The prophet resigns - 23 March 2009 |
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When the King of Nineveh removes his robe and dons sackcloth and ashes (Jonah 3:6), there’s obviously an element of (1) mourning/death (since sackcloth was usually worn on occasions of intense grief); and (2) identification with the rest of the people (they’re all dressed in rags – what makes you think you’re any different?).
But the removal of this robe could be significant in a third sense.
The word translated ‘robe’ (‘aderet) is not the usual word for a robe. Simla (garment) or me’il (robe) are more common. An ‘aderet is very possibly not a kingly robe at all, but a prophetic garment – Elijah wore one, for example (2 Ki 2:8 etc), as did the prophets mentioned in Zech 13:4.
Thus presumably the King was not resigning his kingly office at all – indeed, he can’t have been, for in the very next verse he issues a proclamation, which would have required kingly authority. But perhaps he was self-consciously stepping back from a prophetic office which he had wrongly usurped.
In other words, it’s fine for a King to be a King, for MPs to be MPs, and so on (provided, of course, that they do so in submission to the King of Kings). What is most certainly not fine is for them to overstep the bounds of their office, misusing their political power to wave sticks in areas of life beyond the remit the Lord has given them.
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Posted by Steve Jeffery · Topics: Minister's Blog