Reading: Jonah 2
My Verse: "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" (Jonah 2:3)
This story of Jonah is fascinating in so many ways. Jonah appears so stubborn, single minded, and well - selfish! The one thing he seems to have done right in this prayer of his, this cry out to You, LORD God is to acknowledge You for Who You are and Your sovereignty over all of creation.
He did not blame the sailors for casting him overboard. He in fact stated, "For You cast me into the deep . . ." He knew that You have power and authority over all.
In his prayer he even acknowledged that You were LORD over the natural elements. ". . .all your waves and your billows passed over me."
Most importantly he acknowledged that You and only You can save. "Salvation belongs to the LORD!" This wonderful truth was restated byJesus in John 14:6 when he said "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but by Me."
So the fish "vomited Jonah out upon the dry land." It is curious that the word "vomited" was used here as the word indicates disgust. In other passages where it is used, this seems to be the general meaning of the word. (Job 20:15, Proverbs 23:8, Proverbs 25:16). LORD God, You saved Jonah but were You still unhappy with his lack of compassion for people who were not like him?
Jonah was a most imperfect human and yet You chose to use him for this very important job of saving an entire city. So much to learn from this.
1. Your willingness to use a person with wrong ideas - in particular here Jonah's thinking that only those like himself deserved Your salvation.
2. Your patience with such a stubborn man as Jonah.
3. Your persistence as You did not give up on Jonah even though he tried so hard to get away from doing what You asked of him.
4. Mostly Your great compassion for the unsaved Nineties, the sailors and even stubborn Jonah.
I am so grateful for your compassion, LORD God. For You saved me from a life that simply would not be worth living. You saved and transformed me. You enable me to see the beauty You created. You enable me to know love and to love others. And You have given me that great Hope that lies in store for those of us who acknowledge You as our LORD and sovereign God.
Sovereign by Chris Tomlin
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
My Verse: "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" (Jonah 2:3)
This story of Jonah is fascinating in so many ways. Jonah appears so stubborn, single minded, and well - selfish! The one thing he seems to have done right in this prayer of his, this cry out to You, LORD God is to acknowledge You for Who You are and Your sovereignty over all of creation.
He did not blame the sailors for casting him overboard. He in fact stated, "For You cast me into the deep . . ." He knew that You have power and authority over all.
In his prayer he even acknowledged that You were LORD over the natural elements. ". . .all your waves and your billows passed over me."
Most importantly he acknowledged that You and only You can save. "Salvation belongs to the LORD!" This wonderful truth was restated byJesus in John 14:6 when he said "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but by Me."
So the fish "vomited Jonah out upon the dry land." It is curious that the word "vomited" was used here as the word indicates disgust. In other passages where it is used, this seems to be the general meaning of the word. (Job 20:15, Proverbs 23:8, Proverbs 25:16). LORD God, You saved Jonah but were You still unhappy with his lack of compassion for people who were not like him?
Jonah was a most imperfect human and yet You chose to use him for this very important job of saving an entire city. So much to learn from this.
1. Your willingness to use a person with wrong ideas - in particular here Jonah's thinking that only those like himself deserved Your salvation.
2. Your patience with such a stubborn man as Jonah.
3. Your persistence as You did not give up on Jonah even though he tried so hard to get away from doing what You asked of him.
4. Mostly Your great compassion for the unsaved Nineties, the sailors and even stubborn Jonah.
I am so grateful for your compassion, LORD God. For You saved me from a life that simply would not be worth living. You saved and transformed me. You enable me to see the beauty You created. You enable me to know love and to love others. And You have given me that great Hope that lies in store for those of us who acknowledge You as our LORD and sovereign God.
Sovereign by Chris Tomlin
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
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