Jonah: The Reluctant Prophet-10

Introduction: We begin this chapter understanding that Jonah has been cast into the sea. The LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. Chapter 2 begins with the prayer of Jonah from the belly of this great fish.

The last sentence in chapter 1 gives us the setting for chapter 2.

Notice in chapter 1:17, “Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.”

Note: It is good when you study the Word of God to just restate the facts of what you find in the Scriptures. Articulate them clearly; succinctly.

This fish was prepared by the LORD.

2. This fish is described as being great.

3. This fish swallowed Jonah.

4. Jonah was inside of this fish for three days and three nights.

The word used here in Jonah chapter 1 is the Hebrew word דָּג, dag, which properly means a fish.

In the New Testament passage Matthew 12:40 we have the word κῆτος - kētos, which can be used to signify a great fish, whale or sea monster.

Regardless of whether one calls this a whale or a great fish, this large sea creature swallowed Jonah.

The Lord had set this fish by His divine providence to swallow Jonah.

This swallowing of Jonah by this fish is certainly miraculous. No man has ever been swallowed by a fish and survived for three days.

Let’s begin by reading Jonah chapter 2 and then reviewing our outline.

II. Jonah’s Repenting: God’s Protection - Chapter 2

A. The Prayer Of Jonah v1-10

1. The Person of the Prayer v1

2. The Reason of the Prayer v1,2

3. The Manner of the Prayer v2

4. The Place of the Prayer v2,3,5,6

5. The Faith of the Prayer v4,6,7

6. The Conclusion of the Prayer v8,9

7. The Praise of the Prayer v6,9

8. The Result of the Prayer v10

We start first of all with:

A. The Prayer of Jonah

The Person of the Prayer

The Bible says, (vs.1)“Then Jonah prayed...”

What remarkable words we come to in this text.

After all the disobedience and waywardness of Jonah, we find a prayer from none other than Jonah.

We have already seen up to this point others in prayer, but for the first time in this book we are told that Jonah prays.

Not only does Jonah pray, but the Bible tells us that the LORD heard him. (vs. 2)

Charles Spurgeon noted, “Surely this is the only prayer that ever went up to God out of a fish’s belly.”

Spurgeon. (2017). The Spurgeon Study Bible: Notes (p. 1219). Holman Bible Publishers

This ought to give us great encouragement in the midst of any waywardness we may find ourselves in, that God being merciful and gracious to us is near to them that are of a broken and contrite spirit.

I can tell you that our Lord and Saviour desires to fellowship with us and further is waiting for those stricken by the infirmity of our flesh to turn back to Him.

Again the Bible states in Psalm 34:18, “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”

When we consider our walk on this earth, we find oftentimes that we fail the Lord and trespass against Him, yet the Bible tells us in the book of Proverbs 24:15,16 “Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place: For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.”

The wicked oftentimes are described as laying in wait for the righteous to fail and fall (Proverbs 24:15,16), but the truth concerning this passage is that you and I can turn back to the Lord from a position of waywardness.

The just man does fall, but the just man also rises again.

Further, we see our God never leaves us or forsakes us.

In verse 1 Jonah states that he prayed unto the LORD his God.

My Lord and Savior will always be my Lord and Savior.

As Thomas exclaimed at the revelation of Jesus Christ, “My Lord and My God.” So it is with you and I as a child of God, He is for all of eternity our God.

Our all-wise God knew exactly how to deal with the erring prophet and brought him to a place of turning to Him.

Notice secondly, we see:

2. The Reason of the Prayer v1,2

What do you think is the reason for Jonah’s prayer?

John Gill stated this concerning Jonah praying, “Though Jonah had been a praying man, being a good man, and a prophet of the Lord, yet it seems he had not prayed for some time; being disobedient to the will of God, he restrained prayer before him; all the while he was going to Joppa he prayed not; and how indeed could he have the face to pray to him, from whose face he was fleeing?”

In verse 2 we are given this simple explanation, “And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD”

Some might say, “Well don’t pray to God in your affliction now, you didn’t pray to Him before.”

You and I ought to thank God that He allows us to come to Him especially in times of affliction.

Abraham Lincoln stated this about prayer in affliction, “I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom, and that of all about me seemed insufficient for the day.”

We further discover in this marvelously transparent statement and some instruction concerning our prayers.

We ought to pray in the midst of affliction.

We ought to be truthful in our prayers.

I believe sometimes it is that we feel that are praying to God must be complicated. Praying must be full of flowery language. It must be stated in just the right manner or wording.

But where is the honesty and truthfulness of heart in our praying?

Consider Matthew 14:30 and Luke 18:13.

Consider for a moment one of the shortest prayers in all of the Bible, stated in just three words, “Lord, save me.” Matthew 14:30

There was no flowery language, there was no complication in this prayer of Peter’s. But rather the situation of his despair dictated that He cry out in desperation of heart, Lord Save me!

What about the complication and flowery prayer of the hypocrite versus the publican? The publican simply cried unto the Lord, “God be merciful to me a sinner.” Luke 18:13

We ought to be fervent in our prayers.

We ought to understand that God desires to hear us in our affliction.

Affliction oftentimes can be the best school for the Christian.

One expositor said this, “Prosperity tends to negligence, formality, and deadness in prayer; distress makes it earnest and ardent” and cited James 5:13 which states, “Is any among you afflicted, Let him pray...”

Charles Spurgeon further said this, “Most of the grand truths of God have to be learned by trouble. They must be burned into us with the hot iron of affliction; otherwise we will not truly receive them.”

Spurgeon. (2017). The Spurgeon Study Bible: Notes (pp. 1219–1220). Holman Bible Publishers.

We have seen the person of the prayer, the reason for the prayer, now let’s look at number 3.

3. The manner of the prayer.

How is it that Jonah prayed?

Jonah’s prayer was directed to His God.

I think this is very important for us to note.

Sometimes it is that we pray in such a way, that really we are praying to ourselves.

Jonah’s prayer was directed to the LORD.

In verse 2 we see the remarks in the text that he cried, “unto the LORD...”

In verse 4 we see that his heart was toward God and His dwelling place. “…yet I will look again toward thy holy temple...”

In verse 6 we see a recognition of God’s deliverance… with God being the focal point of His prayer. “…yet hast thou brought up my life....O LORD my God.”

In verse 7 we see a stedfast mind in spite of his physical weariness upon the LORD. “…I remembered the LORD...”

All of this speaks to Jonah’s manner of praying, in that it was directed to the LORD. He was not found praying to Himself, but the LORD.

Secondly, I believe the text all shows us that He prayed in submission to God.

The whole crux of Jonah’s departure from the Lord was his unwillingness to be obedient to God. But here in this prayer we see he directed it towards God, but we also see he prayed in submission to God.

Many today, perhaps stumble over the verse found in Psalm 66:18 which states “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me;”

The key to Psalm 66 verse 18 verse is the word ‘regard.’

This has everything to do with our submission to God and certainly as it regards sin and wickedness.

The heart that regards iniquity cannot fully regard God.

For us to submit to God is to forsake sin.

For us to submit to God is to seek Him and His righteousness.

We will see later that Jonah certainly is still dealing with difficulties concerning His prejudices toward the Ninevites.

Chapter 4 shows us even unto the end the difficulties in Jonah’s heart and God’s dealing with him. Yet plainly, we read in this chapter that the Lord heard him.

How so? Because Jonah submitted Himself to God. He prayed in submission to the Lord and the Lord heard Him.

Here in our text we see in verse 8,9 a submission to God in his prayer.

“They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy. But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.”

Just from this chapter so far we have learned, in affliction we ought to pray. We ought to pray in truthfulness to God. We ought to fervent or earnest in our praying.

In praying, our prays must be directed towards God, not to be heard of men, but in simplicity with our heart directed toward Him.

Lastly, we see the great truth that we ought to be in submission to God in our praying. A submitted heart toward God is one that is in agreement with God.

Next week we will continue through this prayer of Jonah and see:

The Place of the Prayer, The Faith of the Prayer, The Conclusion of the Prayer, The Praise of the Prayer, and The Result of the Prayer

I can imagine that Daniel prayed in the Lion’s den and perhaps Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael prayed as they were being tossed into the fiery furnace, but

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