This last Sunday, we talked about how the second chapter of Jonah points us forward to Christ and His sacrifice and descent to the grave. However, one of the things that stands out as we dig a little deeper into this chapter is that it is a combination of several different Psalms, rephrased and used in prayer. Jonah here gives us yet another useful tool for the Christian life. Not only does this point us to Jesus, but it also shows us how we should involve scripture so deeply into the rhythms of our lives that it comes out in our prayers. Jonah knew the Psalms so well that they carried over naturally into the way he prayed to God. This should challenge us to dig deeper into our Bibles and to write these truths into our hearts, memorize, and deeply cling to the beauty of God’s word. Knowing scripture deeply and intimately is a great tool for us as we encounter struggle and suffering. Sometimes we don’t have the words to pray when life is hard. Both Jonah and Jesus (Matt 27.46/Ps.22.1) show us good examples of using the Psalms for our prayers.
Below is Jonah’s prayer in chapter two with a side by side of the Psalms that are either an influence or he is directly quoting from.
| Jonah 2 | Psalm | |
| “I called out to the Lord, out of my distress, | Ps. 3.4 | I cried aloud to the Lord… |
| and he answered me; | Ps.118.5 | Out of my distress I called on the Lord… |
| out of the belly of Sheol I cried, | Ps.16.10 | For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, |
| and you heard my voice. | or let your holy one see corruption. | |
| 3 For you cast me into the deep, | Ps.88.6,7 | You have put me in the depths of the pit in the regions dark and deep. |
| into the heart of the seas, | Your wrath lies heavy upon me, and you overwhelm me with all your waves. Selah | |
| and the flood surrounded me; | ||
| all your waves and your billows | Ps.42.7 | Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me. |
| passed over me. | ||
| 4 Then I said, ‘I am driven away | Ps.31.22 | I had said in my alarm, |
| from your sight; | “I am cut off from your sight.” | |
| yet I shall again look | But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy | |
| upon your holy temple.’ | when I cried to you for help. | |
| 5 The waters closed in over me to take my life; | ||
| the deep surrounded me; | Ps. 69.1-2 | Save me, O God! |
| weeds were wrapped about my head | For the waters have come up to my neck. | |
| 6 at the roots of the mountains. | I sink in deep mire, | |
| I went down to the land | where there is no foothold; | |
| whose bars closed upon me forever; | I have come into deep waters, | |
| yet you brought up my life from the pit, | and the flood sweeps over me. | |
| O Lord my God. | ||
| 7 When my life was fainting away, | ||
| I remembered the Lord, | ||
| and my prayer came to you, | ||
| into your holy temple. | ||
| 8 Those who pay regard to vain idols | Ps. 31.6 | I hate those who pay regard to worthless idols, but I trust in the Lord. |
| forsake their hope of steadfast love. | Ps. 31.7 | I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, |
| But I with the voice of thanksgiving | Ps.50.14 | Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, |
| will sacrifice to you; | and perform your vows to the Most High, | |
| what I have vowed I will pay. | Ps.22.25 | From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will perform… |
| Salvation belongs to the Lord!” | Ps. 3.8 | Salvation belongs to the Lord; |
| your blessing be on your people! Selah | ||