The Bible mentions without naming the king of Nineveh. (Jonah 3:6) Jonah lived during the reign of King Jeroboam II of Israel. (793-753 BC) The Assyrian king during that time was either Adad-Nirari III (811-783 BC) or Shalmaneser IV (783-773 BC).
Transformation: The king, who was a symbol of cruelty, ruthlessness, tyranny, and oppression, became a humble, godly person who sincerely prayed with fasting.
Jehovah, God of all people: Like Jonah, most Israelites thought that Jehovah was God of Israel alone. Jehovah is not a petty god of a small geography or history or demography; He is God of Heaven and Earth. Hence, he sends Jonah from the Promised Land of Israel to the city of Nineveh.
God who hears prayers: All nations come to Him, who listens and answers prayers. (Psalm 65:2) Hearing the prophecy by Jonah, the king was sensitive to God’s voice, discerned the truth, and prayed for deliverance from judgment. Gracious God listened to a foreign Gentile wicked king.
Radical repentance: The king heard the message and responded with humility. He rose from the throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself in sackcloth, and sat in the ashes. (Jonah 3:6) He renounced all pride, status, self-sufficiency, power, and authority publicly. The royal robes of purple were replaced by sackcloth.
National repentance: The king did not do this in private, but in public, and also used his authority to call a city-wide repentance. Not only humans, but even the livestock should fast and call upon God urgently. (Jonah 3:7-8) All should repent from the evil ways and violence, and turn towards God. He was a decisive, proactive leader and a great steward of the authority bestowed upon him.
Sober prayer: The King did not assume that repentance would suspend God’s judgment. Instead, he said: Who knows? God may have compassion and turn from His anger, so that we do not perish. (Jonah 3:9) He acknowledged the sins, repented, and depended on God’s grace, a beautiful display of faith.
Do I realise God is compassionate toward those who humbly repent?