Repentance and Salvation

Jonah 2:1-10

Jonah 2:1–10 CSB

1 Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish: 2 I called to the Lord in my distress, and he answered me. I cried out for help from deep inside Sheol; you heard my voice. 3 When you threw me into the depths, into the heart of the seas, and the current overcame me. All your breakers and your billows swept over me. 4 And I said, “I have been banished from your sight, yet I will look once more toward your holy temple. 5 The water engulfed me up to the neck; the watery depths overcame me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. 6 I sank to the foundations of the mountains, the earth’s gates shut behind me forever! Then you raised my life from the Pit, Lord my God! 7 As my life was fading away, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came to you, to your holy temple. 8 Those who cherish worthless idols abandon their faithful love, 9 but as for me, I will sacrifice to you with a voice of thanksgiving. I will fulfill what I have vowed. Salvation belongs to the Lord. 10 Then the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

Introduction

In Jonah 1, we find that the prophet Jonah is so miffed at the LORD’s desire for him to preach to the Ninevites that he rebels against the Lord and proceeds to make his way to Tarshish instead.

Nineveh was the capital city of nation of Assyria and was in the opposite direction of Tarshish which was in the region of Malta. Today, the ruins of that ancient city, from the destruction at the hands of the Medes, are in northern Iraq near Mosul.

Last week we discussed how Jonah was a running man.

He ran from God’s presence

He ran from God’s will

He ran from his appointed responsibilities.

We also demonstrated how God’s sovereignty will not be thwarted. God’s wrath and judgement are not merely meant for punishment, but also for correction. In Jonah 2:1-10, we see how a contrite, repentant heart, leads to God’s mercy.

God’s Wrath and Mercy

Due to the nature of how our Bibles are divided into chapters and verses (which is done quite well) at times we can miss out on how the author intended for his text to be read. In the Hebrew bible, verse 17 of chapter 1 should actually begin the chapter 2 section. In other words, chapter 2 should begin with:

Jonah 1:17 CSB

17 The Lord appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

In the grand scheme of things, this doesn’t make or break the text. You can still understand the thrust of of the passage. However, if we read Jonah 1:17 with the remainder of chapter 2, then it flows better with Jonah’s predicament.

We could look at this giant fish, or whale, as the culmination of God’s wrath upon Jonah for his rebellion. However, we should look at it as his salvation. Surely Jonah would have perished had the fish not gulped him up! Instead, God’s mercy comes in the form of a giant fish that will spur the imaginations of children and adults alike for generations to come.

It’s important also to note that Jonah doesn’t go into great detail regarding this fish, whale, or sea monster (all three would suffice). Some scholars regard this as evidence, along with the sensational tale itself, as a means to discredit this text as fictional and parabalistic in nature. In addition, there are some aspiring ichthyologists who have tried to prove Jonah’s account as historical by demonstrating similar situations today. The point that we should take away from this lack of clarity is that the “great fish” is NOT the main point of Jonah’s tale. The main point is that God is sovereign in salvation and even our rebellion will not prevent his divine aims. And this truth is a kindness. J.I. Packer demonstrates this fact well:

“Guidance, like all God's acts of blessing under the covenant of grace, is a sovereign act. Not merely does God will to guide us in the sense of showing us his way, that we may tread it; he wills also to guide us in the more fundamental sense of ensuring that, whatever happens, whatever mistakes we may make, we shall come safely home. Slippings and strayings there will be, no doubt, but the everlasting arms are beneath us; we shall be caught, rescued, restored. This is God's promise; this is how good he is.”

J.I. Packer, Knowing God

In Jonah 2:1-10 we see the prophet acknowledging his sin - his rebellion - and accepting the consequences. The poetic style of this passage is reminiscent of many of the Psalm of confession or lament. In fact, Psalm 18:4-6 is a very similar cry out to the LORD. While Jonah may not have been quoting these Psalms verbatim, it is likely that the prophet was informed by their truth.

Psalm 18:4–6 CSB

4 The ropes of death were wrapped around me; the torrents of destruction terrified me. 5 The ropes of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me. 6 I called to the Lord in my distress, and I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.

The poetic imagery produced here by Jonah is demonstrates his plight. In Jonah 2:3 we see the very literal experience of the waves from the storm crashing around the rebellious prophet.

Jonah 2:3 CSB

3 When you threw me into the depths, into the heart of the seas, and the current overcame me. All your breakers and your billows swept over me.

However, these “waves” that Jonah experienced are not merely the waters rising up on the outside. In addition, these waves represent the sin and rebellion that threatens spiritual death. As terrifying as the threat of physical death may be, it cannot be compared to the threat of spiritual death. Again, this literal, and figurative, danger haunts this psalm of Jonah in Jonah 2:5:

Jonah 2:5 CSB

5 The water engulfed me up to the neck; the watery depths overcame me; seaweed was wrapped around my head.

We learn from Jonah that there are always consequences to our sin, rebellion, and transgression. “Do No Harm” may be the motto of medical professionals, but it is not the motto of sin. Sin’s motto might be, “Do great harm to as many people for as long as possible.” There is no rebellion from God that will go unpunished. You will bear the price or Christ will bear the price for you: choose wisely.

But fortunately for us, God has provided a way for us to turn from sin and approach his presence without fear: and his name is Jesus.

Confession and Repentance

In Jonah 2:2, the prophet recounts:

Jonah 2:2 CSB

2 I called to the Lord in my distress, and he answered me. I cried out for help from deep inside Sheol; you heard my voice.

The sinner, outside of God’s mercy and grace, does not recognize sin as an affront to the Most Holy God - or, as R.C. Sproul so delicately described it, “cosmic treason.” Instead, the sinner either tries to moralize themselves out of the situation or doubles down in their sin. Had this been the case with Jonah, he wouldn’t have recognized his sin, he wouldn’t have confessed his sin to Gentile sailors who he likely felt deserved God’s punishment, and he would have NEVER offered himself up as a sacrificial lamb - or fish in this case! Instead, Jonah admits his rebellion, his sin, and cries out to the Lord. He says in Jonah 2:7:

Jonah 2:7 CSB

7 As my life was fading away, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came to you, to your holy temple.

Confession and repentance are not the normal orientation of the sinner’s heart. Certainly, confession only comes through self-preservation - when it’s the only way out. An unbelieving criminal may confess his crime if he feels that it benefits him or her in the sentencing phase of the procedures. But few unbelievers, maybe none, will confess there sin out of simple good faith. There’s always a catch.

In addition, repentance is never natural for the sinner. Sure, you may see behavior change or an improvement in morals, but you don’t see repentance. That is because repentance is not simply better morals or behavior modification. Repentance is about turning from sin to Christ. Repentance is not turning from something worse to something better. Repentance is about turning from death to life. Charles Spurgeon, in his exposition of Acts 11:18, referring to “repentance unto life” says:

“There are repentances which are not signs of life, except of natural life, because they are only effected by the power of the conscience and the voice of nature speaking in men; but the repentance here spoken of is produced by the Author of life, and when it comes, it begets such life in the soul, that he who was "dead in trespasses and sins," is quickened together with Christ”

Charles Spurgeon

When we choose Christ over sin - or more appropriately - when Christ chooses us and we respond, we can no longer look at the sins of our past, the desires of the flesh, the wants of the world as a means of fulfillment. Those things become as rotten rags in comparison to the gift that is now in Christ Jesus. Jonathan Edwards, regarding what the world has to offer us in comparison to God says:

“These are but shadows; but the enjoyment of God is the substance. These are but scattered beams; but God is the sun. These are but streams; but God is the fountain. These are but drops, but God is the ocean.” Jonathan Edwards.

Jonah 2:7-9 says:

Jonah 2:7–9 CSB

7 As my life was fading away, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came to you, to your holy temple. 8 Those who cherish worthless idols abandon their faithful love, 9 but as for me, I will sacrifice to you with a voice of thanksgiving. I will fulfill what I have vowed. Salvation belongs to the Lord.

“But as for me, I will sacrifice to you with a voice of thanksgiving.” The heart of repentance leads to a heart of worship. Do you wonder if you have a heart of repentance? Search yourself and see whether or not you have a heart for worship.

Salvation Belongs to the Lord

Jonah closes this chapter with Jonah 2:9-10:

Jonah 2:9–10 CSB

9 but as for me, I will sacrifice to you with a voice of thanksgiving. I will fulfill what I have vowed. Salvation belongs to the Lord. 10 Then the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

Why did Jonah cry out to God in his distress? Why did Jonah look towards God’s holy temple? Because salvation belongs to him. In our world, right now, we are looking to politicians, celebrities, influencers, medical professionals, pastors, and others to provide salvation from all our woes. In a matter of weeks, a highly popular politician literally wrote the book on leadership in a time of crisis only to be legitimately shamed weeks later for his sin, and possibly, criminal behavior. If this isn’t a signpost for our age then I don’t know what is.

Jonah got himself into his predicament, but there was not place for him to rescue himself. If we were being shallow with this text, we might simply say that salvation came in the form of a fish. Which is absolutely true. It gives new meaning to the phrase, “fishers of men.” But, Jonah is so much more than a fish story.

Back in verse two, Jonah writes, “I cried out for help from deep inside Sheol; you heard my voice.” The word “deep” in the Hebrew means “womb” or “belly” which many believe to be referring to the fish. However, according to scholars, another word would be used if it were referring to the belly of the fish. Sheol, in Jewish tradition, would have been the place where the wicked remain for final judgement. In a since, Jonah is stating that he was “crying out from the belly of Hell.” Sheol is not exactly Hell, but you get the idea.

The point is this: No man, no worldly pleasure, no promise of this world will save you from the belly of Hell. Salvation belongs ONLY to the LORD.

There is no question that we are all sinners. There is no question that we are all DEAD in sin apart from Christ. The only question is whether or not you will continue to pursue sin, seeking the world’s temporary provision, or cry out to Jesus. For as Luke writes in Acts 4:12:

Acts 4:12 CSB

12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”