4/11/2023 0 Comments Closing prayer for bible studyHis prayer was God-directed (Jonah 2:1) it was offered in faith (Jonah 2:4) it was offered in the light of what God was going to do for him (Jonah 2:9). He knew that the Lord would hear his prayer if it was offered sincerely, penitently, with confession and in faith. Jonah was God’s servant, in spite of the fact that he was disobedient. What a strange prayer-chamber! Daniel prayed in his house (Daniel 6:10) Peter prayed on the rooftop (Acts 10:9) Lydia prayed by the riverside (Acts 16:13) Paul prayed in prison (Philippians 1:4) Jesus prayed on the mountain top (Luke 6:12) but Jonah - he prayed from the inside of a fish! This reminds us that we can pray anywhere and in any time of trouble. Look up and read Psalm 107 and particularly notice verses 6,13,19,20, and then the closing verse, verse 43. How urgent this man’s prayer was! - and he only made his prayer to the Lord when he was really in a tight fix. It is important to compare Jonah 1:17 with Jonah 2:1. Is God’s hand heavy upon you because of some wilful disobedience? If so, what should you or any other Christian do in a time of trouble? We should do what Jonah did. If you are in trouble, it does not follow that this is due to deliberate disobedience or distrust but it could be so, and only you know whether it is so. God had brought about this great trial as a chastening, as His loving and sanctifying purpose to break His servant’s self-will and stubborn disobedience. Notice also that in Jonah 2:3 he attributes the storm, the waves and the trial to the Lord. Notice what ”the Lord” did - in Jonah 1:1-3, and 4 and 17. God’s sovereignty and activity are very clearly brought out in this prophecy. This was the reason for and the cause of Jonah’s trouble. Jonah had disobeyed and distrusted God, and in this he had committed a grievous sin against the Lord. How does your trouble compare with this in its severity? But what was the reason for Jonah’s trouble? It was very severe indeed, as we learn from verse 2, ”my distress” and in verse 2 again, “from the depths of the grave” verse 3, ”the currents swirled about me …swept over me …” and in verse 7, “my life was ebbing away”. How does your trouble compare with Jonah’s? He was surely in great trouble, and notice this in three ways: First, he was in trouble physically - his body was affected (Jonah 2:2) second, he was in trouble mentally - his mind must have reeled at the very thought of his predicament (Jonah 2:6) and third, he was in trouble spiritually - for he was out of touch with God (Jonah 2:4). This man was cast into the sea and was then swallowed by a fish. Read through chapter 1 carefully and notice how Jonah’s trouble increased with mounting intensity, until in chapter 2 we find him giving his testimony about his trouble and the Lord’s gracious deliverance. The story is moving and heart-breaking, but also challenging and very practical in its application to us. But sometimes trouble comes upon us because of our own foolishness and sin. Indeed, the fact that we are Christians ensures trouble, as we learn from Philippians 1:29 Hebrews 12:5-12 1 Peter 1:7. We all experience trouble, and the fact that we are Christians does not give us any immunity from trouble. It was after this, and only when he was in real trouble, that he prayed. In chapter 1 we read the sad record of the prophet’s disobedience and doubt, and of the consequent trouble that befell him. The key verse to this concluding study in our series is Jonah 2:1. Series 36 Study 10 THE PRAYER FOR DELIVERANCE FROM TROUBLE
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