Say What? (pt. 2) (Jonah 2)

SAY WHAT??? Go to Ninevah? God’s Prophet Refuses? God’s Prophet is Angry & Prejudiced? God’s Prophet would Rather Die than obey? God’s Prophet is Saved by a Fish? He Survives in the Fish 3 days?

Psalms (Psalm 34:18) – The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. (Psalm 85:9) – Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him… (Psalm 145:18) – The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth;

Isaiah 50:7-8 But the Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame. He who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me.

Something to Think About… God is often Nearest to us when He FEELS Farthest Away…

Say What? I.God CAPTURES His Runaway Prophet

Jonah 1:17 And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights.

Say What? I.God CAPTURES His Runaway Prophet II.God CHANGES His Runaway Prophet

Jonah 2:2 Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the stomach of the fish.

Going Down.. (2:3) – "For You had cast me into the deep, Into the heart of the seas, And the current engulfed me. All Your breakers and billows passed over me. (2:4a) – "So I said, 'I have been expelled from Your sight… (2:5) – "Water encompassed me to the point of death. The great deep engulfed me, Weeds were wrapped around my head.

Bottoming Out… (2:6a) – "I descended to the roots of the mountains. The earth with its bars was around me forever… (2:7a) – "While I was fainting away…

Matthew Henry Those whom God contends with the whole creation is at war with

Turning Around… (2:7) – "While I was fainting away, I remembered the LORD, And my prayer came to You, Into Your holy temple. (2:2) – and he said, "I called out of my distress to the LORD, And He answered me. I cried for help from the depth of Sheol; You heard my voice (2:4) – "So I said, 'I have been expelled from Your sight. Nevertheless I will look again toward Your holy temple.'

Luke 15:16-20a And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. "But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants."' And he arose and came to his father.

1 Kings 8:46-50 "If they (God’s People) sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near, yet if they turn their heart in the land to which they have been carried captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captors, saying, 'We have sinned and have acted perversely and wickedly,' if they repent with all their mind and with all their heart in the land of their enemies, who carried them captive, …

1 Kings 8:46-50 and pray to you toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, the city that you have chosen, and the house that I have built for your name, then hear in heaven your dwelling place their prayer and their plea, and maintain their cause and forgive your people who have sinned against you, and all their transgressions that they have committed against you, and grant them compassion in the sight of those who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them…

1 Kings 8:46-50 … Let your eyes be open to the plea of your servant and to the plea of your people Israel, giving ear to them whenever they call to you

Pattern 1.Remember the Lord… 2.Turn Toward Him… 3.Cry Out to Him…

Matthew Henry No place is amiss for prayer…He that has Christ dwelling in his heart by faith, wherever he goes carries the altar along with him

Isaiah 55:6 Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near;

Tim Keller who would ever tell a story in which on every page he is seen as an evil fool, except a man in whom God's grace had reached the center of his heart?

Coming Back Up… (2:2) – and he said, "I called out of my distress to the LORD, And He answered me. I cried for help from the depth of Sheol; You heard my voice. (2:6b) – …But You have brought up my life from the pit, O LORD my God. (2:9b) – … Salvation is from the LORD."

Something to Think About… God is often Nearest to us when He FEELS Farthest Away…

Luke 15:16b-24 But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to celebrate

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!"

Say What? I.God CAPTURES His Runaway Prophet II.God CHANGES His Runaway Prophet III.God COUGHS UP His Runaway Prophet

Jonah 2:10 Then the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah up onto the dry land

Matthew 12:39-40 But Jesus replied: You want a sign because you are evil and won't believe! But the only sign you will get is the sign of the prophet Jonah. He was in the stomach of a big fish for three days and nights, just as the Son of Man will be deep in the earth for three days and nights