their hearts.  I think that much like physics has natural laws that have consequences, think of gravity for example, so too, does spirituality.  We so easily drift toward or even actively embrace fear, greed, and anger.  In a conversation with some clergy friends the other day about the part of our baptismal covenant which talks about persevering in resisting evil and also respecting the dignity of every human being.  The focus of the discussion was undocumented people in the United States.  We were pretty clear on respecting their dignity and what it might look like.  Then I asked, "What does respecting the dignity of ICE agents, who are human beings, look like?"  It got pretty quiet.  I used to ask such questions pre and post battle of my Marines and Sailors as well.  These are hard questions.  I'd be interested to hear where you are with such things.

Prayer

Lord of mercy, hear my cry,

I turn from shadows, draw me nigh.

Break my pride, my heart renew,

Wash me clean, make me true.

Like Nineveh, I bow today,

Forsake my sin, walk Your way.

Your grace my refuge, love my song,

In Your light, I now belong.

Amen.