Jonah 2 - Sorrowful
Jonah Series: Sorrowful
Sermon date: 23rd October 2022 Reading: Jonah 2
Note to leaders: Some commentary is included after each question. This is not the “right” answer but merely a few thoughts. Please allow the group to discuss and reach their own findings and try and resist concluding the discussion with “this is what the notes say”! Rather, use it to inform your guiding and prompting of the group. Make sure you get to Q8 – application!
Icebreaker
Ask your group to recall instances where they feel they may have been saved from a great calamity.
How did it make them feel?
Did they recognise the hand of God in it?
Did the “event” in any way bring them closer in line with God’s purposes for them?
If you can play music, you may like to start the session by listening to “Amazing Grace” (there are lots of versions on You Tube). Or you may like to sing it. Whatever you decide, I have included the words at the end of the study.
Context
In last week’s study on Chapter 1, we saw that God instructed Jonah to go and preach to the people of Nineveh and warn them about their wicked behaviour. Why? Because God was concerned for the people and wanted them to mend their ways (this is not obvious in Chapter 1 but becomes apparent in chapter 4).
Nineveh was the most important city in Assyria, a rising power in Jonah’s time. Within 50 years, Nineveh would become the capital of the huge Assyrian empire. Ultimately, through Jonah, the people turned from their evil ways. However, in later times, they seem to have reverted to type and the book of Nahum deals with the wickedness of Nineveh and lists their crimes as: evil plots against God (Nahum 1:9), exploitation of the helpless (Nahum 2:12), idolatry, witchcraft and prostitution (Nahum 3:4). Ultimately the city is destroyed.
Jonah has different plans and dodges off on a ship bound for Tarshish. It is not well known where ancient Tarshish was but is regarded as being “a long way away across the sea”! In other words, Jonah was putting some distance between God’s planned destination for him and his own planned destination.
Read Jonah 2
What does this piece of poetry sound like to you?
It sounds to me very much like a psalm and wouldn’t seem out of place amongst them.
What is the principal emotion which Jonah expresses in this prayer to God?
It is a prayer of thanksgiving – of acknowledging that God not only caused him to be tossed into the raging sea but also caused him to be saved.
At the time he prayed this prayer, was Jonah yet home and dry and fully rescued? (See v10)
Despite being in the belly of a fish, he doesn’t ask for eventual deliverance from his situation.
What do you make of Jonah’s speech in v 8-9?
He seems to be continuing to have a go at God about the injustice of the people of Nineveh receiving any kind of mercy but he acquiesces and gives in to God’s plan. See v9: “But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you”
Does this model of disobedience, mess, prayer for delivery, thankfulness, acquiescence have any parallels in our lives? Can we take encouragement from the way in which God has mercy on Jonah?
Read Matthew 12 v 38 -41
Interestingly, Jesus compares himself to Jonah – the only time Jesus does compare himself with a prophet.
Why do you think Jesus refuses to perform a miracle but refers the Pharisees to the account of Jonah?
He is possibly challenging them to read the scriptures – it is all there. By identifying his own mission with that of Jonah he amply illustrates the need for their repentance and simultaneously claims the authority of scripture.
What are the parallels with Jonah’s experience and mission and that of Jesus?
Similarities:
3 days in the belly of a fish – 3 days in the heart of the earth.
Just as Jonah was given new life after 3 days in a fish, so Jesus will rise from the dead after 3 days.
Message of repentance to the people of Nineveh – message of repentance to the Jews.
And a difference:
Jesus is greater than Jonah (and his legacy lasting).
Application
Do we know what God is calling us to do in our lives? How might we discern what that is and respond well?
Prayer
Ask that we might have a right relationship with God so that we can discern his plan for our lives.
Give thanks that that, even when we willfully disobey and heap grief upon ourselves, that God is a forgiving and restoring father!
That we might have the courage to take the message of the gospel even to those we dislike or fear
Words to Amazing Grace
Amazing grace how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind but now I see
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed
Through many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come
This grace that brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me home
When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright, shining as the sun
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we first begun
Amazing grace how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind but now I see