4
At aking sinabi, Ako'y nahagis mula sa harap ng iyong mga mata; Gayon ma'y titingin ako uli sa iyong banal na templo.
Jonas 2:4
Exploring the Meaning of Jonah 2
By New Christian Bible Study Staff
In Jonah 2:1-10, Jonah is trapped in the belly of the great fish. He prays for salvation, and in the end, after this terrible trial, he is vomited forth onto dry land.
Before a new church -- either a state of good and truth with a group of people, or a new state of good an truth in ourselves - can come into existence, a period of temptation, of struggle, must occur. During this time a remnant of good and truth from prior states, will be preserved. This happens to us. When we really don't want to do something that we know we should do, we get into a state of spiritual temptation. That's what this chapter is about.
In Arcana Coelestia 756, it says: "In Jonah, 'The waters closed around me, even to my soul, the deep surrounded me. Here... 'the waters' and 'the deep' stand for the full extent of temptation.
This chapter also prophesies, or foreshadows, the combats that Jesus Christ would have with the hells, and his most grievous temptations at the time. The “three days and nights during which Jonah was in the bowels of the fish,” signify the entire duration of the combat with the hells.
In the New Testament, in Matthew 12:39-41, there's a reference back to this story:
"No sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and will condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah. And now One greater than Jonah is here.
For us, then... what? When we've turned away from the Lord, and we're in "the belly of the fish" - in temptations, struggles, combats, and everything looks pretty hopeless - then if we really pray, and seek the Lord's help, he can help us.
Here's a link to an interesting (audio) sermon on this chapter, by Rev. Todd Beiswenger.
Here, too, is a link to Rev. McCurdy's study guide for the Book of Jonah, which is available for free as a .pdf, for your use.
Matthew 11
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It happened that when Jesus had finished directing his twelve disciples, he departed from there to teach and preach in their cities.
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Now when John heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples
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and said to him, "Are you he who comes, or should we look for another?"
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Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John the things which you hear and see:
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the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.
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Blessed is he who finds no occasion for stumbling in me."
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As these went their way, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John, "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
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But what did you go out to see? A man in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in king's houses.
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But why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet.
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For this is he, of whom it is written, 'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.'
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Most certainly I tell you, among those who are born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptizer; yet he who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he.
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From the days of John the Baptizer until now, the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
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For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
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If you are willing to receive it, this is Elijah, who is to come.
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He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
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"But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces, who call to their companions
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and say, 'We played the flute for you, and you didn't dance. We mourned for you, and you didn't lament.'
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For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.'
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The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' But wisdom is justified by her children."
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Then he began to denounce the cities in which most of his mighty works had been done, because they didn't repent.
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"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
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But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.
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You, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, you will go down to Hades. For if the mighty works had been done in Sodom which were done in you, it would have remained until this day.
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But I tell you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom, on the day of judgment, than for you."
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At that time, Jesus answered, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you hid these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to infants.
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Yes, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in your sight.
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All things have been delivered to me by my Father. No one knows the Son, except the Father; neither does anyone know the Father, except the Son, and he to whom the Son desires to reveal him.
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"Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.
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Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls.
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For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
