Grace Bible Church

Chapter two is a view of that curious work of Jehovah wrought in the lower parts of the earth.

In connection with the previous chapter notice that for men salvation is a matter of faith. Those mariners above are enjoying the blessedness of calm and tranquility. Faith brought that about! Rom5vs1 "herefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:".

But Faith did not save them! It was Christ typified by Jonah that saved them. The sea would not have obeyed had they cast your pastor overboard. Oh no! There is but one sacrifice for sin. And God Almighty had respect unto the sacrifice not their faith. See Heb11vs4.

We must believe, but our faith is in vain if Christ did not die!

What we have below is that atoning work of God's Son. The language of this chapter corresponds with the Messianic psalm. Ps 3vs4 "I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.", also Ps118vs5 and Psalm 120vs1.

They teach us that Christ had to suffer the awful death of Justice for his people. The constant anguish and cries of the psalmist, whoever they were, are the testimonies of the Spirit of Christ, which would show us of the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow. See 1Peter 1vs11.

Vs3-6 teach us of the overwhelming nature of Christ suffering and agony. This he called His Baptism. Luke 12vs50 "But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!" Psalm 88vs1-6 describes the wrath of God upon Christ and his souls anguish. Who can ever know the suffering of that holy and just man? None will by themselves. The accumulative sufferings of all his people of all time are wrapped up in that sacred moment that GOD his Father forsook him.

We can but look on in awe and astonishment at a wisdom and justice and soon to be mercy. He is alone and there is none with him! The whale of Justice has emptied itself upon Christ.

Vs6 "I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God" explains the duration equivalent of his sufferings. It was an eternal act of atonement. Sin is infinite in it's offence and justice demands an infinite punishment. Don't try to comprehend it, believe it, lest it come nigh you! And we could never satisfy justice.

Vs7 "When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple." As Jonah was given grace to look to Jehovah in the temple. Knowing that God was his God and that this would not destroy his servant, even so Jesus Christ while forsaken of the Father knew that his Father would not utterly abandon him to death and destruction.

Psalm 16vs10-11 "For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."

It was but for a little moment that he hid his face, as he did for Jonah, He did also for Christ and his elect in him. It was a short work that the LORD performed and cut it short in everlasting righteousness. Rom 10vs28 "For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth."

A few dark and horrible hours on the cursed tree and three days in the grave, for the sinless Son of God, in the stead of untold numbers of the redeemed, who would have to spend all eternity under GOD'S Holy wrath, and still would not satisfy justice. What a GOD-Man! "And the chastisement of our peace was upon him".

Vs9 "But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD." It seems contradictory that Jonah would give thanks before being rescued. His deliverance has not yet come. But even more astounding is the fact that Christ gave thanks in the face of his betrayal and crucifixion. Matt26vs25-30 "And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;" He blessed, he gave thanks, and he sang an hymn. What fullness of Grace!

Vs10 "And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land." Here we have the resurrection of our Savior. Justice has been satisfied. Christ is risen. Our sins have been purged by him alone. Glory Hallelujah! It is finished! Death can hurt us no more. The whale is content!

Now what? I'll tell you what! Pardon and peace will be proclaimed to the gentiles now, that's what. Further, they will believe, simply because Christ has put away their sin, and the great work of evangelizing the gentile world must begin. The message is prepared. The messenger is prepared. Lets see if the people are prepared.

Acts 13vs48 "And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed."