Sermon Jonah Chapter 2

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[2] The title of the sermon: “JONAH CHAPTER 2.”

At the end of Jonah Chapter 1, we saw that Jonah is now in the belly of the fish 3 days and 3 nights.
We know the Son of man was in the heart of the earth for 3 days and 3 nights.
Let’s start there in verse 1 of Jonah Chapter 2.

[3] Jonah 2:1-2 Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish’s belly, 2 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.

Please keep in mind that Jonah recently disobeyed the word of the Lord.
Now Jonah needs God. Jonah prays unto the Lord his God out of the belly of the fish.
We know Jonah is alive at this time because he is praying to God out of the belly of the fish.
Jonah wasn’t barely snatched up by the whale or anything close to that.
He was swallowed completely and is now in the belly of the great fish.

He is alive, and he is praying right now at this time. You must understand this story is prophecy.

We are learning more about the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ the Son of God.
Now, don’t get mixed up here. Jonah is not the Son of God. He is serving as a picture of Jesus.

For example, the life of Joseph is a picture of Jesus Christ and is prophesying of Him.

When Abraham was going to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, this was a picture of Jesus Christ.
“God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering.”

There is fire in hell. The soul of Jesus Christ, NOT THE BODY OF JESUS CHRIST, is a burnt offering for our sins.

His body did not see corruption. Jonah, in the belly of the whale, is a picture of Jesus Christ in hell.
Jonah didn’t go to hell when he was swallowed by this great fish.
But being in the belly of this whale is a picture of hell. He was in the belly for 3 days and 3 nights.

Do you think this would be easy? Do you realize how hot is probably is within the belly of this fish?

There is no air conditioning, toilets, cold water fountain, refreshing food, or anything like it.
For example, when I was doing the insulation in the attic, I was only there for 9 hours or less.
I say that’s it like hell in an attic when it’s 90 degrees and sunny outside. Is it anything close? No.
But it’s a picture of hell. It’s not comfortable at all. It’s horrible, but hell is much worse.

Verse 2 says, “I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me.”

Jonah is now calling out to God. He is a prophet of God even though he disobeyed the word of the Lord.
God is going to hear Jonah. And we all know that God heard Jonah.
But think about this. Jonah probably prayed to get out of there pretty early in the 3 days and 3 nights.
He had to wait upon the Lord. God’s timing is perfect. But I’m sure Jonah didn’t think so.

[4] Psalm 34:4-6 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. 5 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. 6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

Jonah was definitely in bad shape when he called out to the Lord. He got himself into this situation.
God hears the prayers of His people. If you have believed on Jesus Christ, you are His people.

[5] Psalm 3:4 I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.

[6] Psalm 40:17 But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.

I guarantee you that Jonah was asking for God’s help quickly. He’s in big trouble.
He probably thought he was going to die soon, but he called upon the Lord.
He knew God was listening to him.

[7] Jonah 2:2 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.

If you pay attention to the Bible, what do the people of God do when they are in big trouble?
When Daniel was in the lion’s den, what do you think he did?
When Elijah was in big trouble, what do you think he did? Think about this.

When there are no options to get yourself out of trouble, what will you do?

What did Jonah do? He prayed. And what works best when you’re in trouble? PRAYER.
What works best when you aren’t in trouble? PRAYER.
Does God hear you? YES HE DOES.

[8] Revelation 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

[9] Revelation 8:3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.

[10] Revelation 8:4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.

God stores your prayers because you are sanctified by the blood of Jesus Christ.
You might not get the immediate answer you want, but He heard you. He hears all your prayers.

Jonah says, “Out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.”

Again, Jonah didn’t go to hell but who did? Who would this book be speaking of if not Jesus Christ?
Do you know how many false preachers call me a liar because I teach that Jesus went to hell?
All the Scriptures back up this doctrine and this teaching. They repeat, “IT IS FINISHED.”
And they don’t even understand the chapter of the Bible when Jesus said this.

Read John Chapter 19, and you’ll easily see that Jesus is fulfilling Scriptures up to that point.

The Bible even directly says so, but they can’t see this.
They will say the soul of Jesus Christ didn’t need to go to hell.

Well, according to God Almighty, His soul did need to go to hell as a burnt offering for our sins.

He is the propitiation for our sins. If we died with sin, we would go to hell and burn. He took my spot.
He did that for me because He loves me. He made the absolute ultimate sacrifice for me.
And He did this for the whole world so that anyone can be saved if they would believe in Him.

If His soul didn’t go to hell, then the Book of Jonah would be a lie. Psalm Chapter 16 would be a lie.

Acts Chapter 2 would be a lie. Matthew Chapter 12 would be a lie. And there’s more.
But we know for sure that the Scriptures cannot be broken, and the Word of God knows what happened.
He actually went through all of this, and knows what happened. He wrote it all down for us.
“HAVE YE NOT READ?”

[11] Psalm 16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

[12] Matthew 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

[13] Acts 2:27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

[14] Acts 2:31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.

Are you really going to argue with the Scriptures o vain man and o vain woman?
Will you argue with God that the soul of His Son didn’t go to hell? He says the His soul did go to hell.
Will you argue with the prophecy of Isaac being a burnt offering? Will you? If so, you are a complete fool.

Will you actually repeat like a parrot, “IT IS FINISHED,” when you have no idea what Jesus meant?

The meaning is in the same chapter you attempt to quote. The meaning is in the Gospel of John.
Why don’t you actually read the Bible for once? It’s laid out for you perfectly clear and plain.
But you’ll choose the word of some idiotic seminary professor with a Dr. in front of his name.
Let’s see. Almighty God or Dr. Doof? Which one?

[15] Psalm 18:5-6 The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me. 6 In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.

[16] Psalm 86:13 For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.

[17] Psalm 88:3-7 For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave. 4 I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength: 5 Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand. 6 Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps. 7 Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. Selah.

Will you ignore all the prophecy within the Scriptures? “Thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves.”
And there’s more. The Bile doesn’t stop there. And I’m not even going over all of them today.

[18] Psalm 116:3-6 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. 4 Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul. 5 Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful. 6 The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me.

Jonah is a picture or like figure of Jesus Christ. That’s why the small book of Jonah is so important.
Every word of God is pure. The Book of Jonah is the word of God, and we live by every word of God.
We cannot ignore Jonah in the belly of the whale as a picture of Jesus Christ in the heart of the earth.
The Bible directly says that the soul of Jesus Christ was not left in hell. We know His soul went to hell.

Jonah calls out to God, and He hears Jonah. Jesus called out to God, and He hears Jesus.

Do you think the eternal God, the perfect Jesus Christ, going to hell is something small?
Do you think we should ignore these things? Do you not think they matter?
Let me tell you right now. They matter. Jesus Christ means more to me because He suffered in hell for me.
And because I know 100% for sure that He did that, I will suffer for Him.
I will die for Him. I will give my life for Him. When He needs me, I am here.

[19] Jonah 2:3 For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.

Jonah was thrown overboard by the men on the ship.
They did this because they understood this was God’s will.
In other words, God cast Jonah into the deep, in the midst of the seas. Floods compassed him about.
Have you ever been tossed out to sea? I haven’t, but the waves don’t stop. They will wear you down.
They just keep coming. They will cover you.

Who cast Jesus into hell? God did. It pleased God to bruise Jesus Christ.

Who else would be able to throw Jesus Christ into hell? His soul was sent to hell? Why?
All of our sin was placed onto Him. He took all the sins of the world onto Himself.
He went to the lowest of hell because He took all the sin of all time.

[20] Isaiah 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

The soul of Jesus Christ was made an offering for sin. What is the offering for sin?
Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God. He is a burnt offering for our sin. He is THE sacrifice for sin.
The Book of Jonah is prophesying about all of these things.

[21] Psalm 69:1-3 Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. 2 I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. 3 I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.

Jesus waited on His Father. Jesus waited on the Holy Spirit. Jonah waited too.
But again, Jonah’s trial here was not of the same magnitude of what Jesus Christ went through.
But Jonah should always remind you of what Jesus Christ went through.
This is the point of the Book of Jonah, but most so-called “Christians” never see this.
And they never teach this message or this doctrine.

[22] Lamentations 3:53-55 They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and cast a stone upon me. 54 Waters flowed over mine head; then I said, I am cut off. 55 I called upon thy name, O LORD, out of the low dungeon.

Jeremiah went through a lot. Most of these foolish preachers call Jeremiah a whiner.
They call him a cry baby. Jesus wept. Psalm 69 says, “I am weary of my crying. My throat is dried.”
“Mine eyes fail while I wait for God.” These people who bash Jeremiah will bash Jesus Christ too.
They have no clue what they went through. They have never had to go through anything like this.
Same thing goes for Jonah. These clown preachers out there have no clue.

[23] Jonah 2:4 Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.

What do we do when we believe we have been casted out of His sight?
What does Jonah do? What does Jesus Christ do? “YET I WILL LOOK AGAIN TOWARD THY HOLY TEMPLE.”

[24] Matthew 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

God forsook Jesus Christ. He bruised Him for us. That should tell you something. He loves us.
And He loves us more than we could ever imagine. HE IS LOVE. But He bruised His Son for us.
But He saved His Son and has lifted Him above all. He sits on the right hand of His Father.
When we’re in trouble, you can know God is watching, listening, hearing, and responding.
But be patient. Wait upon the Lord. He will save you. Jonah looked to God to save him.

[25] Jonah 2:5 The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head.

Think about what it was like in the belly of a whale. Think about what it was like in hell.
Think of the most uncomfortable time in your life. For example, being in a hot attic all day is not fun.
Working on floors all day in the heat is not fun at all. Putting up hay in 100 degree weather is not fun.
This pushes you to very uncomfortable places. Working 15 hours a day is not fun.
This wears you down. Yet, this is nothing in comparison.

Some people have been near to death. Some people have crawled on the floor from being so sick.

But still, this is nothing compared to Jonah and especially nothing compared to Jesus Christ.
Think about these things. But we don’t want to be uncomfortable for Jesus Christ?
We don’t want to get out of the comfort zone and do something for Jesus Christ?
After everything He’s done for us, it’s time to get uncomfortable. Jonah did.

“The waters compassed me about, even to the soul.” Has anything hurt you so bad it goes down to your soul?

When my children have trouble, it hurts me to my soul because I love them so much.
The depth was closing around Jonah. The darkness was closing in on him.
He had no idea what was going to happen. “The weeds were wrapped about my head.”
Some preachers will teach that this isn’t talking about Jesus Christ. WRONG. It is talking about Him.
But the Bible is using Jonah to give us a physical picture of what Jesus went through.
Because we can imagine what this would be like. We have no idea what burning in hell is like. No clue.

[26] Jonah 2:6 I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God.

Who would this be speaking of in this Scripture? “The earth with her bars was about me forever.”
Was Jonah in the belly of the great fish forever? We know that he wasn’t.
Was Jesus Christ in hell forever? We know that He wasn’t in hell forever.
But Jonah isn’t like Jesus Christ. We are not like Jesus Christ. We are not the everlasting God.
We are not the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. Jesus Christ is God.
He is everlasting so His time in hell is equal to forever.

[27] Jonah 2:7 When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.

Don’t take it to this point in your life. Many people forget about God until they find tough times.
“When my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord.”
Jesus asks us to remember Him with the Lord’s Supper.
When we come to church each service, we remember the Lord. We do not forget about Him.
When we read the Bible every day, we remember the Lord Jesus Christ.
Don’t wait until your soul faints. But please keep in mind that this is prophecy.

[28] Psalm 22:14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.

This is also speaking of Jesus Christ just as Jonah is speaking of Jesus Christ

[29] Psalm 22:15-18 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. 16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. 17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. 18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

Remember the Lord, pray unto Him, and your prayer will come unto Him within His holy temple.
Jonah did this. Jesus Christ did this. All people of faith do this. When we need help, God is our help.

[30] Psalm 20:7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

Some trust in vaccines. Some trust in doctors. Some trust in the government.
Some trust the Supreme Court. Some trust their so-called “pastors.”
BUT WE WILL TRUST IN THE NAME OF THE LORD OUR GOD. Jonah trusted in God, but he made mistakes.

[31] Isaiah 50:10 Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.

We will STAY UPON GOD. We will not forget Him. Each day is a new day. Listen to this.

[32] Lamentations 3:21-24 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. 22 It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 24 The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

God’s mercies and compassions are new every morning we awake. He is faithful to His word.
We know that He hears us. We remember Him because of everything He’s done for us.

[33] 2 Corinthians 1:9-10 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: 10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;

Don’t wait to remember the Lord. Don’t wait to trust in Him. Follow His words.
Don’t run from His words as Jonah did. Always get back to God as quickly as possible.

[34] Jonah 2:8 They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.

God has mercy on us. He is the actual living God who is listening right now.
If you go after other gods, you observe lying vanities. This is worthless. This is vain.
Any god other than the God of the Bible is a false god. When you go after them, you forsake mercy.

[35] Judges 10:13 Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more.

Jonah ignored God’s words, but he didn’t forsake God. He believed in God. He called upon God.
And Jonah was delivered as we’ll see. But listen to this. If you forsake God, He won’t deliver you.
In your life, do not forsake God. You forsake mercy, goodness, kindness, patience, longsuffering.
You forsake love, truth, and the greatest of all who is Jesus Christ. Don’t do this. Follow after God.

[36] Jonah 2:9 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 doesn’t follow lying vanities. He does not forsake mercy. Instead, he sacrifices unto God.
He gives thanks to God. He will sacrifice to God by going to Nineveh. He will go to Nineveh.
He says, “I will pay that that I have vowed.” Jesus is the sacrifice for sins. He says, “I WILL GO.”
“I WILL BE THE SACRIFICE FOR ALL SINS. I will pay for their sins.” And He did.

I love the last sentence of Jonah 2:9. This is the Book of Jonah in the Old Testament.

SALVATION IS OF THE LORD. Salvation is not of us in any way, shape, or form.
Let me say this again: “SALVATION IS OF THE LORD.” If you want to go to heaven, this is salvation.
This is being saved from death and hell. Then you better go to the Lord.
This is what Jonah did when he was in the belly of the great fish. He went to the Lord for help.
Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. We don’t have our own personal Savior.
We aren’t a part of salvation. Salvation doesn’t come through us.

[37] Psalm 3:8 Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.

[38] Psalm 37:39-40 But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble. 40 And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

[39] Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

The Bible doesn’t lie to you. Men and women have lied to you and deceived you.
Water baptism is not salvation. The name of water baptism is not Jesus Christ.
Repenting of sin doesn’t save you. The name of repenting of sin is not Jesus Christ.
NEITHER IS THERE SALVATION IN ANY OTHER BUT GOD ALMIGHTY. Jesus Christ saves. You don’t.

We simply believe in Him. We trust Him. We ask Him to save us. He says that He will if we simply believe in Him.

Jonah, a true prophet of God, tells us this simple fact yet again.
SALVATION IS OF THE LORD. Salvation belongs to the Lord. When you need help, you better go to God.
When you’re in big trouble, you better go to God. He saves.
Jonah is asking God for help. Jonah is asking for God to save him out of this situation.
Does God answer Jonah? Last verse in Jonah Chapter 2.

[40] Jonah 2:10 And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.

God saves Jonah. God could have done anything else and saved Jonah too.
But look what happens. The fish vomits out Jonah upon the dry land. Not too bad.
But not too great either. I am sure Jonah was happy to be out of the whale.

I am also sure this way of saving Jonah had something to do with Jonah disobeying God.

Now he gets vomited out onto the dry land. But God saved him.
And this happens with us in life too. God saves us many times, but it’s not the greatest at times.
We did wrong, and He cleans up our mess. So the vomit comes because of what we’ve done.

[41] Revelation 3:15-16 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

If we aren’t obeying the word of the Lord, we’ll end up like Jonah too. Are we doing what God says?
Are we just playing the middle? We aren’t too cold. We aren’t too hot. We don’t want to be like this.
We need to stand up for God and His words in this world.
Really, there’s a not a better time to live for God. There’s so many people who don’t know God.

Would you rather live in a time when everyone knows God and everything is easy?

Or, would you rather work hard for God, help to get people saved, and stand up for His words?
It’s not a boring time for the people of God. It’s a tough time, but we call upon Him for help.
And He will help us. We’ll go over Jonah Chapter 3 next week.

Let’s pray.

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