‘An Anthology of Thought: Meditations on Biblical Truths’
Chapter 25 - ‘Steps to Renewal’
Jonah 2
The second chapter of Jonah opens by underscoring the key to Jonah’s renewal - “Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish (v.1).” It’s been a long time coming, but Jonah now gives himself to what will alter his course. The captain of the ship had appealed to him to pray to his God (v.1:6), but we have no indication that he did. Now, in desperation he’s brought to his knees. It’s astounding what it takes to bring some people to the place where they’ll sincerely present themselves to God. It’s sad, but often true, that we have to come into devastating circumstances before we’ll listen to God’s instruction. A broken marriage. A debilitating illness. Financial crisis. Legal problems. The death of a loved one. We can be pretty stiff-necked and rebellious, and Jonah certainly was! The good news is that the Lord doesn’t give up and cast us aside; rather, he pursues us.
Jonah gets closer to renewal the more desperate the situation becomes. He finally prays! And contained in his prayer are the essential ingredients for a renewed walk with God.
Observations
Let me make two general observations: first, the situation Jonah faced was life threatening. Notice his description - “....out of the belly of Sheol [grave] I cried…(v.2:2)”....”The waters closed in over me to take my life;...(v.2:5)”...”...my life was fainting away,...(v.2:7)...”. This situation was fertile soil for either tragedy or transformation. Are you in this kind of situation where it could go either way depending on your response? Second, this was not an accidental event - “For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas,...(v.2:3).” This was part of God’s discipline, and it can be severe. But we can be assured of two things: it’s always motivated by love; and intended to produce good fruit in our lives. There’s a complimenting passage in the book of Hebrews - “And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him.For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it (vv.12:5-11).” God disciplines his own in order to reshape their lives into the image of Christ. It’s an expression of his fatherly love.
Renewal Principles
Jonah’s most pressing need was to be renewed, and get back in step with the will of God for his life. His prayer reveals five essential renewal principles. First, renewal often begins with affliction. Jonah was in great distress, so he called on the Lord for help. Adversity can be the means of driving us to the Lord. It’s in some of the most difficult circumstances that God speaks to us most clearly. An example of this is Paul’s conversion. He was struck down on the road to Damascus, blinded, and after three days he acknowledged Christ’s Lordship, was healed and baptized, and began to preach (Acts 9). Another example is the prodigal son (Lk.15) who, after misspending his inheritance found himself, a Jew, feeding pigs. He was hungry and desperate and considered eating the pig’s food. Then he ‘came to himself’ and decided to return to his father and ask to be received back. Affliction led to renewal. This truth is also affirmed by God through the prophet Hosea - “I will return again to my place, until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face, and in their distress earnestly seek me (Hosea 5:15).” The Psalmist agrees - “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word (Ps.119:67).”
A second principle: renewal requires confession and the honest acknowledgement of our condition. Confession means to agree with God, and Jonah does just that - “...I am driven away from your sight;...(v.2:4).” Acknowledging that we’re not where God wants us to be, without rationalizing, is the first active step toward renewal. Jonah’s confession started with the words ‘I am”. How would you finish this sentence if you only had two words to choose from? ‘I am….(saved or lost). Which would it be? Oh, that God would give us the grace to make honest confessions; it leads to renewal! Solomon writes - “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy (Prov. 28:13).” Confession is good for the soul!
Third, renewal involves remembering the Lord - “When my life was fainting away, I remembered the Lord,....(v.2:7).” Who do your thoughts turn to when life gets tough? For Jonah his thoughts returned to the Lord who he had served so faithfully before. He remembered that God was patient, gracious, loving, and forgiving. The Psalmist David held this conviction as well - “I remembered the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands (Ps.143:5).” When present poor choices lead us into trouble the memory of God’s past faithfulness gives us hope and something stable to hold on to.
The fourth renewal principle is that renewal demands determined seeking - “...I shall again look upon your holy temple (v.2:4).” ‘I shall’ indicates that this is a statement of resolve. Jonah’s determined to get his life properly centered again. He asserted his will just as the prodigal did when he said, “I will arise and go to my father (Lk.15:18).” To be renewed spiritually demands that we become serious about the things of God, exercise our will, and seek the Lord wholeheartedly. This truth is presented forcefully in Jeremiah’s prophetic word - “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart (Jer. 29:13).” No words can better express the attitude of determined seeking than the two simple words ‘I will’!
Finally, renewal requires that we turn from idols - “Those who pay regard to [cling to] vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love [forfeit the grace that could be theirs] (v. 2:8).” An idol is anything that crowds the Lord out of the center of our lives and takes his rightful place. For Jonah, the idol, it was blind patriotism. He wanted Nineveh judged, because Assyria was a threat to Israel. The common idols of our day are wealth, power, pleasure, sex, fame, recreation, drugs, alcohol, and ease. If we want the touch of God on our lives we must make sure that nothing is allowed to challenge Christ’s Lordship. He’s to remain at the very center of our lives, holding the position of preeminence. The call is to reject idols or forfeit the renewing grace of God.
Evidence of Renewal
When these principles are exercised in our lives three pieces of evidence of renewal will express themselves: worship - “But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; ”.....obedience - “what I have vowed I will pay…;”....affirmation - “...Salvation belongs to the Lord (v.2:9).” There is no pride or self-glory in any of these indicators of renewal. Do you need to be renewed? Apply these principles!