Jonah, The Praying Prophet

I. THE LOCATION OF JONAH (Jonah 2:1)

A. According to the Holy Ghost

1. In Jonah 1:17
a. Jonah was in the belly of the fish.
b. He was there three days and three nights.
2. In Jonah 2:1
a. Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God.
b. Out of the fish’s belly
3. In Jonah 2:10
a. The LORD spake unto the fish.
b. It vomited out Jonah.

B. According to Jesus (Matthew 12:40)

1. As Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly
2. So shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

C. According to Jonah (Jonah 2:2)

1. Jonah identified his location as “the belly of hell.”
2. However, this is obviously figurative language when consider the testimony of the Holy Ghost, the Son of God, and the surrounding context of Jonah chapter 2. In fact, Jonah identified his location when he said that waters compassed him about and weeds wrapped about his head (Jonah 2:5).

II. THE PLIGHT OF JONAH (Jonah 2:2-6a)

A. The Cause of Jonah’s Prayer (Jonah 2:2-3)

1. The cause identified (Jonah 2:2)
a. I cried by reason of mine affliction.
1.) Jonah refused to cry unto the Lord about the peril of Ninevites.
2.) Jonah refused to cry unto the Lord about the peril of the men on the ship.
b. Out of the belly of hell cried I.
c. The LORD heard me.
2. The cause explained (Jonah 2:3)
a. Thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas.
b. The floods compassed me about.
c. All thy billows and waves passed over me.

B. The Complaint of Jonah’s Prayer (Jonah 2:4-6a)

1. I am cast out of thy sight; yet will look again toward thy holy temple (Jonah 2:4).
2. The waters compassed me about, even to the soul (Jonah 2:5).
3. The depth closed me round about (Jonah 2:5).
4. The weeds were wrapped about my head (Jonah 2:5).
5. I went down to the bottoms of the mountains (Jonah 2:6).
6. The earth with her bars was about me for ever (Jonah 2:6).

III. THE HOPE OF JONAH (Jonah 2:6b-9)

A. The Expectation of Jonah (Jonah 2:6b)

1. The initial thought—“her bars was about me for ever”
2. The new hope—“yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption”

B. The Remembrance of Jonah (Jonah 2:7)

1. The time of remembrance—“When my soul fainted within me”
2. The result of remembrance—“I remembered the LORD”
3. The act of remembrance—“my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple”

C. The Choice of Jonah (Jonah 2:8-9)

1. Jonah’s thoughts of others (Jonah 2:8)
a. Their identification—“They that observe lying vanities”
b. Their choice—“forsake their own mercy”
2. Jonah’s decision (Jonah 2:9a)
a. I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving.
b. I will pay that that I have vowed.
3. Jonah’s praise—“Salvation is of the LORD.” (Jonah 2:9b)

IV. THE RESTORATION OF JONAH (Jonah 2:10)

A. The Origin of Restoration—“the LORD spake unto the fish,”

B. The Outcome of Restoration—“it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land”