Sunday, September 19, 2021
Reluctance: The Punished Prophet
By Jay Haugh
Jonah 2
Our God is a God of salvation
Salvation is from the Lord.Jonah 2:9
Jonah 2 is another great picture of God’s salvation
God’s Severe but Amazing Grace
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. —Jonah 1:17
From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. He said: “In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry.” —Jonah 2:1-2 NIV
For God to use Jonah, He brings Jonah to the end of himself
“You hurled me into the depths, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me.” I said, “I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.”Jonah 2:3-4 NIV —Jonah 2:3-4 NIV
The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. —Jonah 2:5-6 NIV
The Repentance of Jonah
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 2:1-2
But you, Lord my God, brought my life up from the pit.Jonah 2:6 NIV —Jonah 2:6 NIV
But you, Lord my God, brought my life up from the pit. —Jonah 2:6 NIV
Salvation is from the LORD. Jonah 2:9 NASB —Jonah 2:9 NASB
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. —Psalm 139:7-10 NIV
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me, even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. —Psalm 139:11-12 NIV
Jonah looks to God. He turns his eyes to Him.
When my life was fainting away, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple. —Jonah 2:7
Jonah is reminding himself of
God’s grace,
God’s deliverance,
God’s provision.
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. —Jonah 2:7-8
But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the Lord!” —Jonah 2:99
Jonah 2:9 is the central verse of the entire Scriptures
But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the Lord!” —Jonah 2:9
Jonah 2 is the gospel. It’s what the totality of Scripture teaches.
And the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land. —Jonah 2:10
Real deliverance isn’t from the fish. It’s from his broken relationship with God.
God releases Jonah from the belly of the beast even though his heart isn’t fully transformed.
But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washingof rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, —Titus 3:4-5 NIV
whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. —Titus 3:6-7 NIV
BIG IDEA
Deliverance and salvation cannot come from ourselves, but only through the LORD.
STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS**
Our God is a God of salvation. Meditate and reflect on the stories we have of God’s deliverance. (Work through the Bible).
Read Jonah 2:3-6 where he describes his despair. Is there anyone in your group that can resonate with Jonah’s plight? If comfortable, share your story of hitting “rock bottom.”
How and when did God deliver you?
How did God “bring you up from the pit?”
In what way is Jonah 2 the gospel?
In what way is Jonah 2 the totality of Scripture?
Jonah is full of verses describing God “appointing” things in creation to do His bidding. How comforting/challenging is the doctrine of God’s providence (i.e., God’s sovereign control)?
How is Jonah’s story (Chapter 2), your story?
Where did God “break in” and get your attention in the passage? What are you “hearing” from God?
Where is He calling you to repent? What is He calling you to do or believe?