We're going to start reading in verse 17 of chapter 1 and go through all of chapter 2.
In chapter 2, we have the prayer of Jonah from the belly of the big fish.
! We're not sure if it's a whale.
All it says is a big fish.
VeggieTales says it was a whale, but that's just VeggieTales.
As we read through it, you will hear a man in desperation,
a man who is saddened by his choice,
and ultimately a man who is praying a prayer of repentance.
Jonah is brought face to face with God's sovereignty.
Jonah feels the weight of his sin.
He rejoices in God's mercy.
And he commits to do exactly what God had commanded him to do in the first place.
Going to Nineveh.
Now these observations can help us as we live out this Christian life.
As we struggle to live and to do the will of God.
And as we, by God's grace, are perfected by his work in and through us.
So as we study, let's pray that God would speak and teach us through this prayer of Jonah.
Let me say this as we dig in.
This prayer, as you can see from verse 1,
it's a prayer that Jonah prays from the belly of the fish.
But Jonah does not acknowledge the fish.
He does not talk about his situation.
He talks about God saving him from his desperation, from being close to death.
But he doesn't talk about being in the fish.
I think that's clear because when I first read this, I thought, well, the belly of Sheol.
There's some language here that he's definitely talking about being in the fish.
But Jonah is praying this prayer, but none of it is talking about being in the fish.
So as we go through this, kind of pay attention to that.
And I hope that I'm clear enough that I can communicate that to you.
So the first thing that Jonah does in this prayer is that Jonah admits God's sovereignty.
Verse 3,
For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas and the floods surrounding me.
All your ways and your billows passed over me.
If I was to pick one thing so far in the book of Jonah that has been clear,
one thing I would say is the sovereignty of God through chapter 1 and chapter 2.
God's shown his sovereignty in a lot of things.
Creation, the sea, the wind.
Jamie and I have a rule in our relationship that we try,
we've had it for quite some time, probably our whole entire life of knowing each other.
We do not use extreme statements.
We do not use never or always.
I'm usually guilty of this more than she is.
The reason being is, once you say that statement,
it just leads to arguing about something silly.
Because really, you can never say always or never.
It's just kind of, it's not really a good idea in marriage anyway.
Take it from me.
But this morning, I have to say, I have to use an extreme statement.
You cannot never, ever, ever, never, never read Jonah and not see the sovereignty of God.
You cannot read it and miss the sovereignty of God.
It is evident in God hurling the wind at Jonah.
It is evident at the sea obeying.
It is evident at the ship considering to break apart.
And now, in chapter 2, at the end of chapter 1, verse 17,
God, the Lord appoints a great fish to swallow Jonah.
In fact, one commentator said with that verse,
verse 17 of chapter 1 and verse 10 of chapter 2,
where God showing His sovereign rule over creation, over a big fish,
he says that He wishes that those two verses were never written.
That the big fish was just done away with.
Because these two verses are more questioned and argued than most any verse in Scripture.
Questioned and argued even to the point of dismissing the entire Bible.
Because surely a man cannot live in the belly of a fish for three days and three nights.
Now, I was tempted this week to come to you with scientific proof that a man can live in a big fish.
Something that has happened in history.
And I was convicted not to do that because then I would just be using science to prove the Word of God
instead of faith accepting that this is the Word of God and it's truth.
And we have to accept the fact that God appointed a great fish,
whatever type of fish this is,
and in doing so God exercised His sovereignty.
The sovereignty of God is something that Christians like to say.
We in church say it, yes, God is sovereign.
We believe that.
But I don't think we understand it completely.
Even if we say we understand it, I don't think we take it to the end result.
For some of you, the sovereignty of God, this topic is a treasure to you.
You love it.
You get excited inside thinking about God being ruler of all.
For others of you, it might just be like pennies.
They have value.
It's important.
But if you see it on the sidewalk, you may or may not pick it up.
But I want all of us to leave here this morning with the doctrine of God's sovereignty
to be treasures for all of us.
And so with that in mind, I would like to just take a few minutes
and define what the sovereignty of God is
and then unfold this prayer that Jonah is praying.
So what is the sovereignty of God?
First Chronicles 29, verse 11 and 12 says,
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty.
For all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours.
Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.
Both riches and honor come to you and you rule over all.
In your hand are power and might.
And in your hand it is to make great and give strength to all.
Simply put, the sovereignty of God is God is God.
Simple.
God is God.
He is the most high.
He is supreme.
He is king of kings.
He is lord of lords.
What that means is nothing compares to him.
Angels, demons, greatest presidents, world leaders, disciples, apostles, Lucifer,
all are under his authority.
God and the rest.
In his book, The Sovereignty of God, A.W. Pink says it this way,
The sovereignty of God of Scripture is absolute, irresistible, and infinite.
When we say that God is sovereign, we affirm his right to govern the universe,
which he has made for his own glory just as he pleases.
We affirm that his right is the right of the potter over the clay,
that he may mold that clay into whatsoever form he chooses,
fashioning out of the same lump one vessel unto honor and another unto dishonor.
We affirm that he is under no rule or law outside of his own will and nature,
and that God is a law unto himself,
and that he is under no obligation to give account for his matters to any.
This has to be understood.
We have to understand that God is sovereign.
Because if we don't, it's almost like the rabbit hole in Alice in Wonderland.
Because once she fell into that rabbit hole, her world changed.
Her entire perspective changed.
And she didn't stop until she reached the bottom,
which ended up being an imaginary place.
Now, if we don't believe the sovereignty of God,
our perspectives change,
and we don't end up until we reach the bottom,
which is believing in nothing.
And nothing, at least,
nothing objective,
at the least.
Meaning,
unchangeable,
nothing solid.
A.W. Pink also says,
in a word,
to deny the sovereignty of God
is to enter upon a path
which, if followed,
to its logical terminus,
is to arrive at blank atheism.
In the book of Jonah,
as I've already mentioned,
God shows His sovereignty over creation,
but He also shows His sovereignty over His mercy,
His grace,
His salvation.
Okay?
If a judge shows mercy to a criminal,
if the judge says,
I'm going to let you go,
no charges,
you're free to roam,
it is the judge's mercy that was given.
He is the author of that mercy.
It was His mercy to give,
and He chose to give it to the criminal.
The same way for God.
God is the author of His mercy,
and He is sovereign over that mercy.
And He chooses to give mercy
to whom He will give mercy.
Romans 9.15,
Exodus 33.19,
I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.
Hard truth.
We as human beings
do not have right to the mercy of God.
We don't have right to that.
Otherwise, it would not be mercy at all.
It would be payment or wages earned.
And the same is for grace.
God is sovereign,
which means He is sovereign over creation,
sovereign over grace,
over His mercy,
and over His salvation.
And in this story,
we have God providing salvation,
showing Jonah mercy
by His sovereign hand.
So,
the sovereignty of God
is important.
It's important to understand.
It puts perspective
for you and for me.
Jonah's prayer in chapter 2
is a prayer of repentance.
Acknowledging the sovereignty of God
is an important aspect of repentance.
Jonah admits God's sovereignty.
I've read you verse 3.
For you cast me into the deep,
into the heart of the seas,
and the floods surrounded me.
All your ways and your billows
passed over me.
You cast me into the deep.
Jonah's not saying that
he's the one at fault.
Jonah's acknowledging that
my bad, almost.
I'm the one who messed up.
I was the one thrown overboard.
However,
you, God,
allowed it,
or permitted it,
to happen,
so that you can receive glory.
All your ways and your billows
passed over me.
He's admitting God's rule
over His creation.
It's as A.W. Pink,
as the potter,
rules the clay.
Romans 9 reminds us of that.
The reason it's important
to admit God's sovereignty
is when we realize our place,
when we see who God is,
how great He is,
how supreme He is,
we're left in awe
and shame
of our inadequacies.
I would say it's almost
like a plumb line.
Some people like to say
that God is more
like a plumb line.
And my problem with that
is we would try to
line up with that plumb line.
And that's not really
what the sovereignty of God is.
And it's not up here
because
we don't look at it
and see ourselves.
I think it's more like a window.
We look through a window
and we see the goodness of God.
We see God's
greatness,
His righteousness,
His justice,
His holiness.
But looking back at us,
covering up what we just saw
is our,
who we really are.
And
we have to have
that proper perspective.
We have to be able
to see who God is,
but in reality,
know who we are.
Otherwise,
why would we repent?
Historians have said
that we look to history
so that we don't make
the same mistakes.
Well, for us,
we look to history
so that we see
what God has done
and what He's doing
and what He's going to do
for you and for me.
And proper perspective
is vital to
a godly,
repentant heart.
So Jonah admits
God's sovereignty.
Second thing that Jonah does
is he feels
the weight of his sin.
Verse 2
and then verse 4
and verse 6.
Verse 2 says,
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.
Down to 6.
Then I said,
I am driven away
from your sight
yet I shall again
look upon your holy temple.
The waters closed in
over me
to take my life.
The deep surrounded me.
Weeds were wrapped
about my head
and the roots
of the mountains.
I went down
to the land
whose bars
closed upon me
forever.
The author
gives us a picture
of a man
in desperation.
a man who felt
like he had been
eaten by death
not by a big fish.
Out of the belly
of Sheol
I cried.
Now when we see
a word like belly
and we know
that he's been
swallowed by a fish
we automatically say
well he's talking
about the fish.
What he's talking
about is
deep down
the furthest
you could go
out of the belly
of Sheol.
Sheol in the Bible
most of the time
refers to the realm
of the dead
or place of the dead.
Those that are
separated from God.
For us
this text
has
this meaning
has two meanings
for us.
This word has
two meanings.
Jonah admits
that he's separated
from God
which he had already
admitted in chapter 1
I'm running
from the presence
of God.
I am no longer
in God's will.
And second
it means that
Jonah believed
he was going
to die.
He had reached
the point
of despair
and in his
last moments
or seconds
he cried out
to God
and God
showed mercy
and heard him.
See we
I think we have
a low view
of sin
and a
high view
of ourselves.
here
Jonah
after
making his
mistakes
and being
disobedient
and coming
to this point
he now has
a low view
of himself
and a high
view
of sin
because
of course
he admits
God's sovereign
hand in this
situation.
Now
let me put it
this way
if you stole
a pen
or a notebook
from the
school bookstore
we would all
say that's
that's not a
really big deal
just take it
back
or go pay
for it
three bucks
or whatever
it is
it's really
not
that
huge
but it
is a sin
and sin
is an offense
against a
holy
infinite
God
so
when we
sin
stealing
a pack
of gum
candy
bar
a pencil
a car
this is a
big jump
we sin
against his
righteousness
which then
makes us
guilty
and deserving
of hell
see our
perspective
wants to
say
no big
deal
just
take it
back
pay
for it
you know
you slap
on the wrist
you stole
a pencil
who hasn't
stolen from
the workplace
or whatever
but to
God
it's
serious
sin
is way
more
sinister
than we
admit
when we
sin
we are
telling
God
that he
does not
deserve
our
praise
and our
respect
we're
saying to
God
you are
not
God
I am
God
and this
is
important
to me
even
if it's
something
as small
as stealing
a pack
of gum
or a
pen
and
Jonah
is
face
to
face
in
desperation
acknowledging
the sin
that he
committed
he sees
it
he has
the weight
of it
pushing
him
to
the
bottom
of
the
sea
he
says
I
went
down
in
verse
six
I
went
down
to
the
land
whose
bars
closed
upon
me
forever
he
was
sinking
further
and
further
down
he
felt
he
was
trapped
like
bars
of
a
prison
butterfly
he
was
imprisoned
by
death
now
as a
pastor
and I
know
Nathan
would
agree
and if
you
guys
have
a
pastor's
heart
you
would
agree
I
don't
want
to
see
any
of
you
in
Jonah's
spot
I
don't
want
to
see
anybody
in
Jonah's
spot
the
point
of
desperation
and
then
you
finally
cry
out
to
God
oh
well
God
is
sovereign
God
is
ruler
of
all
maybe
I
should
acknowledge
him
the
truth
of
the
matter
though
is
that
sometimes
for
us
it
takes
a
situation
like
this
or
situations
see
I
want
and I
know
Nathan
feels
this
way
I
want
to
be
able
to
communicate
things
to
you
lay
it
out
right
in
front
of
you
guys
accept
it
we
all
accept
it
we
all
walk
out
of
here
changed
redeemed
people
being
sanctified
being
perfected
and
go on
our
merry
!
way
and
everybody
is
victorious
in
the
life
of
following
Christ
doesn't
end up
that way
does it
we
tend
to
end up
like
Jonah
and
probably
in fact
I know
this is
why
a book
like
Jonah
is
in
the
Bible
not
to
say
look
what
God
can
do
with
a
big
fish
although
that's
important
but
to
say
that
you're
going
to
mess
up
that
you're
going
to
be
in
desperation
but
God
is
going
to
be
merciful
God
is
going
to
provide
salvation
for
you
and
he's
going
to
prove
his
goodness
and
prove
his
sovereignty
and
prove
his
mercy
to
you
even
in
this
repentant
prayer
of
Jonah
we
see
the
depravity
of
man
for
Jonah
waited
till
he had
no
hope
he
waited
and
then
he
cries
out
to
God
this
prayer
is
talking
about
him
sinking
in
the
water
weeds
coming
around
him
you know
not only
does our
situation
around us
our
circumstances
however
hard
they
are
make
us
make
us
feel
the
despair
and
hopelessness
that
comes
with
sin
but
also
the
reality
of
no
longer
being
in
God's
plan
no
longer
doing
what
God
had
commanded
us
or
called
us
to
do
that
causes
desperation
and
hopelessness
as
well
that's
just
evidence
of
God
working
though
God
showing
himself
to
us
even
in
this
despair
verse
4
says
I
am
driven
away
from
your
sight
yet
I
shall
again
look
upon
your
holy
temple
now
our
sin
no
matter
what
it
is
pack
of
gum
or
fleeing
to
Tarshish
separates
that
fellowship
from
God
being
driven
away
from
God
from
his
sight
but
the
second
part
of
that
verse
there
is
hope
yet
I
shall
again
look
upon
your
holy
temple
Jonah
knew
God
was
merciful
and
knew
that
he
would
be
rescued
on
earth
or
after
death
we
must
never
ever
I'll
say
an
extreme
statement
we
must
never
ever
look
on
sin
without
serious
consideration
and
weighty
thought
sin
is
serious
stuff
it
breaks
our
fellowship
with the
heavenly
father
and
Jonah
in this
prayer
we see
evidence
of
that
brings
desperation
and fear
of death
point
number
three
we'll
see
the
observation
number
three
here
Jonah
admits
God's
sovereignty
he
forgot
my point
he feels
the weight
of his
sin
and
Jonah
rejoices
in
God's
mercy
verse
six
second
part
of
verse
six
verse
seven
Jonah
describes
the
situation
sinking
the
waters
closed
in
over
me
to
take
my
life
the
deep
surrounded
me
seaweed
weeds
were
wrapped
about
my
head
at
the
roots
of
the
mountains
I'm
sinking
further
and
further
down
yet
you
God
that
yet
you
brought
up
my
life
from
the
pit
oh
Lord
my
God
when
my
life
was
fainting
away
I
remember
the
Lord
and
my
prayer
came
to
you
and
to
your
holy
temple
to
God
showed
mercy
on
Jonah
by
providing
a
big
fish
to
swallow
him
up
to
teach
him
and
to
take
him
in
the
proper
direction
that is
less
north
and
south
and
east
and
west
but
in
line
with
what
God
wanted
done
and
the
message
that
he
was
to
bring
to
Nineveh
see
this
verse
seven
end
of
six
verse
seven
is
the
turning
point
of
the
prayer
Jonah
who
was
in
despair
describing
his
situation
sinking
has
been
shown
mercy
albeit
miraculously
by a
big
fish
swallowing
this
guy
up
God
reached
down
and
grabbed
Jonah
from
death
he's
turned
from
gloom
and
from
despair
in
this
prayer
to
worshiping
God
singing
his
praises
because
he
who
once
was
dead
is
now
alive
he
was
certain
felt
he
was
certain
to
die
he
who
was
blind
can
now
see
God
showed
mercy
to
a
man
who
ran
from
him
in
complete
disobedience
that
is
good
news
for
you
and
for
me
that
is
great
news
for
you
and
for
me
God
reaching
down
to
a
person
who
was
drowning
in
sin
whose
selfishness
was
wrapped
around
his
head
who
was
sinking
deeper
and
deeper
into
sin
and
showing
mercy
to
that
person
see
we
have
evidence
in
the
book
of
Jonah
that
Jonah
knew
God
was
merciful
he
knew
it
this is
in
verse
2
of
chapter
4
this is
his
reason
why
he
didn't
want
to
go
to
Nineveh
in
the
first
place
oh
Lord
is
not
this
what
I
said
when
I
was
yet
in
my
country
that
is
why
I
made
haste
to
flew
to
Tarshish
for
I
knew
that
you
are
a
gracious
God
and
merciful
but
I
don't
think
Jonah
really
knew
I
don't
think
Jonah
really
got
it
until
God
showed
Jonah
mercy
until
Jonah
was in
despair
and
death
did
he
get
it
that
God
is
merciful
guys
you
and
me
before
Christ
are
dead
we
are
drowning
in
our
sin
we
get
it
or
we
have
the
ability
to
get
it
that
God
is
merciful
and
Jonah
gets
it
now
and
he
rejoices
in
God's
mercy
so
when
we
sing
songs
about
mercy
when
we
sing
songs
about
God's
great
mercy
and
great
salvation
we
should
rejoice
not
just
sing
it
because
it's
what
we
do
in
church
because
we've
been
shown
this
same
mercy
that
Jonah
was
shown
and
what
follows
Jonah
rejoicing
in
God's
mercy
is
my
last
point
Jonah
follows
God
and
commits
to
do
what
he
had
commanded
him
to
do
being
the
recipient
of
God's
mercy
doesn't
just
lead
to
worship
although
that's
what
we
were
created
to
do
we
were
created
to sing
his
praises
to
worship
God
but
we
know
that
worship
isn't
just
an
act
of
song
or
an
act
of
something
you
do
on
Sunday
morning
but
worship
is
a
life
worship
is
living
out
glorifying
!
God
in
everything
that
we
do
!
being
the
recipient
of
God's
mercy
doesn't
just
lead
to
worship
but
it
also
leads
to
obedience
and
worshiping
God
in
that
obedience
so
verse
nine
Jonah
closing
down
his
prayer
but
I
with
the
voice
of
thanksgiving
acknowledging
what
God
had
done
will
sacrifice
to
you
what
I
have
vowed
I
will
pay
Jonah
commits
to
do
what
God
commanded
at
the
beginning
of
the
book
so
what
I
have
vowed
I
will
pay
is
reference
to
what
God
commanded
in
the
first
place
it's
not
it's
not
the
vows
that
the
sailors
made
at
the
end
of
chapter
one
Jonah
is
making
a
vow
to
say
God
you
commanded
it
I
heard
it
clearly
I
went
the
other
way
I
am
going
to
do
what
you
said
in
the
first
place
I
am
going
to
be
obedient
to
you
because
you
have
shown
me
great
mercy
God's
mercy
is
shown
by
his
actions
towards
us
by
saving
us
by
providing
a
big
fish
by
pulling
us
up
out
of
the
depths
of
sin
by
giving
us
daily
pieces
of
mercy
and
grace
but
he
also
shows
us
mercy
by
allowing
us
to be
part
of
what
he
is
doing
by
inviting
somebody
like
Jonah
to be
used
by
God
to
go
to
Nineveh
he
invites
him
he
gave
him
a
second
chance
and
you
and
I
are
invited
by
God
to
join
in
what
he
is
doing
he
we're
shown
mercy
we're
shown
grace
by
God
not
just
in
salvation
but
in
life
as
we
try
to
live
this
as
we
try
to
pursue
God
I
want
to
close
with
this
look
at
verse
eight
it
seems
to
not
fit
in
the
text
in
the
context
of
the
rest
of
the
prayer
those
who
pay
regard
to
vain
idols
forsake
their
hope
of
steadfast
love
it's
most
commentators
say that
Jonah is
speaking to
Israel
as he's
a prophet
to
Israel
and
right now
Israel
at this
time
is not
a God
fearing
land
they're
idol
worshippers
!
and
disobedient
they have
fallen away
from being
in the
favor
of the
Lord
so
how
does
this
fit?
Jonah
has been
shown
God's
mercy
Jonah
rejoices
in
God's
mercy
he
worships
he
commits
to
do
what
God
had
commanded
and
then
he
kind
of
gets
the
word
of
the
Lord
revved
up
again
Israel
listen
those
who
pay
regard
to
vain
idols
forsake
their
hope
of
steadfast
love
those
who
are
disobedient
who
follow
themselves
in
their
own
desires
because
I
didn't
want
to
go
to
Nineveh
I
paid
regard
to
vain
idols
forsake
their
hope
of
steadfast
love
I
almost
died
!
But
God
showed
me
mercy
most
likely
he's
talking
to
Israel
but
guys
he's
talking
to
you
and
me
as
well
Solomon
described
vanity
as
chasing
smoke
you
can
never
grab
it
you
can
never
get
a
hold
of
it
and
if
you
contain
it
you
find
out
that
it's
worthless
the
value
of
it
is
nothing
those
who
worship
stuff
other
gods
feelings
things
opinions
knowledge
those
who
pay
regard
to
vain
idols
these
things
those
who
worship
these
things
those
who
find
their
identity
will
forsake
their
hope
of
steadfast
love
see
Jonah
was
shown
this
steadfast
love
God
showed
mercy
to him
and of
course
for you
and for
me
the only
way we
obtain
steadfast
love
is through
Jesus
Christ
do you
know what
the name
of Jesus
means
you know
what Jesus
means
salvation
belongs
to the
Lord
verse
nine
but I
with the
voice of
thanksgiving
will
sacrifice
to you
what I
have
vowed
I
will
pay
salvation
belongs
to the
Lord
Jesus
is
the
big
fish
bigger
fish
better
fish
he is
the way
that God
showed
his
ultimate
mercy
on us
God
is
merciful
and
only
Jesus
Christ
only
Jesus
Christ
can
save
you
from
drowning
we
can
try
to
help
you
but
we
can't
do
it
only
Jesus
Christ
only
he
can
revive
you
from
your
despair
only
he
can
take
the
weeds
that
are
wrapped
around
your
head
and
remove
them
Jesus
is
who
you
need
he
is
God's
mercy
hand
and
he
is
worthy
of
your
praise
pray
with
me