The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Years between Niveveh's repentance and the Assyrian invasion of the Northern Kindgom

What do we make of Nineveh's repentance in Jonah? Was it total or partial? It wasn't that many years between their repentance and their invasion of the Northern Kingdom. Their repentance must not have lasted long.

1. One's repentance does not necessarily equate to a single act which is never repeated. Even Christians can and do repent of some sin and then repeat it again, even many times. But they repent at each offense and beg for God's forgiveness. (cf. Paul's confession of his struggle after conversion in Rom 7 and 1Jh 1:9,10).

2. It is estimated that a period of 38 to 50 years elapsed between Ninevah's repentance and its invasion of the northern kingdom by the Assyrians.

My goodness, I repent every single day! And often for the same sins that that have become habits. I "preach the gospel to myself" every day as well, to remind me that it is God who is at work in me both to will and to do His good pleasure. Daily repentance - even sometimes minute-by-minute repentance - is one of the marks of having been born from Above.