Jonah

2. Jonah You are , or should be turned to Jonah 1:17

3. 17 And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. • In the midst of punishment, God remembers mercy • Not even Jonah contests his guilt • If he dies, it is no more than justice • But, God will save this one who has offended Him. And is running • He is not so much hurt as he is reduced to his duty • The sign of Jonah (Matt. 12:39) • God prepared Jonah’s grave • He is there for three days and nights • He returns from the grave • He is brought forth for the salvation of many

4. Jonah • God and Jonah have parted in anger • Jonah has fled from the Lord in disobedience • The reconciliation begins with God as the initiator • God returns to Jonah in mercy • He has prepared a great fish that Jonah might not die • Jonah has been rebuked by the mariners for not praying • There is no record that he ever did pray • That is about to change

5. Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, • In his extremity Jonah prays • He has witnessed tokens of The Lords displeasure • He feels the weight of his sin • When we are afflicted we must pray (Job 36:13) • When we are humble and contrite • He has a token of God’s intention of mercy • He prays from the fishes belly • From this dark dungeon he has access to The Father

6. 2 saying, "I called out to the Lord, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice. • He has been fleeing from God • Now he sees the folly of it • He engages in his heart to approach God • Not just any God, but his God • We must be thankful that we are in covenant with The Father • Every transgression against the covenant does not put us out of it • This truth encourages the backslider to return • From the belly of Sheol

7. 3 For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me. • See the goodness of God in bringing us into affliction • Many will not cry out to God from prosperity and ease • If we are to pray, it must be this side of death • Though he mariners were the instruments, Jonah that he in in this place by the hand of God • Jonah recognizes that they were God’s waves and His billows – Both made and directed by Him • Jonah quotes from Psalm 42:7 • Here is a demonstration of the usefulness of memorization • When we are oppressed, it is good to remind The Lord of His aid to others in similar stress • Strictly speaking, however, Jonah’s case has no parallel

8. 4 Then I said, 'I am driven away from your sight; Yet I shall again look upon your holy temple.' • He sought to leave the presence of God • Not that separation is his greatest grief • He is in a place where no one can see him • Consider for a moment what it means to be lost • Jonah does not grieve as one who has no hope • He is revived to believe that The Father has sent this fish so that he may be preserved • He will again see the temple of God • He will cast his eye in the direction of the Presence and the mercy seat • Remember that Christ is the temple (Matt 24, 26)

9. 5 The waters closed in over me to take my life; the deep surrounded me; weeds were wrapped about my head • Jonah’s case is hopeless • He cannot help himself • No man knows of his condition • No one can reach him here to help him • The great fish continues in its courses • The sea plants that he devours wrap themselves about the prophet • Unless God helps him, he is beyond help

10. 6 at the roots of the mountains. I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me forever; yet you brought up my life from the pit, O Lord my God. • Here is another elegant description of his condition • He is at the bottom of the sea • The very root of the great mountains of the land are here • Jonah views them as bars to his prison • His souls desponds – he will lie here forever • He does not say that his fate is undeserved • It is His pit • If the Lord should rescue him would be grace • Yet, Jonah knows that The Lord is good and merciful • He acknowledges The Lord as his God • What will be the sinners hope when he is similarly engulfed?

11. 7 When my life was fainting away, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple. • Jonah is in a dire situation • He felt himself dying • He cannot help himself • Then he remembers The Lord • In Faith • In prayer • He recalls The Lord’s mercy • The Lord hears his prayer from the dephs of his prison • From the temple • Either in Jerusalem • Or in heaven