Jonah Chapter 2, Part 2   

Consider Jonah

Called by the LORD to be a prophet Jonah would have been blesses with everything a prophet needed to be a prophet. He would have feared the LORD. He had wisdom and knowledge.  He was blessds by being in the presence of the LORD. The Lord spoke to Jonah personally.

V2:7 Jonah said he remembered the LORD. He had forgotten or forsook the LORD and become self absorbed. He had put aside all that came to him as a prophet. He had forgotten The LORD, but he in the belly of the great fish he remembered the LORD. When he remembered the LORD he was heartbroken over his forgetting – soul fainted within him.

Jonah’s confession: “I have observed lying vanities”

V8a 2Kings 17:14-15; Psalm 31:6; Romans 1:21- puts some light upon “They” who observe or (believes or participate in) lying vanities as those who do not believe in the LORD their God and reject his statutes, and his testimonies and attempt to make Him into something less than he is.

·      As a prophet Jonah knew His statutes, His testimonies.

·      When Jonah chose not to obey the LORD and flee from His presence there were things he chose not to believe about the LORD that he new to be true and once believed.   

What lies did Jonah observe?

·      In this matter the LORD is not sovereign. I will flee from the presence of the LORD. He chose to believe a lie about the LORD.

·      The LORD is the God of the Jews only

·      They (Ninevites) are not worthy of God’s salvation as I am. Jonah, “I may choose to whom I will offer God’s mercy.”

V8b Will Forsake or turn away from or forget their mercy

·      Mercy is seen in 261 verses - when you look at these verses you will see that mercy comes from the Lord.

·      Their mercy is mercy received for the Lord.

·      James 2:13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

·      Micah 7:18 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.

·      God delighteth in mercy but Jonah did not want the LORD’s mercy to be extended to the Ninevites through him. He forgot the mercy the LORD had bestowed upon him and the mercy he was to have for others.

The mercy God has bestowed upon you should be remembered by showing mercy to others.

 Jonah knew he was one of the " they". “I believe Jonah felt that’s me, I have forsook your statutes and testimonies and followed lying vanities. I forsook you, LORD.” I forgot my mercy.

Jonah’s resolve

V9a Sacrifice with the voice of thanksgiving: he was going to offer the same sacrifice of mariners.

·      Psalms 26:7; Psalm 69:30-32

·      The sacrifice of thanksgiving is the desired by the Lord more than any material thing we have to give. [That is what the humble will learn and gladly offer.] To praise God publicly one must humble himself.

·      Psalms 50:13-15 – “Thou shalt glorify me” is expected of those delivered by God. The sacrifice of thanksgiving is made publicly.

·      Worship is the only sacrifice we can offer to God that He does not already have before we offer it.

·      Hebrews 13:15 Jonah was not to keep what the LORD had done to himself.

V9b Pay that that I have vowed; Once a vow is made it becomes a debt owed to God. Psalms 76:11; Ecclesiastes 5:4-5; Deuteronomy 23:21-23

·      A vow is not really kept but paid. A vow is performed or accomplished [Jeremiah 44:25; Psalm 61:8; Nahum 1:15]

·      Could this be the vow of a prophet: Isaiah 6:8 Here am I; send me

·      Prophets were to be available to declare the words of the LORD to whom ever he was sent and with urgency.

V9c Salvation is of the LORD.

·      David statement when fled from Absalom: Psalm 3:8 Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah. (The eth continuing, salvation will never come from another)

·      Salvation is seen in 158 verses. Every time it comes from the LORD and only the LORD.

·      It was not Jonah’s place to determine who the LORD would choose to offer salvation (Exodus 33:19). (Jonah was to take the LORD’s offer of salvation to the people of Nineveh.)

·      Jonah now had to repent of the lying vanity that salvation belonged also to himself instead of the LORD exclusively. [Isaiah 45:21]

V10 Once Jonah was humbled into confession, he was delivered.

·      Delivered to pay (perform or accomplish) his vow. [Eph 2:10]

·      And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. (The sign unto the Ninevites)