Prayer from the Deep

Jonah Prayed in Affliction

Jonah 2:1–3 “Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish’s belly, And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me; Out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice. For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; And the floods compassed me about: All thy billows and thy waves passed over me.”

When the storm was raging Jonah was sleeping.

When the storm was growing Jonah was explaining.

Only when he was in the belly of the whale did he begin to pray.

Praying only in affliction is a misuse of prayer.

God always wants to hear from his servants even in affliction.

Prayer is not a last resort

Prayer is always an option

Jonah Described his Feelings

Jonah 2:4 “Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; Yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.”

When Jonah was being thrown overboard, he believed his life was coming to an end.

When he was sinking beneath the waves, he felt abandoned by God.

When he was swallowed by the great fish, he finally turned his eyes back toward the Lord.

Rebellion leads to despair

Repentance leads to mercy

Jonah Described His Circumstances

Jonah 2:5–6 “The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: The depth closed me round about, The weeds were wrapped about my head. I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; The earth with her bars was about me for ever: Yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O Lord my God.”

He was being choked by seaweed.

He was in the depths of the ocean

He was in the grips of death.

He was saved by God.

A Hopeless Condition

A Helpful God

Jonah Remembered the Lord

Jonah 2:7 “When my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord: And my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.”

In the grips of death there is only one place to turn.

In the midst of despair there is only one hope.

Remember God in the midst of rebellion

Turn to God in Repentance

Jonah Indicts then Children of Israel

Jonah 2:8 “They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.”

Idolatry leads to the same despair

Repentance is always the answer

Jonah Acknowledges the Salvation of God

Jonah 2:9 “But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord.”

Salvation Belongs to God

Thanksgiving is an appropriate response

Jonah is Delivered from the Whale

Jonah 2:10 “And the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.”

Jonah is given a second chance

Second Chances are Possible