The Pious Prayer of a Hypocrite

Tonight’s study is going to cover two separate issues. The first will be focus on our approach to Scripture as a whole with the emphasis on Scripture’s reliability. The second emphasis will be a verse by verse look at chapter 2 with the corresponding meaning and application.

The Sufficiency of Scripture

Explanation: Let’s talk for a few moments about what is termed the Sufficiency of Scripture. This term is meant to assure us that Scripture is all that is needed. Scripture itself is trustworthy, reliable, and authoritative. In matters of faith and practice, the Word of God is all we need.

This term does not mean that we don’t need to gain any other knowledge or consult any other sources. It is silly to think that NASA designed the rockets and shuttles by reading just the Bible. The weather forecast is not made by consulting the Book of Job. More examples could be given, but the point is clear: the Bible does not address all subjects, and it is not written as a Science book.

What Scripture does address, however, is true and factual. So what does this have to do with the book of Jonah? Our view of the sufficiency of Scripture actually has much to do with the book of Jonah and tonight’s study. The most famous aspect of the book of Jonah is the big fish. Many critics have used the idea of a man being inside a fish for three days to reject the Bible as a whole. The very idea of a man remaining alive is seen as impossible; therefore a Holy Book that presents such an account as historical truth is to be rejected outright.

When confronted by the critics, some commentators and sadly, some preachers, present the story of Jonah as an allegory. They say it didn’t really happen, but that instead the story is to present the imagery of being trapped in a difficult or hopeless situation, and then finding hope in God.

Other believers who hold to the inerrancy of Scriptures have tried to find real-life accounts of sailors who had encountered similar situations. They held these stories up as “proof” that Jonah really did spend 3 days in a big fish. Sadly, some of these stories were later discovered to be false. By using these stories, the commentators and pastors inadvertently undermined the authenticity of the Word of God.

Argument: The Sufficiency of Scripture leads one to believe the Bible because the Bible claims it is true. The account of Jonah is presented as historical narrative and does not make use of figurative language. In the NT we see that Jesus accepted the historicity of the book of Jonah. In Matthew 12:38-42 Jesus compares Jonah’s three days & nights in the belly of the fish with His forthcoming three days in the tomb. Jesus really spent that time in the ground, so it stands to reason that Jonah spent that time in the fish.

It really is important how we view the trustworthiness and sufficiency of Scripture. We are to allow Scripture to govern our belief, not our experience. Just because we do not have “proof” that a man can remain alive in a fish for three days doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. I can’t explain how two fish and five loaves fed 20,000 people either. That’s why we call such things miracles. I do know this: If God can raise a dead man to life after three days in a grave, He can certainly keep one alive for three days in a fish!

Application: I don’t need a “been there and back” account from a kid who claimed to go to heaven to believe that Heaven is for real. The Bible tells me that Heaven is for Real, and the Bible tells me that Jesus has prepared a place there for those who trust Him. You can trust the Bible for what it proclaims.

The second focus for tonight is to take a close look at the text in chapter two. In these ten verses there is much to observe, and much to interpret as we look at how this section fits with the remainder of the book.

This chapter is seen by many as Jonah’s turning point. His time inside the fish is viewed as a time of reflection and repentance, and when he emerges he is more than ready to perform God’s will from a joyful heart. I want to let you know upfront that while I do see Jonah’s time inside the fish as a turning point of sorts, I do not see where Jonah repents of his hard-heartedness towards the Assyrians.

As we move through the text I will share observations and interpretations to support this idea. You may not be convinced of this interpretation and you may not reach the same conclusion. That’s OK. This is an area where Christian charity should be expressed. There is only one meaning of a text, but it is still possible for well-meaning Christian brothers and sisters to end up in slightly different places. One group is right and the other is wrong, but it is difficult in some instances to be able to pinpoint exactly which is which and the more important reason of why.

Well, with that being said, let’s look at the text together for a moment and see what is here.

READ Jonah 2:1-10.

The Prophet’s Pious Prayer

Explanation: In the text we notice that Jonah uses the Covenant Name throughout his prayer (vv. 1,2,6,9). Notice also that this prayer is said to come from Jonah while he is inside the fish (v.1). However, the first 6 verses contain images and descriptions of the events that Jonah experienced while he was in the water. Jonah mentions being in the deep, in the heart of the seas, and having the flood surround him (v.3). He mentions the “waters closing in” (v. 5) and his “going down” (v.6).

This tells us that while Jonah was praying to the LORD while he was in the fish, he started praying when he was drowning in the water. Even though he was the one who told the sailors to cast him overboard, the reluctant prophet decided he still wanted to live. He was crying out to God to save him from a physical drowning, and in His Grace, the LORD did save Jonah.

In the two verses that refer to a future hope, we must notice that Jonah references the Temple (vv. 4 & 7). The Temple is located in Jerusalem, and it is towards Jerusalem that the prophet hopes to return, not Nineveh. This is somewhat puzzling because Jonah is from the Northern Kingdom and the Temple is located in the Southern Kingdom.

We also note the absence of any reference to Nineveh. The end of his recorded prayer is also interesting. Jonah makes a statement of sound theology by denouncing the foolishness of those who worship idols (v. 8). Some take this as a reference to the Ninevites, and see the next verse as a foreshadowing of his decision to fulfill his mission. And, the 9th verse is the closest we come to a heart change in Jonah.

Verse 9 is actually worded as a contrast to verse 8. Jonah has just stated those who worship idols are hopeless, BUT that he is one who sacrifices to the True God. But looking back to verses 4 and 7, the prophet seems to plan on making that sacrifice in Jerusalem.

Argument: How does one arrive at the conclusion that Jonah did not have a heart change from being in the fish? And if not, what did happen to Jonah while he was in there? For starters, the prayer of Jonah is lacking any terms of specific repentance. Jonah never admits he was running, and never asks forgiveness for running. He did not want to die, and he cried out to the LORD for physical salvation. And all he actually says at the end of his prayer is that he will fulfill his vow to the LORD.

One commentator who discusses Jonah’s hypocrisy states, “Jonah’s words do not square with what we have seen in chapter 1, however. The heathen prayed; Jonah did not. The heathen were eager to uncover sin; Jonah was not. The heathen wanted to practice their religion; Jonah did not. The heathen had compassion on Jonah, yet Jonah showed none toward them. By virtually any standard, the Gentile sailors proved to be superior to Jonah from all that we have read in the first chapter, and yet Jonah can unabashedly tell God that he is somehow superior to the heathen.” (Bob Deffinbaugh, preceptaustin.org)

Further support for Jonah’s lack of repentance is found in his presentation of the message to the Ninevites (3:4) We will look at this in greater detail next week, but ask yourself where his concern for the people is by using this approach. Jonah’s approach is similar to someone standing on a street corner and yelling at people and telling them they are going to hell.

Illustrate: Spring semester at UT when a college student. Christian preachers who told the scantily-clad co-eds they were whores on their way to Hell

That the prophet had not experienced repentance also has support from the 4th chapter when he complains to God about the grace the Ninevites were receiving (4:1-3) Put all this together and it appears that Jonah still had much to learn about the nature of the God he was serving.

If this is the case, Jonah’s time in the fish was to remind the prophet who was in charge. God had a plan in mind to bring His message to the people of Ninevah, and a disobedient prophet was not going to derail the plan of God. He is Sovereign and He will accomplish His plans and His purposes.

This also shows us that God sees through pious language and our “God talk.” We may fool ourselves and each other, but we don’t fool God. We can look at actions, but we cannot know the real motives of any other person. God in His infinite wisdom and knowledge cuts through to the heart.

Application: The purpose for us and the point of application is to be honest with God. We can be honest with our secret sins and our inner struggles instead of trying to put Him off with religious language. I believe Jonah is trying that here and God calls Him out on it in chapter four. This is another indication that the Bible is trustworthy. If you were Jonah writing this book after the events, would you put in all of the times you looked and acted like a chump? Human nature has a tendency to protect oneself from criticism. The Bible displays human nature as it is. And that should remind us that we stand in need of grace. Apart from the undeserved Grace of God as found in Jesus, none of us have any hope.