Sunday, May 1, 2016

            BLESSINGS IN AFFLICTION
Jonah 1:17-2:10


            ….
God’s hand of providence reached down and provided a preservation for the prophet, jonah.  In the midst  of this terrifying experience of being swallowed by a huge fish a positive change happened in Jonah.  Affliction opened a mouth that sin had closed.  In Jonah 2:1 we read for the 1st time in the book that Jonah prayed.  The word prayed  is a strong and forceful word.  It refers to intervening prayer.  The same word, palal in Hebrew, is used of Hannah in 1 Samuel 2:1-10 as she poured out her soul to God.  Isn't it true that when we're in trouble, we pray the most, maybe "foxhole prayers"?  As we look at the prayer of Jonah, we'll see some of the blessings that came to him by experiencing affliction.

I.  Affliction brings the afflicted to God.*  "I called out of my distress to the LORD, and He answered me" (2:2.  "While I was fainting away, I remembered the LORD" (2:7).
Add tsk Treasury of Scripture Knowledge at StudyLight.org to the following:
Jonah 2

Overview

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

Detail

Jonah 2:1
prayed
out
Jonah 2:2
I cried
by reason of mine
or, out of mine.
out
hell
or, the grave.
and thou
Jonah 2:3
thou
midst
Hebrew heart. all.
Jonah 2:4
I said
out
toward
Jonah 2:5
Jonah 2:6
bottoms
Hebrew cuttings off. mountains.
the earth
yet
corruption
or, the pit.
Jonah 2:7
my soul
I remembered
my prayer
holy
Jonah 2:8
Jonah 2:9
I will sacrifice
I will pay
Salvation
Jonah 2:10

2.  affliction brings god’s word to the mind of the afflicted.  There are @ least 12 parallels (and up to 27 allusions) in jonah 2 and the psalms and lamentations




*Speaking to Life's Problems (Perry & Sell)