What does Jonah 2:1 Mean?

Study Notes

great fish
No miracle of Scripture has called forth so much unbelief. The issue is not between the doubter and this ancient record, but between the doubter and the Lord Jesus Christ. Matthew 12:39 ; Matthew 12:40 . Science, "falsely so called" Genesis 3:17-1993 failing to take account of the fact that it deals only with the outward phenomena of a fallen race, and of an earth under a curse 1714044164_7 is intolerant of miracles. To faith, and to true science, miracle is what might be expected of divine love, interposing God in a physically and morally disordered universe. Romans 8:19-23 .

prepared

Four prepared things. Jonah 4:6 ; Jonah 4:7 ; Jonah 4:8

prepared
Four prepared things. Jonah 4:6 ; Jonah 4:7 ; Jonah 4:8

Verse Meaning

This is the first mention of Jonah praying (cf. Jonah 4:2). In both this verse and Jonah 4:2 the usual Hebrew word hitpallel, "to pray," appears. In Jonah 1:5 and Jonah 3:8 the Hebrew word qara", "to call," occurs. Until now Jonah had been fleeing from God and hiding from Him. Now in his great distress he finally sought the Lord. Being willing to die by drowning was one thing ( Jonah 1:12), but death by gradual digestion was something Jonah had not anticipated. We do not know how long Jonah struggled in the sea before the fish swallowed him. Perhaps that terror also contributed to his repentance. Some interpreters believe that Jonah"s repentance is a type of the repentance of the Jewish remnant that will occur prior to the beginning of the Millennium. ^[1] [source]

God often has to discipline His rebellious children severely before we turn back to Him. [source][source]

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Context Summary

The great fish was probably a shark. He who sent the storm prepared the fish. Life is full of contrivances on the part of the great Lover of men. To plunge beneath the wave is to fall into His arms. More than once the body of a man has been found in the belly of a shark in the Mediterranean. Even those who hold that this story is an elaborate parable must admit that it is probably founded on such a fact. Our Lord's endorsement of this book and incident is very emphatic, Matthew 12:39-41.

The psalm which follows is very helpful to those who have brought themselves into the depths by their wrongdoing. God will hear such out of the depths of Sheol. When you think you are cast out of His sight forever, if you will look toward His holy temple, you will find that His love is gradually extricating you from the pit. To trust in your own efforts and expedients is to regard lying vanities and to forsake your own mercy. "Salvation is of the Lord." All nature waits upon His word. The big sharks and the tiny minnows are alike at the behest of God for the help of man. Only "look again" to God, and then be sure to pay your vows when delivered! [source]

Chapter Summary: Jonah 2

¹  The prayer of Jonah
¹⁰  He is delivered out of the belly of the fish