A Fishing Tale... Prayers From the Deep

Jonah is likely a satire on prophetic literature. Yet, its short and wild story is somewhat comedic, instructive, and thought provoking. Jonah was not a prophet for us to model, but rather a kind of anti-prophet that can hold a mirror to our own misconceptions of God and ourselves.

Today's sermon picks up on Jonah's story in the belly of the whale when he prays to God:

“I called to the Lord out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice. 3 You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me. 4 Then I said, ‘I am driven away from your sight; how[a] shall I look again upon your holy temple?’ 5 The waters closed in over me; the deep surrounded me; weeds were wrapped around my head 6 at 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. 7 As my life was ebbing away, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple. 8 Those who worship vain idols forsake their true loyalty. 9 But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Deliverance belongs to the Lord!”

Join us for Weekend Worship every Sunday morning at 8:30 or 10:00 a.m. www.jcfumc.org/weekend-worship