Jonah

2. Jonah You are , or should be turned to Jonah 2:3

3. JonahA Reprise • The prophet has fled from the presence of the Lord • In the process he has separated from the presence of his entire world; • Country • People • His father’s house • His office • Strangely, in fleeing from all earthly things, he finds himself in the belly of the fish – alone with God • Now, free from all distractions, he is forced to contemplate: • His sin • His Lord • We find him praying

4. 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 knows that he is 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

5. 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)

6. 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 the fish devours wrap themselves about the prophet • Unless God helps him, he is beyond help

7. 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?

8. 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 depths of his prison • From the temple • Either in Jerusalem • Or in heaven

9. 8 Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love. • Jonah’s reference here is not only of others: • The heathen generally • The mariners • He himself has followed idols: • His will • His disobedience • His plan • Now these testify against him • If forsaking The Lord, we forsake our only hope • How glorious is Our father that He will condescend to consider us at all!