Jonah

Jonah 2

Chapter II · Vol. III, p. 1449

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

Margin referencesNotes ↓

1 Then Jonah ^aprayed unto the LORD ^bhis God ^cout of the fish's belly,

2 And said, I ^dcried by reason of¹ mine affliction unto the LORD, and he ^eheard me; ^gout of the belly² of hell³ cried I, and thou heardest my voice.

d La.3.55,56. Ps.120.1. Is.26.16,17. 2 Ch.33.11,12.

1 Or, out of.

e Ps.65.2; 18.6; 34.6. Is.65.24.

g Ps.61.2.

2 The belly does not necessarily signify the region of the intestines, but merely the internal parts generally.—C.

3 Or, the grave. [The place and state of the dead.—C.]

3 For thou ^hhadst cast me into the deep, in the midst⁴ of the seas; and ⁱthe floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.

h Ps.32.4; 69.1,2; 88.5-8.

4 Heb. heart.

i Ps.69.1,2; 42.7.

4 Then I said, ^jI am cast out of thy sight; yet I will ^klook again toward thy holy temple.

j Ps.31.22. Eze.37.11. Ps.77.1-10. Is.49.14.

k 1 Ki.8.38,39. Ps.42.5,11. 2 Ch.6.38.

5 The ^lwaters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head.

l Ps.69.1,2; 102.3; 42.7; 38.4; 40.2. La.3.54.

6 I went down to the bottoms⁵ of the mountains: the earth with her bars was about me for ever:⁶ yet ⁿhast thou brought up my life from corruption,⁷ O LORD my God.

5 Heb. cuttings off, Ps.24.2; 104.3.

6 For ever. That is, if not 'brought up' again by Almighty power.—C.

n Ge.22.14. Is.38.17. Ps.16.10. De.32.36.

7 Or, the pit, Ps.30.3.

7 When my soul ^ofainted within me ^pI remembered the LORD: and ^qmy prayer⁸ came in unto thee, into thine ^rholy temple.

o Ps.119.81; 6.3; 22.14; 27.13; 143.3,7.

p Ps.20.7; 27.13; 77.10,11; 143.5. Is.50.10; 63.16.

q Ps.18.6; 130.2; 34.6.

8 This prayer was composed and uttered by the prophet in the deep, and written for our learning and comfort after his deliverance.—C.

r Ps.11.4; 18.6; 102.19. Mi.1.2. Hab.2.20. He.4.16.

8 They that ^sobserve lying vanities forsake their own mercy.

s 1 Sa.12.21. Ps.31.6. Je.2.13. 2 Ki.17.15,25. Je.17.5. Ps.97.7.

9 But ^tI will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. ^uSalvation is of the LORD.

t Ps.50.14,23; 116.17; 66.13-15. Ro.12.1. Ho.14.2. He.13.15.

u Ps.3.8; 68.20. Is.45.17,22. Ac.4.12. Re.7.10.

10 And the LORD ^vspake⁹ unto the fish, and ^xit vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.

v ch.1.17. Mat.12.40.

9 How could God speak to the fish? Nay, but who art thou, O man, that limitest the Almighty?—C.

x Ro.4.25; 6.4,9. Ho.13.14.

Notes

Ver. 5. The weeds. The bottom of the sea is replete with various plants, which being disengaged, and floating on the surface, might readily make way into the mouth, but not into the stomach, of the whale; for it does not live upon vegetable but upon animal food. C.

Reflections.—Many are forced to pray when and where they never expected. But no place can shut out a saint from communion with his God: nor need he doubt his nearness and willingness to help in a time of need. But how fearful is it to fall into the hands of the living God, even as a provoked Father! Into what hells, what depths, what pits of corruption, desertion, temptation, and affliction may a saint be plunged! and be reduced, how near the brink of despair! But troubles should lead us directly to our God, and make us by faith call to mind his new-covenant characters and promises. To expect happiness in sinful courses, or idolized creatures, is to forsake our own mercy. And if we run from our proper work, we run from our substantial comforts. It is unreasonable, on this side hell, to indulge despair. For great is the power of God over all creatures; and infinite and unbounded his mercy towards penitent and praying offenders. But noted deliverances ought always to issue in high praises and thanksgivings, and in redoubled applications to our duty.