Pursuit: The Prayer

Jonah 1:17–2:10 NKJV

Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the fish’s belly. And he said: “I cried out to the Lord because of my affliction, And He answered me. “Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, And You heard my voice. For You cast me into the deep, Into the heart of the seas, And the floods surrounded me; All Your billows and Your waves passed over me. Then I said, ‘I have been cast out of Your sight; Yet I will look again toward Your holy temple.’ The waters surrounded me, even to my soul; The deep closed around me; Weeds were wrapped around my head. I went down to the moorings of the mountains; The earth with its bars closed behind me forever; Yet You have brought up my life from the pit, O Lord, my God. “When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord; And my prayer went up to You, Into Your holy temple. “Those who regard worthless idols Forsake their own Mercy. But I will sacrifice to You With the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord.” So the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

Main Idea: God wants us to pray and repent.

Key Question: What is your response to God’s chastisement?

1. Pray in the midst of your trouble. (v. 1-6)

Jonah 2:1–6 NKJV

Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the fish’s belly. And he said: “I cried out to the Lord because of my affliction, And He answered me. “Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, And You heard my voice. For You cast me into the deep, Into the heart of the seas, And the floods surrounded me; All Your billows and Your waves passed over me. Then I said, ‘I have been cast out of Your sight; Yet I will look again toward Your holy temple.’ The waters surrounded me, even to my soul; The deep closed around me; Weeds were wrapped around my head. I went down to the moorings of the mountains; The earth with its bars closed behind me forever; Yet You have brought up my life from the pit, O Lord, my God.

jonah

Pray in the midst of your trouble. (v. 1-6)

Psalm 120:1 NKJV

In my distress I cried to the Lord, And He heard me.

Psalm 130:1 NKJV

Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord;

Psalm 34:4 NKJV

I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.

2. Pray with an attitude of repentance. (v. 2, 7, 9)

Jonah 2:2 NKJV

And he said: “I cried out to the Lord because of my affliction, And He answered me. “Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, And You heard my voice.

Jonah 2:7 NKJV

“When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord; And my prayer went up to You, Into Your holy temple.

Jonah 2:9 NKJV

But I will sacrifice to You With the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord.”

A. Stop disobeying God. (v. 2)

Jonah 2:2 NKJV

And he said: “I cried out to the Lord because of my affliction, And He answered me. “Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, And You heard my voice.

Psalm 32:5 NKJV

I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

2 Samuel 24:10 NKJV

And David’s heart condemned him after he had numbered the people. So David said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done; but now, I pray, O Lord, take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have done very foolishly.”

B. Start obeying God. (v. 7, 9)

Jonah 2:7 NKJV

“When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord; And my prayer went up to You, Into Your holy temple.

Jonah 2:9 NKJV

But I will sacrifice to You With the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord.”

Ecclesiastes 5:4 NKJV

When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; For He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed—

1 Samuel 15:22 NKJV

So Samuel said: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.

3. Pray with a voice of praise. (v. 8-9)

Jonah 2:8–9 NKJV

“Those who regard worthless idols Forsake their own Mercy. But I will sacrifice to You With the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord.”

Jonah 2:8–9 NKJV

“Those who regard worthless idols Forsake their own Mercy. But I will sacrifice to You With the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord.”

jonah 2

1 Corinthians 8:4 NKJV

Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one.

Psalm 103:17 NKJV

But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children,

ps 103

Hebrews 13:15 NKJV

Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.

Acts 4:12 NKJV

Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

The rest of creation has no choice in obedience, however, God allows us to choose to be a part of HIs plan! (v. 10)

Jonah 2:10 NKJV

So the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.