Monday, July 30 2012
Jonah 2
Verse of the Day: V7 “When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.”
1. I Prayed (V1-6)
V1 “Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish’s belly,”
The Lord heard Prophet Jonah as he prayed and cried before Him in the fish’s belly. God preserved Jonah’s life in the fish’s belly when Jonah prayed and repented his sins and disobedience. God hears us when we pray to Him in sincerity, and truly repent of our sins.
V2 “And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.”
2. I Remembered (V7-8)
V7 “When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.”
Jonah remembered the Lord when he fainted in the fish’s belly. Jonah must have remembered how the LORD miraculously saved him, how He had richly blessed his life, and how He had been so merciful, gracious and kind towards him. Though the Lord had been so merciful towards him time and again, yet he had not been merciful towards the people of Nineveh, and had refused to preach to them of God’s love and mercy, and their great need of salvation, and repentance of their sins. He realized that he could have been dead by now, but the loving and merciful God gave him a second chance to live for Him.
V8 “They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.”
3. I Paid (V9-10)
V9 “But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.”
Jonah prayed and promised to God that he would pay what was owing to God when the Lord delivered him out of the belly of the fish. He knew that he must now obey the Lord, and immediately go to Nineveh to preach to the people to repent of their sins and wickedness. Jonah was so thankful to God for giving him a second chance as he knew by faith in God that the Lord would save him. Indeed, after three days and three nights in the fish’s belly, God finally spoke to the great fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon dry land.
V10 “And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to always remember You for who You are and what You have done for me.
