Sharper Iron — Majoring in the Minors - Jonah 2:1-10: A Fishy Prayer

The LORD showed grace to Jonah by appointing a fish to swallow the rebellious prophet and spare his life. From the belly of the fish, Jonah prayed to the LORD based on prayers that he had learned from the Psalms. Jonah recognized that the LORD had cast him into the depths, but Jonah also knew that the LORD alone could deliver him from those depths. Jonah cried out to the LORD to the temple as the place the LORD had promised to be present for His people’s salvation. The LORD gave His salvation to Jonah by causing the fish to vomit the prophet back onto dry ground. Jonah’s three days and nights in the belly of the fish are a type of the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Rev. Dr. Martin Dressler, pastor at Salem Lutheran Church and School in Black Jack, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Jonah 2:1-10.

To learn more about Salem Lutheran, visit salembjmo.org.

“Majoring in the Minors” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the books of Hosea, Joel, Jonah, Micah, and Nahum. Although the books of these prophets are shorter, the Word of God they preached was important in the years leading up to the coming of the Christ, and that Word remains important for the Church today. Just as we still need to listen to their call to repentance over our idolatry, so we still need to heed their call to trust in the Savior, Jesus.

Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God’s Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org

Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund. Together in faith, LCEF helps to start, sustain and strengthen LCMS ministries through financial and strategic partnerships. Visit lcef.org.

Jonah 2:1-10

Jonah’s Prayer

2 Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, ²saying,

“I called out to the Lord, out of my distress,
    and he answered me;
out of the belly of Sheol I cried,
    and you heard my voice.
³For you cast me into the deep,
    into the heart of the seas,
    and the flood surrounded me;
all your breakers and your waves
    passed over me.
⁴Then I said, ‘I am driven away
    from your sight;
yet I shall again look
    upon your holy temple.’
⁵The waters closed in over me to take my life;
    the deep surrounded me;
weeds were wrapped about my head.
⁶To the roots of the mountains I went down,
    to the land whose bars closed upon me forever.
Yet you brought up my life from the pit,
    O Lord my God.
⁷When my life was fainting away,
    I remembered the Lord,
and my prayer came to you,
    into your holy temple.
⁸Those who pay regard to vain idols
    forsake their hope of steadfast love.
⁹But I with the voice of thanksgiving
    will sacrifice to you;
what I have vowed I will pay.
    Salvation belongs to the Lord!”

¹⁰And the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land.

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Rev. Timothy Appel

Although a mathematics degree may not be incredibly helpful to (proudly born-and-raised Texan) Rev. Timothy Appel while hosting Sharper Iron, his love of CFW Walther and the season of Easter will come in handy. His Call is shepherding the flock at Faith Lutheran Church in Godfrey, Illinois, and he’s also husband to wife Kristin and dad to their growing basketball team of children. When he’s not carrying out pastoral duties, you may find him reading “The Lord of the Rings,” snacking on Reese’s peanut butter cups, playing dominoes with his boys, or studying up on Texas history (including Sam Houston, of course).