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Daily Devotions

Jonah

Jonah 
Day 
Day 17

"But I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving"

Text: Jonah 2:9

CONCLUDING A HEARTFELT PRAYER

Jonah’s heartfelt prayer ended on a note of a restored faith in the Lord God. He had returned to being a prophet who seeks his God in humble prayer!

“‘Those who regard worthless idols,
Forsake their own Mercy.
But I will sacrifice to You
with the voice of thanksgiving;
I will pay what I have vowed.
Salvation is of the LORD.’
So the LORD spoke to the fish,
and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.”
Jonah 2:8-10

1. “Those who regard worthless idols”

a) Israel had worshipped idols.
b) The mariners had also worshiped idols.
c) Jonah’s observations
i) Idolatry was futile.
ii) Those who practiced idolatry forsake the mercy that could be theirs.
d) There was a deep sense of renewed gratitude in Jonah’s heart that he had known the Lord God.

2. “But I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving”

a) Jonah offered a sacrifice… not a burnt offering… but a sacrifice of thanksgiving.
b) Though he was still in the belly of the great fish, Jonah felt thankful he had faith in the Lord!

3. “I will pay what I have vowed”

a) He must have vowed to be faithful to the Lord when he was made a prophet.
b) He remembered his vow and he will seek to pay (fulfil) what he had vowed.

4. “Salvation is of the LORD”

a) Jonah had indeed made a full return to the Lord.
b) He would trust the Lord for salvation (deliverance) if He chose to give deliverance.

REMINDED OF THE LORD’S WORD TO THE PSALMIST ASAPH

We are reminded of the Lord’s word found in Psalm 50.

“Offer to God thanksgiving,
And pay your vows to the Most High.
Call upon Me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”
Psalm 50:14-15

God had received this prayer! He spoke to the great fish and it delivered Jonah safely onto dry land!