5 Then the people of Nineveh believed in God ; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them. 6 When the word reached the king of Nineveh , he arose from his throne , laid aside his robe from him, covered himself with sackcloth and sat on the ashes . 7 He issued a proclamation and it said , "In Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles : Do not let man , beast , herd , or flock taste a thing . Do not let them eat or drink water . 8 "But both man and beast must be covered with sackcloth ; and let men call on God earnestly that each may turn from his wicked way and from the violence which is in his hands . 9 " Who knows , God may turn and relent and withdraw His burning anger so that we will not perish ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Jonah 3:5-9
Commentary on Jonah 3:5-10
(Read Jonah 3:5-10)
There was a wonder of Divine grace in the repentance and reformation of Nineveh. It condemns the men of the gospel generation, Psalm 66:18. The work of a fast-day is not done with the day. The Ninevites hoped that God would turn from his fierce anger; and that thus their ruin would be prevented. They could not be so confident of finding mercy upon their repentance, as we may be, who have the death and merits of Christ, to which we may trust for pardon upon repentance. They dared not presume, but they did not despair. Hope of mercy is the great encouragement to repentance and reformation. Let us boldly cast ourselves down at the footstool of free grace, and God will look upon us with compassion. God sees who turn from their evil ways, and who do not. Thus he spared Nineveh. We read of no sacrifices offered to God to make atonement for sin; but a broken and a contrite heart, such as the Ninevites then had, he will not despise.