I

1. This past week we knocked on several thousand doors.

2. As we reflect on what has been done, it might be profitable to answer this question:

3. Who were in the homes that we knocked on?

4. That is, when we think about those we tried to reach, what are their lives like?

5. Some are in situations where everything is okay.

6. Others are in difficult circumstances, circumstances like those described in Jonah. 2.

7. I went through Jonah 2 and counted the number of times the Personal Pronoun I occurs.

8. In the ASV this pronoun occurs 9 times.

THE FIRST “I” IS IN VERSE 2.

a) The prophet said “I called” to God.

b) He then said why he prayed to the Lord.

c) Jonah prayed because he was in a state of “affliction.”

d) God’s prophet was in trouble—a lot of trouble.

i) He had been cast overboard into a raging sea (this is how the first chapter ends).

ii) Some type of sea creature then swallowed him.

iii) Sometime after he was swallowed he started to pray.

2) It is not uncommon for people to use the PPI when telling a personal and scary experience.

3) The first “I” in Jonah 2 indicates this was a dramatic event in the prophet’s life.

4) A further indication of this point is found at the end of the second verse.

a) The prophet said “I cried out in the belly of Sheol.”

b) Jonah thought he was going to perish inside the fish God had prepared.

c) Things looked grim and deadly so he reached out to God.

5) We are given some insight about his thinking process in verse 4a – READ.

6) God’s prophet felt like his Maker had thrust him from His presence.

7) The first part of verse 6 adds another detail about the prophet’s thoughts and feelings – READ.

8) The prophet of God had sunk to the most extreme depths.

a) If we want a Bible example of a discouraged person, this is it.

b) The prophet was so despondent he said his soul “fainted within him” (verse 7).

WE LIVE IN A TIME WHEN A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE DISCOURAGED.

A. Jobs are being lost.

B. Health care costs are soaring.

C. Many cannot afford the medicine they need.

D. Significant family problems exist.

E. There are problems in all levels of government.

2. We knocked on some homes where the people behind the doors are discouraged.

3. As we continue to follow up with campaign contacts, we will surely meet some people who are downcast.

4. When talking with those who are really sad, we have a Bible message for them.

A. This message is found in places like Jonah 2.

B. Things can be bad.

C. Things can be really, really bad.

5. There is a way out — verse 7 – READ.

A. The prophet “remembered” Jehovah.

B. Was does this mean?

C. Had the prophet forgotten who God was?

D. Had his faith somehow vanished?

E. The word remembered almost has a legal sense to it.

6. The prophet recalled that he had some obligations in regard to God.

7. There were some spiritual duties he should have attended to but these had not been done.

8. At the same time God had some responsibilities to His prophet.

A. If we put this in simpler terms, Jonah began to consider His relationship with God.

B. He took an inventory of where he was in life.

C. When people are discouraged this is the first step.

D. Each person needs to see where they relationship with God is.

E. Are we trying to live as the Bible describes, or do we need to make some corrections?

9. When this question is carefully considered, many see the need to make alterations.

10. Jonah saw that need because he “remembered.”

11. In the process of righting his thinking an important statement is made at the end of verse 4 – READ.

A. Expositors have different explanations for what this means.

B. It has been suggested that Jonah believed he would be released from the fish.

C. This may be right.

D. Perhaps this also indicates Jonah was on the road to recovery.

E. He would start looking to God’s will and try to fulfill it instead of running from it.

12. As the prophet made progress he also said what is at the end of verse 2 – READ.

A. Without additional information these words may not seem too significant.

B. Consider them against the other pieces of information in this chapter.

C. The prophet claimed he was in the belly of Sheol (in the grip of death).

D. He said heaven had abandoned him.

E. He had been cast from the presence of God and was at the bottom of the mountains.

F. For us, the bottom of the mountain is the foot of the mountain.

G. This “bottom of the mountain” was at the bottom of the sea.

H. The prophet’s soul had “fainted.”

I. The prophet had sunken in every way but he his situation was starting to improve.

13. As the prophet moved to right his relationship with God he said God had listened to his prayer.

IT IS ALMOST A CERTAINTY THAT WE KNOCKED ON DOORS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE PRAYING AND LOOKING FOR HOPE AND HELP BUT BELIEVE THAT GOD IS NOT LISTENING TO THEIR REQUESTS.

A. People are searching for aid but day after day they still feel empty.

B. We have a message for those in this condition.

C. God can and will hear.

D. Not only will He hear, He will help

2. For Jonah to be helped he had to get his act together.

3. He had to obey God’s will.

4. When God later told him to go to Nineveh (chapter 3), he had to go.

5. Today God’s word still requires obedience.

6. We need to become a Christian.

7. After becoming a Christian we need to live according to the New Testament.

8. When obedience is rendered by responsible people, God will help.

9. In the story of Jonah heaven’s intervention is found at the end of the chapter.

10. This part of the thought begins with verse 9, and I want to make three points about this verse.

A. First, notice the element of thanksgiving.

B. As the prophet began to return to God he had a thankful heart.

C. All of his problems were not immediately solved but he was appreciative.

D. At this point he is apparently still in the fish but he was still grateful.

E. In spite of difficult times Jonah knew things would improve.

11. Jonah’s gratitude provides us with a good lesson about appreciation.

12. Many are grateful only after something has been done for them.

13. How many are grateful because they know something will be done or is about to be done?

14. There are times when we can be thankful to God in advance.

15. A second piece of useful information is found in 9a.

A. The prophet said he would “sacrifice.”

B. This sacrifice is further identified as verbal praise.

C. We have a similar obligation.

D. Heb. 13:15 says God wants the “fruit of our lips.”

E. It is an uplifting experience to praise God.

F. Even history shows that those who are terribly reflected can rejoice through song.

G. Many wonder why the Churches of Christ do not have a big band or something like an organ.

16. The answer is found in the fact that God has specifically commanded His people to sing.

17. Instead of being told to “make music,” God has commanded a specific type of music: singing.

18. His word also tells us that adding to His commands is wrong.

19. Verbal praise has always been an important element of true worship.

20. This was part of Jonah’s recovery as well as ours.

21. This was not all that Jonah did.

22. The prophet was also going to preach to people he didn’t like.

23. Perhaps this created problems for him among his kinsmen.

24. No matter what the cost, this man was intent on doing heaven’s will.

25. He would make whatever sacrifices were necessary to please God.

A. This man of God made some sacrifices.

26. Part of the price he paid might be indicated at the end of verse 9.

27. God’s prophet said he had made a “vow.”

28. I do not know what Jonah’s vow was.

29. Perhaps he said he would go preach if God preserved his life.

30. Perhaps he vowed to never again say “no” to a direct command from God.

31. Whatever he promised, Jonah said, “I will live up to my promise.”

32. He would do so because “salvation is of Jehovah” (9b).

A. This part of the story is also useful.

B. For those who are Christians we too have made some promises.

C. We have promised to take up our cross and follow the Lord.

D. This means faithful Christian living and trying to bring others to the cross of Christ.

33. This part of the verse also applies to non-Christians.

34. All people need salvation

35. We are not in the stomach of some fish, but we need help in other ways.

36. This book tells us to turn to God.

37. This is the way to a better life in this world and eternal life in eternity.

38. Salvation is from God and only from God.

39. Have we attained salvation?

40. We do not need to guess about how salvation operates.