In this very relevant message on Jonah 3:9, John Newton calls us to humble ourselves before God. He recognizes that we deserve judgment from God, and yet our only sure hope is in the mercy of God shown to us in Jesus Christ. He ends with a prayer for the nation which is very applicable to the nations of our day:
“Here peace and liberty have dwelt,
The glorious Gospel brightly shone;
And oft our enemies have felt
That God has made our cause His own.
But ah! both heaven and earth have heard
Our vile requital of His love;
We, whom like children He has reared,
Rebels against His goodness prove.
His grace despised, His power defied,
And legions of the blackest crimes,
Profaneness, riot, lust and pride,
Are signs that mark the present times.
The Lord, displeased has raised His rod;
Ah! where are now the faithful few
Who tremble for the Ark of God,
And know what Israel ought to do?
Lord, hear Thy people everywhere,
Who meet to mourn, confess, and pray;
The nation and Thy churches spare,
And let Thy wrath be turned away.”
