We’re now into Jonah 2, and Jonah prays. If I were in the belly of a fish, I certainly would, wouldn’t you?

From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his God. He said: “In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me…When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, LORD, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple. (Jonah 2.1, 2, 7, NIV)

He prays for deliverance from a problem of his own making.

From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry. You hurled me into the depths, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me. (Jonah 2.2, 3, NIV)

He doesn’t sugarcoat his situation. It really is bad!

I said, ‘I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.’ The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. (Jonah 2.4 – 6a, NIV)

But even when it looked bad, he had faith that “I will look again toward your holy temple.” Then back to the situation. “The engulfing waters…”

Then he realizes something, the lesson we should all take from chapter 2:

Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. (Jonah 2.8, NIV1984)

And he appears to promise God that he’ll do better next time!

But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the LORD.’ ” (Jonah 2.9, NIV)

And he does. Stay tuned for chapter 3.

And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land. (Jonah 2.10, NIV)