Praise After Punishment (Jonah Bible Study – Chapter 2)
Good morning!
I’m excited to be back again with you all for our study of chapter 2 of Jonah! If you missed my commentary on chapter 1, go ahead and read that post first and then check back in here! I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Now, let’s do this thing!
Chapter 2 of Jonah is a bit shorter than chapter 1, having only 10 verses in it; nonetheless, we see Jonah do something that, once again, I think everyone is guilty of (I know I’ve done it a few times myself!).
Remember, Jonah was just thrown overboard and swallowed by the “Big Fish.” So what is Jonah doing now?
He’s praying and worshiping the Lord! How interesting.
The same God you were just trying to run over 2,000 miles away from is now your ever-present help (Psalm 46)?
We shake our heads at Jonah for this, but don’t we do the same thing? After we have disobeyed God or didn’t listen, we go on our own path and wind up in a world of trouble. As soon as we hit that crisis, we’re crying, “Oh Lord!”
Jonah is showing us who we are, just saying.
In verse 4, Jonah says, “O Lord, you have driven me from your presence. Yet I will look once more toward your holy Temple.”
Jonah knew he was wrong. He knew he was dead wrong. He blatantly disobeyed the Lord and ignored the mission he was given. When he was swallowed by that “Big Fish,” he just knew he was gone! But it was in that moment that he remembered the God he served and decided to petition the Throne (Hebrews 4:16)!
Then in verse 8 and 9, he says, “Those who pay regard to false gods turn their backs on all God’s mercies. But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows. For my salvation comes from the Lord alone (NLT).”
So, basically, “If I didn’t know you were real before, I know now! I’m gonna do right this time Lord, You are the only one who can get me out of this!”
This is the classic, “If you get me out of this one Lord, I promise I’ll do right. I won’t mess up again!” Lol. Not judging Jonah at all, because we’ve all been there!
But thankfully, like he said, we serve a loving and merciful God! And in verse 10, God did allow Jonah to be spit out.
And that’s all I have this Sunday, folks! Hope you’re enjoying the study! If so, be sure to come back next Sunday for chapter 3!
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