Jonah 2

Salvation belongs to the Lord!

Jonah 2

Jonah 2:1

Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the belly of the fish, (use)

The last question proposed is concerning Jonah, and it is put as if it were not from Porphyry, but as being a standing subject of ridicule among the Pagans; for his words are: In the next place, what are we to believe concerning Jonah, who is said to have been three days in a whale's belly? The thing is utterly improbable and incredible, that a man swallowed with his clothes on should have existed in the inside of a fish. If, however, the story is figurative, be pleased to explain it. Again, what is meant by the story that a gourd sprang up above the head of Jonah after he was vomited by the fish? What was the cause of this gourd's growth? Questions such as these I have seen discussed by Pagans amidst loud laughter, and with great scorn.

Augustine., 409. Letter 102 To Deogratias.
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To this I reply, that either all the miracles wrought by divine power may be treated as incredible, or there is no reason why the story of this miracle should not be believed. The resurrection of Christ Himself upon the third day would not be believed by us, if the Christian faith was afraid to encounter Pagan ridicule. Since, however, our friend did not on this ground ask whether it is to be believed that Lazarus was raised on the fourth day, or that Christ rose on the third day, I am much surprised that he reckoned what was done with Jonah to be incredible; unless, perchance, he thinks it easier for a dead man to be raised in life from his sepulchre, than for a living man to be kept in life in the spacious belly of a sea monster.

Augustine., 409. Letter 102 To Deogratias.
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Note, When we are in affliction we must pray; then we have occasion to pray, then we have errands at the throne of grace and business there; then, if ever, we shall have a disposition to pray, when the heart is humbled, and softened, and made serious; then God expects it; and, though we bring our afflictions upon ourselves by our sins, yet, if we pray in humility and godly sincerity, we shall be welcome to the throne of grace, as Jonah was.

Henry, M., 1896. Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible. UK. Jonah
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Without thy sweet mercy I could not live here Sin soon would reduce me to utter despair; But, thro' thy free goodness, my spirits revive, And he that first made me, still keeps me alive.

Stocker, J.S., 1777. Thy Mercy My God
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It may be asked, "How could Jonah either pray or breathe in the stomach of the fish?" Very easily, if God so willed it. And let the reader keep this constantly in view; the whole is a miracle, from Jonah's being swallowed by the fish till he was cast ashore by the same animal. It was God that had prepared the great fish. It was the Lord that spake to the fish, and caused it to vomit Jonah upon the dry land. All is miracle.

Clarke, A., 1831. Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible.
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Jonah 2:3

For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me. (use)

Jonah, as we shall hereafter see, directed his prayers to God not without great struggle; he contended with many difficulties; but however great the impediments in his way, he still persevered and ceased not from praying.

Calvin, J., 1555. Commentary.
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Jonah 2:4

Then I said, 'I am driven away from your sight; yet I shall again look your holy temple.' (use)

Jonah 2:5

The waters closed in over me to take my life; the deep surrounded me; weeds were wrapped about my head (use)

Jonah 2:6

at the roots of the mountains. I went down to the land bars closed upon me forever; yet you brought up my life from the pit, O LORD my God. (use)

Jonah 2:7

When my life was fainting away, I remembered the LORD, and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple. (use)

For men and women with awakened consciences, burdened by the guilt of hearts centred on ourselves, haunted by memories - perhaps especially at Christmas - of things said and done of which we are ashamed, there can be nothing more wonderful to hear than this: our sins can be forgiven. And they can. It is true. This is not fantasy. Because Jesus Christ came in human flesh, and lived, and grew, and loved God, and die to pay the penalty for sinners, our sins can really be forgiven.

Ash, C., 2019. Repeat the sounding joy. [Day 13]
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Jonah 2:8

Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love. (use)

There is only one thing more tragic than a life which has failed in its aims, and it is a life which has perfectly succeeded in them, and has found that what promised to be bread turns to ashes.

Maclaren, A., 1904. Expositions of Holy Scripture.
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Acts 17:23

For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: 'To the unknown god.' What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. (use)

What is your only comfort in life and in death? That I, with body and soul, both in life and in death, am not my own, but belong to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ, who with His precious blood has fully satisfied for all my sins, and redeemed me from all the power of the devil; and so preserves me that without the will of my Father in heaven not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, that all things must work together for my salvation. Wherefore, by His Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, and makes me heartily willing and ready from now on to live unto Him.

Heidelberg., 1563. Catechisms.
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Quoting a Chinese pastor "There is no safe place to be—not in America or China or Russia—except in Christ."

Zylstra, S.E., 2020. How Chinese Pastors Developed Their Theology for Suffering.
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1 John 5:21

Little children, keep yourselves from idols. (use)

The dead person's only hope is the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. That is the only hope of the grievers at the funeral, who, having been forced to confront the reality of death, tend to be uniquely receptive to spiritual truth.

Veith, G., 2007. A Tale of Two Funerals
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Jonah 2:9

But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the LORD! (use)

All temporal salvations and deliverances are from the Lord, and to him the glory of them belongs; and his name should be praised on account of them; which Jonah resolved to do for himself:...

Gills, J., 1748. Exposition of the Bible Commentary.
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Jonah 2:10

And the LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land. (use)

God spoke to the fish, gave him orders to return him, as before he had given him orders to receive him. God speaks to other creatures, and it is done; they are all his ready obedient servants. But to man he speaks once, yea, twice, and he perceives it not, regards it not, but turns a deaf ear to what he says. Note, God has all creatures at his command, makes what use he pleases of them, and serves his own purposes by them.

Henry, M., 1896. Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible. UK. Jonah
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Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust Him for His grace; Behind a frowning providence, He hides a smiling face.

Cowper, W. 1773. Light Shining out of Darkness.
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These things shall pass and some great morning We'll look back and smile at heartaches we have known So don't forget when shadows gather The Lord our God is still the King upon his throne

Hamblen, S., 1950. These Things Shall Pass.
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Matthew 12:40

For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. (use)

Jesus Christ employed this incident as a symbol of His Death and Resurrection. That use of it seems hard to reconcile with any view but that the story is true.

Maclaren, A., 1904. Expositions of Holy Scripture.
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But once you accept the existence of a divine creator who has a personal relationship with you, almost anything else is possible. It is not crazy but logical to conclude that what such a God says or does will sometimes be beyond our conmprehension. It follows that there is nothing irrational in accepting a story that we are unable to make sense of rationally.

Baggini, J., 2018. Atheists who bring logic to the Easter story are missing the point.
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Topics and Themes

About God

Miracles

Key Verse

Jonah 2:9

But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the LORD! (use)