Session 4: Praying in the Belly of the Great Big Fish (2:1–10)

Opening Prayer

Gracious Father, we come before you as sinful people in a fallen world. Despite our rebellion, you continue to bind yourself to us and deal with us not according to strict justice, but rather in ways that are consistently full of grace. Work in our hearts that, despite our efforts to evade your presence, we would be turned toward you and be saved from our sinful inclinations. Then we will all the more call upon you in the day of trouble for you will deliver us so that our lives honor you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Synopsis of Theme

While Jonah in his psalm expresses the truth about Yahweh, his hypocritical, self-righteous behavior throughout the book forms a strong contrast with his prayer. Despite this, Yahweh continues to deal with Jonah graciously, by hearing his prayer, saving him from drowning and permanent residence in Sheol, and by being present with him in the belly of the great big fish.

Topic for Sharing/Ice Breaker

What was your favorite small hiding place as a child? How long could you stay there before you started feeling claustrophobic?

Questions: Text

Read Jonah’s psalm (2:2–9). What motivated Jonah to pray?

  • v This is Jonah’s first recorded prayer in the book, and he is only calling out to save his own scalp! He refuses to pray for the sailors and Ninevites but only does so when his life is on the line. The presence of twenty-four (!) first person singular forms (“I”, “me”, “mine”) in the Hebrew text indicate that Jonah is still focused on himself and not on the needs of the world around him.
    •

    What is significant about the references to Yahweh’s holy temple (2:4, 7)?

  • v These words are spoken by a northern prophet in the eighth century BC, a time when idolatrous shrines were set up in the northern Israelite cities of Dan and Bethel. There were intended to substitute for the true temple in Jerusalem (1 Ki 12:25–33). Jonah is affirming the true dwelling place of Yahweh in Solomon’s temple, thereby dismissing these northern shrines. In the New Testament God’s promises are located in Jesus Christ (2 Cor 1:21). He is the new temple (Jn 2:21) and through him we have access to the throne of grace (Rom 5:2; Eph 2:18; Heb 10:19–20). Indeed, all prayers are to be directed to the Father through Jesus (Jn 14:6).

    • What features of Jonah’s prayer are significant by their absence?

  • v Nowhere does the prophet express repentance or his willingness to go to Nineveh. Jonah speaks as a saint, but as we have seen in chapter 1, and as we will see in chapters 3 and 4, he often acts like a grumpy and moping child! In light of the prophet’s actions throughout the rest of the book, his affirmations in this psalm sound hollow. It is no wonder that the fish can’t stomach him for too long and vomits him out!
    •

    What does the fact that the fish “vomits” Jonah out (2:10) suggest?

  • v “Vomit” suggests repugnance toward Jonah. It shames him for his nationalistic pride that would withhold salvation from other people. Being vomited is a sign of God’s judgment (see Lev 18:25; 20:22; Rev 3:16).

    • Questions: Context

    In the four chapters of Jonah there are seven references to prayer. Read the following passages and describe the circumstances and content of the prayer.

    1:5

  • v The sailor’s prayer to their pagan gods is motivated out their fear of the storm.
    •

    1:6

  • v This is a request by the captain who asks Jonah to pray to his God, but Jonah ignores the request.
    •

    1:14

  • v This prayer by the sailors is different from 1:5. Since they have been converted through Jonah’s confession (1:9; see Rom 1:16), they petition Yahweh to spare their life before they throw Jonah overboard. God’s Word bears fruit mainly where it is least expected and, conversely, produces the least where the most is expected—in Jonah!

    • 2:2–9

  • v This is Jonah’s psalm of thanksgiving that he prayed while in the belly of the great fish. This prayer, however, makes reference to a previous prayer that Jonah prayed (2:2, 7). While the content of the first prayer is not given, it appears that he prayed for God’s help and that he graciously responded. The psalm of praise (2:2–9) is therefore a response to the salvation Yahweh granted Jonah, who was responding to Jonah’s previous prayer. Therefore, chapter 2 suggests that Jonah prayed not once but twice: once in distress and once in thanksgiving.

    • 3:8

  • v The king of Nineveh issues a decree that the Ninevites should fervently pray to God that he might relent from his anger.
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    4:2–3

  • v Jonah’s prayer to Yahweh, expressing his displeasure of Yahweh’s decision to spare Nineveh.
    •

    The language of Jonah’s prayer in 2:2-9 is not original or spontaneous, but is drawn from the Book of Psalms. Read the following passages and compare Jonah’s language to that of the psalms.

    Jonah 2:2; Pss 18:6; 66:14; 81:7; 120:1

  • v “In my distress.”
    •

    Jonah 2:3; Ps 42:7

  • v “All your breakers and your waves crossed over me,” which is the longest verbal correlation between Jonah and the Psalter.
    •

    Jonah 2:4; Pss 31:22; 139:7

  • v “From before your eyes.”
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    Jonah 2:7; Pss 107:5; 142:4

  • v “My life ebbed away for me.”
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    Jonah 2:9; Pss 3:8; 68:19; 98:2–3; 118:14

  • v “Salvation belongs to Yahweh.”
    •

    What do these similarities indicate and how does Jonah’s use of the psalms demonstrate the usefulness of repeated liturgical formulations?

  • v These correspondences indicate that Jonah borrowed from several psalms. Because he obviously had no books with him in the fish’s belly Jonah must have committed these words to memory. Memorizing the liturgy, hymns, and Bible verses is of great value because it serves as a rich treasury from which to draw in times of distress.

    • Questions: Discussion/Application

    When have you felt like Jonah—far from God and enmeshed in a situation beyond your control? How then was your life brought “up from the pit”?

    When you are in a desperate situation do you have a tendency to pray with hope or is prayer a pessimistic last resort?

    What Bible texts, liturgy, hymns, or songs have you memorized? Have you ever been in a distressing situation where these words and promises of God brought you comfort?

    Closing Prayer

    Loving Father, let our actions serve to praise you in every circumstance of our lives. Make our hearts quiet chambers where your Word turns adversity into praise. Tune our voices to clearly proclaim your amazing grace. As we turn away from worthless idols to your matchless mercy, lift us from death to life, that we may joyfully serve you and glorify your holy name. We pray through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

    Assignment

    Read Jonah 3:1–4

    Ask yourself:

  • 1) What does it mean for my life that “the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time”?

    2) Do you think Jonah willingly went to Nineveh?

    3) What do you think of his sermon? Where is the Law? Where is the Gospel?