Essays
A Cry From The Deep
A CRY FROM THE DEEP
The psalms of David were apparently transcribed and circulated among the nation of Israel (perhaps shortly after they were first penned - - not a big undertaking for the administration of a king). It seems obvious when we read Jonah’s prayer (Jonah 2:1-9) that Jonah was clearly familiar with David’s prayers. The similarity between Jonah’s prayer and David’s prayers is quite remarkable. cf. Ps.18:4-6; 31:22; 69:1-3 & 14-15; 88:1-7; 102:1-2; 116:3-4 and 130:1-2, among others. If ever there was an apt occasion for Jonah to recollect the prayer songs of David it would have been from the belly of the sea monster. In his prayer, Jonah describes his condition with a variety of terms: the depth of Sheol (vs.2) … in the deep (vs.3) … expelled from God’s sight (vs.4) … at the point of death (vs.5) … and in the pit (vs.6). The ancient prophet Isaiah once wrote of the pit of nothingness (Isa.38:17). This is where Jonah found himself. If, indeed, Jonah had intentions of running away from the presence of Jehovah God, he must have been wondering if he had achieved his goal - - and what a horribly frightening thought - - to have maneuvered oneself “beyond the reach of God”.
Jonah’s circumstances are hard to fathom: darkness; a stench that would have been sickening; seaweed wrapped around his head; digestive acids burning his skin; and so constricted that he would not have been able to scratch an itch. He would likely have been on the brink of suffocation and on the very cusp of human insanity. But, undoubtedly, the very worst of it all would have been contemplating that he might be in Abbadon - - a colorful Hebrew word describing the dreadful absence of the presence of God.
The runaway prophet had no place to turn except to look to Almighty God. He remembered the Lord - - in particular that the lovingkindness of God is great (Ps.86:13). There is no doubt that Jonah repented (Jonah 2:9). If only he could return to the Lord - -
to have a second call to go to Nineveh. Jonah was broken and crushed but GOD HEARD HIS PRAYER (cf. Ps.34:15-18 and Jonah 2:10). There is no calamity, no tragedy, no act of disobedience or rebellion that puts us beyond the eyes, ears & heart of our loving God. Do you think Jonah’s ordeal altered his preaching to the Assyrians? Would he now have a message of grace for the city of Nineveh?
Terry Siverd / Cortland Church Of Christ
