UBF Daily Bread

JONAH PRAYS FROM INSIDE THE FISH

Passage: Jonah 2:1~10

Key verse: 9

2 ¹^[a]From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. ²He said:

“In my distress I called^(A) to the Lord,^(B)
    and he answered me.
From deep in the realm of the dead^(C) I called for help,
    and you listened to my cry.
³You hurled me into the depths,^(D)
    into the very heart of the seas,
    and the currents swirled about me;
all your waves^(E) and breakers
    swept over me.^(F)
⁴I said, ‘I have been banished
    from your sight;^(G)
yet I will look again
    toward your holy temple.’^(H)
⁵The engulfing waters threatened me,^[b]
    the deep surrounded me;
    seaweed was wrapped around my head.^(I)
⁶To the roots of the mountains^(J) I sank down;
    the earth beneath barred me in forever.
But you, Lord my God,
    brought my life up from the pit.^(K)

⁷“When my life was ebbing away,
I remembered^(L) you, Lord,
and my prayer^(M) rose to you,
to your holy temple.^(N)

⁸“Those who cling to worthless idols^(O)
    turn away from God’s love for them.
⁹But I, with shouts of grateful praise,^(P)
    will sacrifice^(Q) to you.
What I have vowed^(R) I will make good.
    I will say, ‘Salvation^(S) comes from the Lord.’”

¹⁰And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

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Footnotes

Jonah 2:1 In Hebrew texts 2:1 is numbered 1:17, and 2:1-10 is numbered 2:2-11.
Jonah 2:5 Or waters were at my throat

1. In my distress I called to the Lord (1-6)

Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights. It was like being in the grave. Jonah's situation looked hopeless, but he didn't lose hope. Engulfing waters threatened him and seaweed wrapped around his head, but he didn't despair; he called to the Lord. God brought him up from the pit.

2. With a song of thanksgiving (7-10)

Jonah knew that those who cling to worthless idols forfeit grace. He clung to God in prayer. The great fish which the Lord had provided was for his salvation. It was to save him from drowning and lead him to turn away from his stubborn rebelliousness and turn to God. Jonah repented. He made a vow to obey God. He would accept God's mission and go to Nineveh. God commanded the fish to vomit him onto dry land. Jonah tasted the salvation of God and he was full of thanksgiving and joy.

Prayer: Lord, teach me to have hope in you and to thank you even in the worst possible situation. Give me a repentant heart so that I may rejoice daily in your salvation.

One Word: Pray even from inside a fish

Daily Bread

JONAH PRAYS FROM INSIDE THE FISH

Passage: Jonah 2:1~10

Key verse: 9

Footnotes

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