After being identified as the reason for the violent storm on the sea Jonah, in 1:9 responds, “I’m a Hebrew. I worship Yahweh, the God of the heavens, who made the sea and the dry land.” And in his prayer in 2:7, “As my life was fading away, I remembered Yahweh.”
Some of those who have studied the book of Jonah have debated whether or not Jonah’s repentance was genuine. Tchividjian in his book, Surprised by Grace: God’s Relentless Pursuit of Rebels, observes, “It’s easy to perceive the character of Jonah too one-dimensionally and to fall short of engaging all that’s here. After all, this is a pretty fast read… There’s no fluff here. But what is here is a gold mine. Every line and phrase has weight and purpose that contribute to the intended effect… revealing Jonah as a forceful and complex personality with apparent strengths as well as crucial flaws.” (Page 32)
The driving force of the book of Jonah for the reader or hearer is that we are Jonah! Like Jonah we run from God. Like Jonah, our repentance is often incomplete. Best of all, Like Jonah, “Whenever we try running from God, he’s committed to making your lives miserable—for our sakes. And so often, he’ll use some kind of storm to do it, not to punish but to mercifully intervene” (Page 57).
Jonah’s prayer echoes several Psalms. Compare the following to the Psalms:
“I called t the Lord in my distress, and He answered me. I cried out for help in the belly of Sheol; You heard my voice” Jonah 2:2
Psalm 18:6
Psalm 30:3
“You threw me into the depths, into the heart of the seas, and the current overcame me. All Your breakers and Your billows swept over me.” Jonah 2:3
Psalm 42:8
“The waters engulfed me up to the neck; the watery depths overcame me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. Jonah 2:5
Psalm 69:1-2
Psalm 18:4-5
“I sank to the foundations of the mountains; the earth with its prison bars closed behind me forever! But You raised my life from the Pit, Lord my God!” Jonah 2:6
Psalm 40:2
Psalm 71:20
Psalm 88:6
“Those who cling to worthless idols forsake faithful love” Jonah 2:8
Psalm 31:6
Psalm 106:36
“But as for me, I will sacrifice to You with a voice of thanksgiving. I will fulfill what I have vowed. Salvation is from the Lord!” Jonah 2:9
Psalm 50:14
Psalm 66:13-14
How does Jonah’s use of the Psalms provide you with greater understanding of his heart’s desire and prayer?
What counsel, if any, would you offer Jonah that would have allowed him to experience a more authentic repentance?
Does your prayer life change when you are facing a crisis? Have seasons of hardship drawn you closer or further away from God?
How are you intending to apply what you’ve learned from this study on the life of Jonah?
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