Vol. 18, No. 6, Nov. - Dec. 1989
EDITOR: Mr. Harry Foster
ON THE WAY UP (18)
JONAH'S PSALM
(Chapter 2)
THE second chapter, however, is a poem or psalm, and this is certainly autobiographical. It could not be otherwise. When Jonah found himself safe again on dry land, he clearly felt that in no other way could his feelings be expressed. It required the graphic form of poetry to portray the horror and drama of his experience in the fish and to set the scene for the amazing deliverance which came to him.
MY readers may regard this chapter as an unlikely climax to the series of those who sang "on the way up", but I must confess that this has always been a favourite Scripture to me. It provides a powerful remedy in all times of doubt or depression. If reveals three facts for every troubled saint.
THE first is that however unworthy a believer may feel himself to be, he will never be forgotten. Jonah may have been ignored by the Jewish rulers (John 7:52) but he was singled out for mention by Jesus (Matthew 12:41). He was a somewhat despicable character, petulant even in the moment of success, but God never forsook him. I, too, am encouraged to believe that in spite of everything, I am loved with an everlasting love.
THE second comforting truth to be found in this chapter is that however far from God a man may be, he can still know that God hears his cry. Jonah did not need to make a long journey to Tarshish to put distance between himself and the Lord; in a matter of a moment he went "down to the bottom of the mountains" and the "the earth with her bars" closed upon him.
WHEN you are so far from God -- or at least feel that you are -- what can you do? Jonah tells us that you can pray. And he assures us triumphantly that although God's holy temple may seem to be distant, it is in fact near enough for prayer to get right through to His throne. Thank God for that! He is near to all who call upon Him in truth.
THERE follows the third great truth, which is that however profound the depths of one's need, a word from God will lift up to safety. Jonah knew very well that he was in those depths as a result of his own folly. He classed himself with those who by regarding the lying vanities of self-will forsake their own mercy. Happily that could be put right. The Lord is greater than our hearts. Jonah's awakened conscience and renewed faith met with an immediate response from God. "Salvation is of the Lord", he tells me. Salvation which can be extended to the most undeserving; salvation which can extricate from the most impossible situation; salvation even for me!
JONAH forfeited his passage money and he lost his luggage, but he gained a new knowledge of the rich grace of God. It seems that this gave force to his saving message to Nineveh. His psalm brings a saving message to us now. In our self-loathing we can know ourselves loved. In our bewildering calamities we can still pray and be heard. In the face of hopeless circumstances we too can prove God's lifting power.
JONAH'S psalm helps us on our way up. He leaves us with the reminder that Salvation is of the Lord.
