Jonah 2

1

• Jonah 2
• Lessons from the Belly of a Fish

2
A Fish Tale?

• Whale or Fish?
• Historical accounts do not prove or disprove the
  story.
• Miracles are not scientifically verifiable.
• Why the fish?
• The belly of the fish is not a happy place to
  live, but it is a good place to learn.
• Gods means of salvation.

3
Psalms were

• Poetry put to music
• Prayer, Petition and Praise
• Form of a Psalm of Thanksgiving
• Summary of answered prayer v 2
• Report of the personal crisis vv 3-6
• Divine rescue v 7
• Vow of praise vv 8-9

4
Lessons from the Belly of a Fish

• The purpose and place of prayer v 1
• Affliction is good vv 2-7
• Psalm 11967, 71, 75
• 67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now
  I keep Your word.
• 71 It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I
  may learn Your statutes.
• 75 I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are
  righteous, and that in faithfulness You have
  afflicted me.

5
Lessons from the Belly of a Fish

• The purpose and place of prayer v 1
• Affliction is good vv 2-7
• God is gracious vv 8-9
• Salvation in the Bible describes what God has
  done, is doing and will do on behalf of men and
  women who suffer from the misery, mortality and
  meaninglessness of the human condition.

6
Jonah for Today?

• Situational righteousness
• Faith in the Lord is never as simple as pure
  obedience versus pure disobedience.
• The Sign of Jonah (Matt 1238-40)
• The Hound of Heaven
• Jonah has received a severe form of grace for
  his flight from Yahwehs presence, but it is
  grace that pursued him.

7

• Jonah 2
• Lessons from the Belly of a Fish