A Proclamation of God’s Deliverance (Jonah 2)
Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, 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. Jonah 2:2 (ESV)
13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. James 5:13 (ESV)
- The book moves from its narrative format to a poetic psalm comprise of several psalms.
- Jonah Psalms
- 2:2a 3:4; 120:1; 18:6
- 2:2b 18:4-5; 30:3
- 2:3a 88:6-7; 130: 1-3
- 2:3b 42:7
- 2:4a 31:22
- 2:4b 5:7
- 2:5a 69:1-2
- 2:6b 49:15; 56:13; 103:4
- 2:7a 107:5; 142:3
- 2:8a 31”6
- 2:9a 50:14; 69:30; 107:22
- 2:9c 3:8; 37:39
Jonah’s perspective of God’s deliverance
For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas,
and the flood surrounded me; all your breakers and your waves passed over me. Then I said, ‘I am driven away from your sight; yet I shall again look upon your holy temple.’ Jonah 2:3–4 (ESV)
5 . . . for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 (ESV) Joshua 1:5 (ESV)
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? . . . 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35–39 (ESV)
Jonah’s predicament in God’s deliverance
The waters closed in over me to take my life; the deep
surrounded me; weeds were wrapped about my head.
To 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. Jonah 2:5–6 (ESV)
Jonah’s prayer for God’s deliverance
When my life was fainting away, I remembered the Lord,
and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple. Those
who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast
love. But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to
you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the
Lord!” Jonah 2:7–9 (ESV)
16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16 (ESV); Kings 8:38–40
Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the Lord, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.Isaiah 55:6-7 (NASB)
10 And the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land. Jonah 2:10 (ESV)
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9 (ESV)