The Song of a Backslidden Man (Jonah 2)

The Song of a Backslidden Man Jonah 2 Lord from Sorrows Deep I Call Papa & Boswell CCLI: 20508992376 Lord from Sorrows Deep I Call Verse 1 Lord, from sorrows deep I call When my hope is shaken. Torn and ruined from the fall, Hear my desperation. For so long I’ve pled and prayed, God, come to my rescue. Even so the thorn remains. Still my heart will praise You. Lord from Sorrows Deep I Call Verse 2 Storms within my troubled soul, Questions without answers, On my faith these billows roll God, be now my shelter. Why are you cast down my soul? Hope in Him who saves you. When the fires have all grown cold, Cause this heart to praise You. Lord from Sorrows Deep I Call Chorus O my soul, put your hope in God: My help, my Rock, I will praise Him. Sing, oh, sing through the raging storm; You’re still my God, my salvation. Lord from Sorrows Deep I Call Verse 3 Should my life be torn from me, Every worldly pleasure, When all I possess is grief, God, be then my treasure. Be my vision in the night. Be my hope and refuge Till my faith is turned to sight, Lord, my heart will praise You. Lord from Sorrows Deep I Call Chorus O my soul, put your hope in God: My help, my Rock, I will praise Him. Sing, oh, sing through the raging storm; You’re still my God, my salvation. The Song of a Backslidden Man Jonah 2 Introduction 1. “Backsliding” refers to a turning back from God: “Though our iniquities testify against us, act, O LORD, for your name’s sake; for our backslidings are many” (Jeremiah 14:7, c/a Hosea 14:4) 2. Andrew Fuller, The Backslider • “All backsliding from God begins with a turning away of the heart from Him. This is the very heart and true evil of backsliding.” • “Backsliding always involves a profession of faith, but it does not always mean the person truly possessed what they professed … Anyone who falls into this pit and feels at ease in it, believing they will repent later, may find they were deceived. Both Peter and Judas fell – but only one of them returned.” Jonah’s Backsliding • Well-known prophet in a decadent age – 2 Kings 14:25 • Jonah almost certainly vowed to speak God’s message – see Amos 7:14-15; Isaiah 6:1-8; Jeremiah 1:4-10 • Jonah’s Rank Disobedience: 1. Nineveh was 500 miles northeast of Jonah (Gath-Hepher) 2. Tarshish was 2000 miles southwest, edge of the known world. • Jonah’s Profound Anger: 1. Assyrian cruelty and violence knew no bounds (see 3:8) 2. Jonah thought himself morally superior to God (see 4:1) 3. God takes extreme measures to recover this backslider. When God designs to heal the backsliding of his people by sovereign grace, he gives them effectual calls unto repentance... The work of recovering backsliders or believers from under their spiritual decays is an act of sovereign grace. John Owen, Discourses Jonah’s Song 1. Order: Circumstances (1-7); Confession (8); Conviction (9) 2. Circumstances: • • • • A prayer of confession before a judge (see 3:9) Jonah confesses to deep darkness and distress (see Genesis 42:21; Isaiah 8:21; 37:3) While in the belly of the fish and not yet completely repentant, Jonah knows that God hears and has apparently already answered (see 2:2) 2:3-6 describes the half-drowned, disorientation of a man slammed repeatedly and pinwheeled beneath the surface in blinding whitewash for 30-45 seconds at a time. He was likely in a catatonic state and uncertain when salvation had arrived. Jonah’s Song 3. Confession: • • Jonah confesses that idolatry is at the heart of his mission: idolatry for the Assyrians whose violence he hated, idolatry for the sailors who rowed so ineffectually, and idolatry for Jonah who wanted to stand in God’s place. When idolatry enters, we, by definition, turn our backs on God – we forsake, we backslide, and we bring ourselves to the verge of apostasy. When the mind is taken up with an object and the heart [is] set upon it, this is soul worship; and this is the honor due only to the Lord … Self is the great idol which is served and worshipped by many, who think they are far from idolatry… That which we most highly esteem, most dearly love, most confidently trust in, most carefully serve and obey—that is our god. David Clarkson, Soul Idolatry Jonah’s Song 4. Conviction: • • Jonah commits to speak as the Lord commands, although he has a long way to go to bring his heart into alignment with God’s will. Jonah expresses the conviction that “salvation belongs to the LORD” Reflections • The Start: “Backsliders begin with dusty Bibles and end with filthy garments” (Charles Spurgeon). • The Intervention: God expects confession, not immediate perfection. Furthermore, God typically reasons with his people prior as He identifies the root of their backsliding. • The Path: God wants the memory of previous zeal to inform your present love (see Revelation 2:5)