1:17-2:10
(1) Jonah's prayer
(NET) The first verse of the prayer summarizes the whole—I was in trouble; I called to the LORD for help; he rescued me; I will give him thanks”—before elaborating on the nature and extent of the trouble (vv. 3–7a), mentioning the cry for help and the subsequent rescue (6b–7), and promising to give thanks (8–9). These elements, as well as much vocabulary and imagery found in Jonah’s prayer, appear also in other Hebrew psalms. With Jonah 2:1 compare, for example, Pss 18:6; 22:24; 81:7; 116:1–4; 120:1; 130:1–2; Lam 3:55–56. These references and others indicate that Jonah was familiar with prayers used in worship at the temple in Jerusalem; he knew “
Even the sailors prayed and asked their gods to help 1:5, Jonah had not prayed to God before this. He prayed when he was in the belly of Sheol 2:2. Note, that in his prayer he did not mention any repentance. He explained why he was in the belly of Sheol without mentioning about his trip to Tarshish.
v. 3a You threw me into the deep waters
(NET) Verse 3 begins the detailed description of Jonah’s plight, which resulted from being thrown into the sea.
(2) God sent the trouble to Jonah
From v.3-7 he explained the details of his prayer in v.2. Jonah first described how his near death experience v.3-7a then how God rescued him v.7b-9.
v.3b-4 all the mighty waves you sent swept over me. I thought I had been banished from your sight,
that I would never again see your holy temple!
(NET) Jonah viewed God as sovereignly responsible for afflicting him with sea waves that were crashing upon his head, threatening to drown him.
(NET) "I had been banished from your sight." Or “I have been expelled from your attention”; Heb “from in front of your eyes.”
In Jonah's mind, he was expelled by God. Just like he was sure that God sent the storm to break the ship he knew that God sent the waves to expell him. Perhaps he felt that he had done something wrong and therefore, he was expelled.
(3) God listened to prayer and saved him
From v.7b-9 Jonah described how God heard him and saved him.
He acknowledged that God is powerful v.8a, and merciful v.8b. He promised to praise God or offer thanksgiving v..9a for his salvation.
Both 1:17 and 2:10 described what God did.
1:17a The LORD sent a huge fish to swallow Jonah
2:10 Then the LORD commanded the fish and it disgorged Jonah on dry land.
Even though Jonah did not acknowledge his disobedience to God still saved him. There were still some changes in his mind. He started to pray, and he acknowledged that he was expelled from God. When he almost died he called on the merciful and mighty God.
Reflection: From Genesis to the book of Jonah the examples in the Bible are real humans. They struggled with their relationship with God. I was pretty much like them. Jonah did not deserve to be rescued. His relationship with God was very limited to his need. Not that we should learn to be like him, but at least we see that God loves people like him. God provided Jonah a fish before he prayed for help. God commanded the fish to throw Jonah to the dry land before he repented. Jesus died on the Cross when we were still sinners.
(1) Jonah's prayer
(NET) The first verse of the prayer summarizes the whole—I was in trouble; I called to the LORD for help; he rescued me; I will give him thanks”—before elaborating on the nature and extent of the trouble (vv. 3–7a), mentioning the cry for help and the subsequent rescue (6b–7), and promising to give thanks (8–9). These elements, as well as much vocabulary and imagery found in Jonah’s prayer, appear also in other Hebrew psalms. With Jonah 2:1 compare, for example, Pss 18:6; 22:24; 81:7; 116:1–4; 120:1; 130:1–2; Lam 3:55–56. These references and others indicate that Jonah was familiar with prayers used in worship at the temple in Jerusalem; he knew “
Even the sailors prayed and asked their gods to help 1:5, Jonah had not prayed to God before this. He prayed when he was in the belly of Sheol 2:2. Note, that in his prayer he did not mention any repentance. He explained why he was in the belly of Sheol without mentioning about his trip to Tarshish.
v. 3a You threw me into the deep waters
(NET) Verse 3 begins the detailed description of Jonah’s plight, which resulted from being thrown into the sea.
(2) God sent the trouble to Jonah
From v.3-7 he explained the details of his prayer in v.2. Jonah first described how his near death experience v.3-7a then how God rescued him v.7b-9.
v.3b-4 all the mighty waves you sent swept over me. I thought I had been banished from your sight,
that I would never again see your holy temple!
(NET) Jonah viewed God as sovereignly responsible for afflicting him with sea waves that were crashing upon his head, threatening to drown him.
(NET) "I had been banished from your sight." Or “I have been expelled from your attention”; Heb “from in front of your eyes.”
In Jonah's mind, he was expelled by God. Just like he was sure that God sent the storm to break the ship he knew that God sent the waves to expell him. Perhaps he felt that he had done something wrong and therefore, he was expelled.
(3) God listened to prayer and saved him
From v.7b-9 Jonah described how God heard him and saved him.
He acknowledged that God is powerful v.8a, and merciful v.8b. He promised to praise God or offer thanksgiving v..9a for his salvation.
Both 1:17 and 2:10 described what God did.
1:17a The LORD sent a huge fish to swallow Jonah
2:10 Then the LORD commanded the fish and it disgorged Jonah on dry land.
Even though Jonah did not acknowledge his disobedience to God still saved him. There were still some changes in his mind. He started to pray, and he acknowledged that he was expelled from God. When he almost died he called on the merciful and mighty God.
Reflection: From Genesis to the book of Jonah the examples in the Bible are real humans. They struggled with their relationship with God. I was pretty much like them. Jonah did not deserve to be rescued. His relationship with God was very limited to his need. Not that we should learn to be like him, but at least we see that God loves people like him. God provided Jonah a fish before he prayed for help. God commanded the fish to throw Jonah to the dry land before he repented. Jesus died on the Cross when we were still sinners.
Audrey
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