Our text this morning begins, “Then Jonah prayed”.

Transition

This morning as we examine three aspects of Jonah’s prayer, I want to point out several truths that will help us pray.

The Reason for Jonah’s Prayer

  1. Jonah prayed because he was a child of God.
    1. He called the Lord “his God” (v.1). He also called the Lord “my God” (v.6).
    2. It is natural for a child to want to talk to his parents. So it is natural for a child of God to want to talk to God. We ought to pray because we appreciate all that God has done for us. David said that he prayed at least three times daily. (Psalm 55:17) “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.” Daniel prayed three times daily. (Daniel 6:10) “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.” Jesus said we ought to always pray and not get lazy. (Luke 18:1) “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”
  2. Jonah prayed because he was afflicted.
    Jonah did not pray because of his affection for God but because he was afflicted. This same word describes the anguish of Joseph’s soul when his brothers sold him (Ge 42:21). It describes Hannah’s childless burden (1Sa 1:6). David used it repeatedly in the Psalms to describe the troubles of this life. Daniel used it to describe the time of trouble in the coming seven-year Tribulation (Dan 12:1). Notice how Jonah described for us his affliction.

    1. He was in the belly of hell (v.2). The OT word translated “hell” is Sheol. It refers generally to the place of the dead. That sometimes referred to the grave, but more often it referred to the place of the departed soul. Sheol had two compartments, paradise for God’s children and hell for unbelievers. Jonah was in total blackness. He felt like he was in the place of the dead. He may also have been in pain from the burning of the acid in the fish’s stomach.
    2. The sea was crashing over him (v.3). He described several aspects of the ocean – depths, floods (streams), billows (breakers), and waves. He was helpless to overcome this.
    3. He felt that he was cast out of God’s sight (v.4). Earlier Jonah had tried to run from the presence of the Lord, now he felt like God had cast him out of his sight. He felt like God had forsaken him. The devil is such a crafty liar that he makes running from God seem like an escape to freedom when in reality being far from God is a terrible state.
    4. The depths of the ocean surrounded him and the weeds wrapped around his head (v.5). Being wrapped in seaweed added to his helplessness and fear.
    5. He went to the bottom of the ocean and felt like he was behind bars in prison (v.6). The great fish took Jonah to the depths of the ocean. He had no possible way of escape.
      Jonah’s affliction gave him plenty of reason to want to pray.
      ☆ When God chastens you for a disobedience in your life, you remember that running from God is a miserable thing to do. No true Christian can have peace and joy when he is disobedient to God. God always chastens his disobedient children (Heb 12:7-8). The main purpose of God’s chastening is to cause us to admit our wrong and return to obedience.

The Review of Jonah’s Prayer

  1. Jonah began to think wisely again
    1. He could sense that God heard his prayer (v.2).
    2. He admitted that God’s chastening was the cause of his present trouble (v.3). It was not the sailors who tossed Jonah into the sea, they were just God’s instruments.
      ☆ Admitting our guilt is often one of the most difficult parts of getting right with God. We like to make excuses, blame others, and claim what we did was not so bad. David set a good example for repentance when he confessed his sin of adultery. (Psalm 51:1) “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. (2) Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. (3) For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.”
    3. Jonah said that he would look toward God’s holy temple (v.4). When Solomon dedicated the Temple, he asked God to hear the prayers of those who had sinned if they will turn to God in their hearts and pray toward the Temple (1Ki 8:48). This is the reason Jonah said what he said.
    4. Jonah felt that God had brought up his life from corruption (v.6). He had not lost all hope of forgiveness.
    5. When his soul fainted he remembered God (v.7). Jonah’s fearful affliction caused his prideful, stubborn, rebellious soul to faint or become weak. He finally gave in to God. He surrendered.
      ☆ Often we sing “I surrender all” and then live all week pleasing self. God wants our total surrender. He wants total obedience. He wants faithful service. He wants every part of our heart. As our loving heavenly Father He asks “My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.” (Proverbs 23:26).
  2. Jonah repented of his wrong
    1. He admitted the foolishness of his wrong choices (v.8). All who follow empty lies are turning their back on the merciful God who alone can help them. He repented.
      1. Jonah had disobeyed a clear command of God. He had run from the presence of God. He wanted to do things his way not God’s way.
      2. Repentance is a change of mind. It is admitting that we sinned against the holy God of the universe. Repentance agreeing with God that our sin is evil and agreeing that God is right.
        ☆ While this is true for a sinning Christian, the same principle is true for unbelievers. If you have not repented of your sin and trusted Christ to save your soul, your sin condemns you to hell. All sin is an offence to God. (Jeremiah 17:9) “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Before Christ changes a repentant sinner, his heart is desperately wicked or malignant. He needs a new heart that only God can give.
    2. Jonah promised to sacrifice to the Lord (v.9). He would offer the Old Testament offering of thanksgiving to the Lord.
    3. He promised to keep his vows to the Lord (v.9). We are not told what promises Jonah made to the Lord, but it is certain that one of them was that he would go preach in Nineveh.

The Result of Jonah’s Prayer

  1. The Lord answered his prayer.
    1. The Lord spoke to the fish.
    2. The fish vomited Jonah out on dry land.
      ☆ God had that big fish spit out Jonah on dry land. He did not spit him out in the ocean and let him swim to shore. When God does a job, He does it right.
  2. God gave Jonah a second chance to serve Him.
    1. Jonah’s repentance ended God’s chastening. The goal of God’s chastening is always repentance and obedience.
    2. God gave Jonah another opportunity to go to Nineveh. God did not set Jonah aside for the rest of his life. Once Jonah got right with God, God put him back to work.
      ☆ If we sin against the Lord and then get right with God, He will forgive us and use us again. We may not be able to do all that we could have before, but He will use us in some way. God saved us to serve not to sit.

Conclusion

God was not yet finished with Jonah. During his time inside the fish, he revived his prayer life. He poured out his heart to God. He could sense that God was listening to him. He gave in and admitted his guilt. He repented or changed his mind about obeying God. He was ready to follow God’s leading.

If God is doing a work in your heart, the right thing to do is to follow Jonah’s example. Humble yourself before God and surrender.

If God has not given you a new life in Christ, you need to see yourself as God does, as a lost sinner headed for hell. Change your mind about your sin, admit your guilt to God, and trust Him to save your soul.

Song: I Surrender All – 394
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Jonah’s Prayer
29 November 2015 AM – Jonah 2:1-10 – Jonah2015 – Scott Childs