Jonah 2 Part 3 - Jonah ends his Prayer
Jonah 2 Part 3 - Jonah ends his Prayer
Jonah 2:8-9 - Salvation is from the Lord!
“Those who regard vain idols Forsake their faithfulness,
But I will sacrifice to You With the voice of thanksgiving.
That which I have vowed I will pay. Salvation is from the Lord.””
Jonah 2:8-9 NASB1995
Jonah now reaches the end of his prayer while cowering in the dark stomach of the sea creature. He has reached several conclusions and redemptive moments about his faith: His resistance to God is like idolatry, he will sacrifice to the Lord with a voice of thanksgiving, he will pay what he has vowed to pay, and he recognizes that salvation is from the Lord. I found this commentary from Enduring Word to be really appropriate to what Jonah has now recognized in his trials and I defer to its excellence (links go to the Blue Letter Bible):
Those who regard worthless idols forsake their own Mercy: Jonah realized that resisting God, running from Him, was like being an idolater.
But I will sacrifice to You: Jonah repented from running away from God, and he turned to God with sacrifice and thanksgiving. He promised to pay his vows to God, and do whatever God told him to do,
At one time or another, Jonah had probably said what we all have said: “Lord, I’ll do whatever You want me to do.” Now Jonah realized fully that he must stop resisting God and he should pay his vows to God.
Salvation is of the LORD: This was more than a statement of fact; it was Jonah’s triumphant declaration. God had saved and would save, and Jonah meant it personally. Jonah’s salvation is of the LORD.
Jonah knows this in the close-up picture; he knew that his salvation is of the LORD. He also now knew it in the big picture; that salvation is not of a nation or a race or a language. Salvation is not of man at all; salvation is of the LORD.
At the end of Jonah 2:9 it is clear that Jonah has repented, but we might wonder when did Jonah repent? Jonah showed several marks of true repentance.
Jonah proclaimed his fear of the LORD and he was honest about his sin and rebellion, no longer covering it up (Jonah 1:9).
Jonah allowed himself to be cast into the sea (Jonah 1:12).
Jonah began to pray; he called out to God during the three days and three nights in the belly of the fish (Jonah 2:2, 2:4, and 2:7).
Jonah had a new heart of gratitude (Jonah 2:9).
Jonah renewed the commitment to his vow (Jonah 2:9).
Jonah gave glory to God in all of this (Jonah 2:9).
In all this we see repentance as more than a one-time event. Though it begins at one time, it must continue and mature. Repentance is an event, but it is also a process.
Two key points jump out at me in this commentary:
Salvation is of and from the Lord - it is His and not of our own making or wishful thinking or through some political or cultural process. We must obey and rely on Him. Salvation comes from the Hebrew word יְשׁוּעָה or yeshuah with the following definitions:
salvation, deliverance
welfare, prosperity
deliverance
salvation (by God)
victory
Repentance is a both a process and a one-time event. We repent and believe, but repentance must continue throughout our lives.
Jonah has spoken the “magic words” in his prayer to God. He has realized that his entire being and life is truly in the hands of a loving God who provides salvation. My next devotional examines the last verse of chapter 2, where God speaks to the creature and it vomits up Jonah onto dry land (Jonah 2:10).
Heaven on Wheels Daily Prayer:
Dear Lord - I thank you for your salvation and ask that you guide me into obedience to your will. I repent today and every day for my transgressions and am so grateful for your forgiveness. My salvation is in the Lord! Amen.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Commentary from Enduring Word by David Guzik is used with written permission.