Jonah 2:1-10 – “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. Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy

temple. 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. When my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple. They that

observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy. But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord. And the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.”

Numbers 32:23 – “Behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out”

Galatians 6:7 – “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

Hebrews 12:6-8 – “For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards and not sons.”

When did Jonah pray? After the troubles came Verse 1 “Then Jonah prayed” When did Jonah pray? After the troubles came When Jonah ignored God, He intensified the judgment Jonah 1:17 – “Now the Lord prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.”

“I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord” Verse 2 “I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord” God knows what buttons to press in your life: To get our attention To get us to pray To teach us some spiritual lessons To get us back into the will of God

Even though Jonah had a rebellious heart, God was there for him Verse 2 “And He heard me” Even though Jonah had a rebellious heart, God was there for him Psalm 136 – “For His mercy endureth forever.”

Verse 3 “For thou hast cast me into the deep; Thy billows and thy waves passed over me” Jonah recognizes his judgment to be from God Psalm 119:71 – “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.”

Verse 4 “I am cast out of thy sight” When you are living outside of God’s will, God will seem very distant

Verse 4 “I will look again toward thy holy temple” Jonah’s relationship with God was still intact Hebrews 13:5 – “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.”

“The waters compassed me about; The weeds were wrapped about my head” Verse 5 “The waters compassed me about; The weeds were wrapped about my head” Jonah was in a mess, in despair, and utterly hopeless When we are in utter hopelessness, we are more teachable

Verse 6 “I went to the bottoms of the mountains” Our greatest lessons are learned in the darkest hour

Verse 7 “When my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord” Don’t wait till you get to the breaking point Matthew 6:33 – “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Verse 8 “They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy” We need to submit ourselves to God

Verse 9 “I will sacrifice to you the voice of thanksgiving” This vow of praise is common in the Psalms Hebrews 13:15 – “By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name.”

Verse 9 “I will pay what I have vowed” Jonah declares that he will keep his promise to sacrifice and acknowledge God’s help

“Salvation is of the Lord” Verse 9 “Salvation is of the Lord” Jonah’s confession that God is the sovereign source of salvation Isaiah 45:22 – “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God and there is none else.”

“So the Lord spoke to the fish; And it vomited Jonah onto dry land” Verse 10 “So the Lord spoke to the fish; And it vomited Jonah onto dry land” This great fish was subject to God’s voice The great fish vomited out Jonah towards Nineveh

Jonah 2:2 – “I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and He heard me.”