Jonah's Prayer

Jonah was a prophet who God called to preach in the foreign city of Nineveh. Jonah tried to run away from God and was swallowed by a great fish.

When the fish returned him to land, Jonah went to Nineveh and warned the people about God’s judgment. Jonah learned, to his dismay, that God would forgive even a heathen city if the people were sorry for their sins.

Jonah 2:1-10 

1. From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his God.

2. He said: "In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry.

3. You hurled me into the deep, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me.

4. I said, `I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.'

5. The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head.

6. To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you brought my life up from the pit, O LORD my God.

7. "When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, LORD, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple.

8. "Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.

9. But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the LORD."

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

1. What would you call Jonah’s prayer from inside the fish?

2. When has God given you a second chance?

3. How does this story relate to you?

4. Where in your life are you desperate enough to pray with hope as Jonah does?

5. When have you felt like Jonah? Far from God, a situation beyond your control  and how then was your life brought up from the pit?

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