Decision made from the depths
Decisions from the Deep
"8. 9. With a voice of thanksgiving I offer sacrifices to you, and I will pay my vows to you. Salvation comes from the Lord.” (Jon 2:8-9)
I. Text Commentary
The text shows Jonah, who had spent three days and three nights in a big fish, and came out in deep repentance before God. There are times when the word of God, which you couldn't hear during times of peace, is heard in the depths of your life. The Prophet disobeyed and went to Tarshish, and everything seemed to be going his way, but in the end he was frustrated by a great storm, and spent a painful time in the fish to look after himself. This is the self-reflection of the prophet I am going to talk about today.
II. The Prophet's Reflection
Reflection is a characteristic unique to humans that distinguishes them from animals. In order to see myself objectively, when I illuminate myself with the light of truth, not the light of my common sense and judgment, there is room for reflection. Therefore, the characteristic of a believer who is becoming more like the image of Christ every day is constant self-reflection. And only those who live under the light of God's Word can maintain the foundation of this rock in their lives.
A. A life without calling
Although the Prophet received a serious call from God, he walked the path of disobedience. When everything was peaceful, he didn't reflect on it, but as he faced the ordeal, he thoroughly reflected on his life, the first of which was a life in which he ignored his calling. Because they did not want the Gentiles to repent and return.
Even today, there are many people who live without discovering their calling. However, as they receive the Lord's grace deeply, they discover the reason and purpose of their existence in this world. I can't do everything in the world, but the one thing I have to do while I live is to find something that will always be on fire until it's perfected. How can I get a vocation? You must have a deep encounter with the Lord. Life is unhappy because it has no purpose. Others may be living in ignorance even though the Lord has clearly given them this calling. If he abandons his calling, God will also forsake him. I hope you will deeply repent and return to this calling and discover your calling.
B. Betrayal of Grace
The second is to reflect on the betrayal of grace. he says Those who worship vanity have forsaken the grace they have given them, but after repenting and returning to the bosom of the Lord, they remembered many wicked people who were against God. They have betrayed God's grace by living a futile life and worshiping lies. It was, in fact, his appearance until recently. God gave Jonah a great missionary mission and gave him grace that he could handle, but he broke God's calling with his prejudice and self-will toward God. It is a total betrayal of the grace of the Lord. All the good things we enjoy today, even our lives, were given as gifts. If we think about our past, life itself is a bundle of God's grace.
Ⅲ. Decisions from the Deep
In this depth, the Prophet made three decisions. the bible says “I will sacrifice to You with a voice of thanksgiving, and I will pay You my vows. Salvation comes from the LORD. Amen"
A. Deciding to audit
Through self-reflection, I was able to see myself objectively and rethink what God has for me. Then he decided to thank him first. “I will give you a voice of thanks.” When you are filled with grace in your heart for things that would not have been the conditions for thanks without grace, you are truly grateful and offer up a prayer of thanks before God with tears. This is the deep realization of the Prophet.
B. Committed to Commitment
Second, he decided to make a commitment. he says “I will offer you a sacrifice.” This sacrifice must have been a burnt offering. Burnt offerings were offered by burning with fire, and when offering sacrifices symbolizing devotion, they were offered to God. I will die for the Lord as if I was killed, and I would suffer as if their limbs were severed, and as they all burn to smoke over the fire, so I will burn myself as a symbol to become the fragrance of the Lord. it was given to Repentance in the fish, he began to realize that he was not completely devoted to God. And he decided to give himself to God.
C. Return to the vow
The third decided to return to the seowon. he says “I will pay my vows to the Lord.” When God first called Jonah, he must have made a vow. ‘Lord, I will live as your prophet. I will convey your will to Israel and many people to obey your will.' And as he went back and forth between life and death for three days and three nights in a fish, he discovered how dirty and sinful his ignorance was before God. He also found his life a serious departure from his vows. And I confessed before God, "I will now pay my vows to the Lord." To trivialize a vow is to spit in the face of God. To cherish a vow, to fear it, and to try to pay it, is the greatest expression of reverence for God and love.
IV. Conclusion: Believe in Salvation
Finally, the Prophet confesses. “Salvation comes from the LORD.” How difficult is it to reach a conclusion? In a situation where he could neither die nor live, he confessed that his survival depended on God's salvation. The things in the world cannot quench the thirst of the soul. Seek God's total restoration. go back to calling When you deeply repent of the life you betrayed by grace and return to your original position, God will love you again and welcome you with grace. Whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 2011-07-10