A Prophet's Prayer for Mercy (Jonah sermon)

P#0

Good morning Calvary,

If you want to open your Bibles to our passage today I’m gonna be reading a familiar story from the OT prophet Jonah. Jonah’s is a minor prophet between Obediah & Micah, written about 800 – 750 B.C. And since they are short chapters, I’ll be reading both chapters 1 & 2. One will give us the context of the story & two will be the meat of this sermon sandwich, it’s the prophet’s cry to the Lord for rescue.

So let’s read chapters 1 & 2 of Jonah, this is the Word of the Lord….

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Jonah Flees the Presence of the Lord

1 Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, ² “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.” ³ But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish away from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.

⁴ But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up. ⁵ Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten the ship for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep. ⁶ So the captain came and said to him, “What do you mean, you sleeper!? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps your god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish.”

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Jonah Is Thrown into the Sea

⁷ And they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots, that we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. ⁸ Then they said to him, “Tell us on whose account this evil has come upon us. What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?” ⁹ And Jonah said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” ¹⁰ Then the men were exceedingly afraid and said to him, “What is this that you have done!” For the men knew that Jonah was fleeing from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them.

¹¹ Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you, that the sea may quiet down for us?” For the sea grew more and more tempestuous. ¹² Jonah said to them, “Pick me up and hurl me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you, for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you.” ¹³ Nevertheless, the men rowed hard^[b] to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them. ¹⁴ Therefore they called out to Yahweh, “O Lord, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not on us innocent blood, for you, O Yahweh, you have done as it pleased you.” ¹⁵ So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. ¹⁶ Then the men feared Yahweh exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows.

A Great Fish Swallows Jonah

^17 [c] And the Lord appointed^[d] a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

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Jonah's Prayer

CH 2 Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, ² saying,

“I called out to the Lord, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice.
³ For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the floods surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me.

⁴ Then I said, ‘I am driven away from your sight; yet I shall again look upon your holy temple.’
⁵ The waters closed in over me to take my life; the deep surrounded me; weeds were wrapped about my head⁶ at the roots of the mountains. I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me forever; yet you brought up my life from the pit, O Lord my God.
⁷ When my life was fainting away, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple.
⁸ Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love.
⁹ But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay.  Salvation belongs to the Lord!”

¹⁰ And the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land.

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Let’s pray:

Lord, full of mercy, full of patience, full of steadfast love & endurance. Like Jonah, we cry out to you for rescue, for healing, for salvation from all of life’s hardships & struggles even if they are of our own making. In our sin we flee from you to the heights of mountaintops, to the depths of seas we run…stop us, Lord…stop us in our tracks, and turn us once again onto the path that leads us right back to you. Let us know you as Jonah did as a God that LOVES repentance & reconciliation & the lead us into that same repentance that heaven may rejoice to hear our confessions & our praise of your mercy & redemption. May the heavens resound with the cry of Jonah,  “Salvation belongs to the Lord!” Oh friends come, let us worship & bow down, let us kneel before the LORD, our maker! For he is our God, & we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep lead by his hand.  Amen.

P#1

Now, I have an eclectic list of interests. Aside from a bit of woodworking (like Jesus), I love adventure literature, mythology, ancient history, a bit of the sciences & it dawned on me while studying, that Jonah may be one of the most controversial books in all of Scripture. Literature students & some biblical commentators frustrated by the ending make the mistake in thinking the story of Jonah is about Jonah, it’s not. Jonah is not the protagonist of our story, God is, and this effects how you read (or possibly mis-read) the ending of the story. For historians & archeologists there is of course some debate if these events actually took place & are being reported by Jonah or if the tale is supposed to be a fictional parable like some of Jesus’ stories in the NT only meant to explain to the Jews a kind of spiritual truth. For scientists & zoologists there is a lot online you can find trying to bend the text in some way to make the story of Jonah a bit “easier to swallow” (sorry, pun-intended) or to use some example of modern animal physiology to disprove the tale all together.  And if you like a bit of theological debate you can also find transcripts between two Titan of the Early Church Augustine & Jerome arguing about if the plant at the end of the book of Jonah should be called a gourd or an ivy.

                 

For me none of these debates make Jonah any less interesting, probably more, in fact. And if you have only ever thought of Jonah as some kind of Veggitales children’s fable then let me reintroduce you to an old friend, a prophet of God whose own sin on display for us today holds deep theological trues & themes from literally thousands of years ago trumpeting many of the same themes as the Messiah & the Messiah’s Gospel who was to come centuries later.

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Several years ago Brian talked to me about being able to discern a person’s personal theology by listening to them pray. People’s prayers often betray aspects of their genuine beliefs. Since then I’ve often been drawn to prayer passages in Scripture from Jesus’ High priestly prayer in John & parable of the Pharisee & tax collector (whose beliefs are put on display through their prayers) to the sermon I preached last year on King David’s repentance in Psalm 51, to Mary’s Magnificant to today’s sermon “A Prophet’s Prayer for Mercy”.

Three things we will be looking at in these passages is 1 – a high level overview of chapter 1, things not to miss & ch 2 – details to glean from Jonah’s prayer & then 3 – to see how Jesus is prefigured in this story, you might say an even better Jonah.

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P#2

Right from the start in chapter 1, Jonah had a pretty ideal job. He spoke God’s good news to God’s people & God’s people actually listened. This wasn’t always the case in Jewish history where the people would heed the prophet’s words but Jonah was one of the lucky ones. According to 2^nd Kings he’d become famous for telling them that God’s Kingdom would expand & prosper & they were excited to hear the news. But then came Jonah’s next commission to speak the opposite: to speak dire warnings instead of good news of God’s coming judgment against God’s enemies. Right from the gate the text reminds pastors of our commission to preach the whole council of God. In a day & age when it may be more “popular” to only preach some parts of God’s Word. Preachers, pastors & you!-witnesses/disciples are called to share not only the good news of God’s sovereign expansion of His kingdom but to warn the unrepentant of the trials to come they will face, before a Holy & righteous judge.  

Now if you’ve read all of Jonah in the past you’ll know Jonah had no love for the Assyrians (the Ninevite people) so you might think Jonah would be kicking up his heels at the chance to rub the noses of these Ninevites in their own sin (like my dad used to do to the dog when the dog had an “accident” inside the house, he’d rub its nose in it). But Jonah ironically isn’t gleeful in delivering God’s warning against the Assyrians. Jonah according to chapter 4 knew God well enough that he knew that if he preached destruction to the Ninevites & they repented God would be merciful & forgive them. Reminding us of Ezekiel 18 in which God says, “Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, would I not rather they turn & live?” So it would appear that Jonah would rather these gentile pagans die in their sins than ever be warned, repent & be saved, which is why he states he didn’t want to go to Ninevah in the first place. He hates them that much that he does not want them aware of either God’s mercy or His coming judgment. I wonder Calvary if some of the times we keep our mouths shut with friends or family or neighbors about God’s mercy or coming judgment if  that is an example of our Hate for our neighbors or merely a comment on our own cowardice at times.

According to another prophet Nahum some of Nineveh’s sins may have included plotting evil against God & God’s people, plunder, prostitution, witchcraft & commercial exploitation…. claims that would not be wholly inaccurate if leveled against America these days.   

So instead of going inland to Nineveh & warning them of God’s anger at their unrepentant sin as he is told to, Jonah heads to the boat docks to board a ship that heads in the exact opposite direction.

There isn’t time to reflect on all of the Scriptural passages that parallel this idea that sinning against God is akin to a type of “fleeing from His presence” except to say this if you’re in Eric’s Sunday School class on the book of John then you’ll remember Jesus stressing the opposite of this in John 15 Jesus describes those who do not want to sin, who want to honor & worship God, they are described not as those who flee like Jonah but those who “abide” in his love, in faith, commitment & in community with God’s people.

Last point to notice in chapter 1 is how sin or this “fleeing from God” hurts others around you in our text God is an active agent a Hound of Heaven tracking Jonah down to draw him back NOT a passive character. Brian’s described this idea people have of God today, in heaven wringing his hands hoping everything will work out somehow & that someone, anyone will come & seek Him in his hiding place. In chapter 1 we see God as active in hunting Jonah, as Jonah (a bad theologian by the way) imagines he can sail far enough to be free from the presence of the Lord. As Jonah flees & God follows the trials & roadblocks God puts in Jonah’s path to slow him down in his flight from God impacts other people, the pagan sailors with him on the ship to Tarshish.

Two points we can take from this is a gentle reminder that our sin & flights from God can hurt & harm those around us, not just relationship between us & God but our friends & family & the rest of God’s people can be harmed or humiliated by our actions.

2^nd not all trials & roadblocks in life are a bad thing. If the text is to be believed then it is a Mercy of God to send these trials at times. Troubled times & storms in our lives can actually be good things if they ultimately lead us like the sailors, Jonah & the Ninevites to repentance & faith & a closer bond with God than if these hard times never happened.

Think of how much deeper Jonah’s understanding of God is after surviving this event, than without it. Think how much stronger Daniel’s faith must have been after surviving the lion’s den then without it. Or Shadrack, Mescheck & Obendego after the fiery furnace or Lazarus after death & resurrection, or you!- without some hidden pain or illness or trauma I don’t even know of. This is the depth that trials that bind can have in your life.  

One of the things I tried to stress with the Sunday School guys (like Jesus did with the disciples) is we do not need a God who merely keeps us from all harm & hardship but we do need a God, like the God of Scripture, who’s promised to see us through those times, to stay close to us & not forsake us as we walk through trials & struggles in life. One to hears when we call & comforts when we hurt. Those are the events that actually stitch a closer bond between people & God much like 2 men who’ve survived going to war & made it home or a marriage that’s lasted for many years not that its always been easy but that its better now having survived all its own hardships over the years.

 

P#3

Most likely you & I will never imagine what it would have been like for Jonah on that day when (like Jesus) he offered up his life as a sacrifice so that the pagan sailors might live, being thrown overboard, sinking in the sea like a stone, lungs on fire, seaweed like tentacles wrapping around arms & legs. There finally Jonah would recognize his dependence on God, his desperation. “I cried out for help” vs 2, “I have been banished” vs 4, “my life fading away” vs 7. Jonah now exhausted of hope in himself, that’s when God moves in. There no better than a drowned rat, no better than pagan sailors, no better than sinful Ninevites, there God can strip Jonah of his pride & prejudice, teach him about divine provision & the power of God over man, beast, distance & time & near or far no man, or woman or child is beyond the reach of God! And he is not beyond the reach of you, friends.

In Jonah ch 2 there is another demonstration of something Brian has tried to beat into our minds & that is to be so familiar with Scripture that it actually permeates our very prayers.

The passage, “Your billows swept over me” vs 2 reflects themes from Psalm 42

“I have been banished” vs 4 comes from a section of Psalm 31

“Engulfed me up to the neck” vs 7 comes from Psalm 147

“To your Holy temple” vs 7 comes from Psalm 18

 “To worthless idols” vs 8 comes from Psalm 31

Jonah speaks God’s Word back to God much like Jesus uses God’s Word as a guide for his word & deed & as his defense against Satan’s temptations in the wilderness. Jonah for all his faults has a mind fixed to the Word of God & it comes alive in his prayers. Jonah’s confession & repentance is a way to recognize that while his earlier thoughts and actions were incongruent with God’s…his desire now is for reconciliation; to have God’s word guide Jonah & to acknowledge God’s word about him. God’s word has a cleansing effect not just on Jonah but us as well. Notice how Jonah’s rebellious heart is softened & God’s word draws him back likewise we should look to God’s word, like a lost man in the woods views his compass, with much more respect & deference.

What does Jonah’s repentance look like?

Jonah’s cry for mercy recognizes God’s hand in the events.

Vs 3,4 - Jonah says, “You threw me into the depths” & “I have been banished from your sight.” Notice that he makes the connection between his disobedience & God’s correction & does not pass any blame to another. He alone is to blame & he lays his blame at the feet of his blameless God. Just like “fleeing from God” is an illustration of sinning, we can see Jonah’s repentance in this idea of turning as well, but this time instead of turning away from God to flee, turning his eyes back to God. 

Vs 6 – Jonah does what all believers do when confronted with God’s mercy he becomes thankful for God’s compassion “But you raised my life from the Pit, Lord my God.” Jonah offers thanks in faith for deliverance however odd his rescue may be in the form of a great fish rather than drowning in this foreign sea.

& Vs 9 – Jonah renews his commitment to God, Jonah promised “I will fulfill my vows” true repentance is never in word alone and always expresses itself in some change or action. This action & commitment we can see over the following chapters as he does finally obey the Lord’s task for him.

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It’s said long ago Eastern shepherds when bringing the sheep into the fold at night, would stand at the gate and touch each sheep on its head & count them off as they passed through. The idea was this reminded both the shepherd & sheep of their link & their roles & to remind the sheep daily of the shepherd’s voice. If the shepherd grew careless of this touch & this talk then the sheep would quickly forget the sound of the shepherd’s voice & would not heed the shepherd’s call when he warned of danger & the sheep would not follow when he called.

In the story of Jonah we see God at work in leading a wayward sheep back to the fold & this is the picture the Bible gives us of God & God’s gospel not as a tale of sinful children earning their way back into God’s good graces but God on a rescue mission to seek his own & snatch them out of the hand of his enemy. A 20^th century poet Francis Thompson penned a poem called the Hound of Heaven: his words make me envision Jonah “I fled Him, down the nights and the days; I fled Him, down the aches of years; I fled Him, down the labyrinth-ed ways of my own mind; and in the mist of years & tears I hid from Him.” This poem was written to honor that Hound of Heaven who still draws sinners to Himself even as they flee from his voice. And this same Hound who seeks to save his own is looking to you today Calvary do not harden your hearts against Him.  

       

P#4

Lastly, let’s look at a few ways the story of Jonah points us to that much more important person Jesus.

Like Jonah Jesus too was called to leave his homeland preach God’s message among both the Jews & Gentiles. Yet unlike Jonah Jesus was willing. The NT describes Christ as sinless: in both word & deed he longed to do the plan the Father had set before him & did not flee from the task even though it meant his life. Jonah was one of the only OT saints specifically called (like Paul in the NT) to preach to the gentiles. But even this speaks to the ultimate truth of salvation history that the Gospel was always meant to extend not just throughout the Jewish people but like light from a lighthouse to spill out amongst the pagan world around them.

2^nd like I mentioned earlier there is an odd connection between the NT tale of Jesus calming the stormy sea in the (Matt 8, Luke 8 & Mark 4) & Jonah in the ship to Tarshish.

In both stores you have a prophet of God in Jonah & Jesus, you have a great tumult of the sea rise up, you have fearful sailors moments away from shipwreck & death & in both stories the prophets are peacefully asleep (like a good Calvinist would be, *chuckle* knowing God’s in control) & in 1 pagan sailors wake Jonah to call on his God for aid & in the NT the disciples wake Jesus & call on Jesus as their Lord for Jesus to save them. In both the sailors are pointed to the True God. First the pagan sailors through the self-sacrifice of Jonah come to some knowlege of Yahweh & made sacrifices to him & made vows & the disciples through this same control over nature that Yahweh himself manifests in the OT & Jesus exhibits in the NT & through Jesus’ self-sacrifice these disciples come to know Yahweh, in & through the person of Christ.

Jesus himself agrees so much with this parallelism that he uses this story in Matt 12 to prophesy his own death, burial for 3 days (harking back to the time Jonah was in the sea) & his own eventual resurrection. I suppose even the resurrection of Christ is prefigured (maybe grossly) in the great fish that vomits Jonah back on land Jesus is, in a sense, retched from his own tomb back into the land of the living & according to Jesus this resurrection is THE sign that he was the Messiah Israel was to be looking out for.

Finally lets remember that this story shows us that like Abram, Joseph & others we’ve studied in Genesis God often uses deeply flawed people for his purposes but what they point us to is a much greater prophet than Jonah that has come, 1 that not only died in the place of sailors but one that died in the place of sinners & he came proclaiming the same messages God gave to Jonah: God’s sovereign advance, expanding his kingdom beyond just the Jews & to the Gentles, warning us to come & call on God’s mercy & grace like the Ninevites, to be warned that God’s patience with impenitent sinners will not last forever, to be warned of God’s coming judgment for the living & the dead. Calvary, friends, unbelievers, you too can call on the same God as Jonah, no matter what awful mess you’ve gotten yourself into because there is no distance that you can flee from God, as the Psalmist says in Psalm 95 from the heights of mountains to the depths of seas you may run but he’s already there ahead of you. Today if you hear his voice do not harden your hearts, cease in putting God to the test, requiring from him proofs when they are in his Word you’ve been neglecting. Turn your eyes back upon Jesus, cry out for mercy otherwise again as the Psalmist in Psalm 95 says, You harden your hearts, You put him to the test, You put him to the proof, though you’ve seen his works, therefore He will say, “These are a people who go astray in their hearts & they have not known my ways. Therefore I will swear in my wrath, they shall NOT enter into my heavenly rest.”  This is God’s warning to the unrepentant.

It doesn’t matter if you are a man, a woman, rich, poor, homemaker, or business guru of the year all of us sin & all sin is running from God, running from what we know God is like, running from what we know God wants from us & all of God’s people are called to turn their eyes back upon him in repentance & faith & to abide, simply but diligently abide in the self-sacrifice of his son. And to trust as Jonah would tell us himself, that our “Salvation belongs to our Lord!”

Let’s pray:

Righteous & holy Sovereign, in whose hand is all our life & our ways, keep us from fluttering about religion; fix us firm in it, for we are irresolute; our decisions are often like smoke & vapor, & we do not glorify you or behave according to your will. Don’t cut us off, be patient & kind. Save us from ourselves, from our own deceit, treachery, offences & rebellion against you. We act at times as if we hate you, but you are love itself. Oh, Father of our spirits, king of our lives, cast us not into destruction, drive us not from your presence, but wound our hearts that it may be healed, break our hearts that Your own hand may make it whole again.  Amen.