Do you find reading and understanding the Bible, specifically the Old Testament, difficult? Courage For Life wants to help you study the Bible for yourself so you can live the life God intended for you and embrace the courage God gives through knowing Him and His Word.
This blog is written to help you study one specific set of verses in the Bible: Jonah 2:1-10. However, this study method of observing the verses using questions could be applied to other verses in the Bible.
First, your study of the Old Testament is helped when you know the broader context of the specific verses you are reading. The book of Jonah is one of the twelve minor prophet books in the Old Testament of the Bible. Additionally, immediate context is helpful when studying. These specific verses, Jonah 2:1-10, occur in the second chapter of a four-chapter book so having knowledge of chapter 1 of the book of Jonah can help you understand what happens before chapter 2 while reading chapter 3 of Jonah informs you of what happens after Chapter 2.
Jonah Observation Questions
Try to answer these observation questions as you read or listen to Jonah 2:1-10.
What type of literature (genre) is the book of Jonah?
The book of Jonah is historical narrative because the content in the book communicates a real-life experience of an Old Testament prophet named Jonah. In the New Testament, one of the gospels, Matthew 12:38-40, Jesus speaks of the sign of Jonah to support the validity of the Scriptures. Jonah was a man in biblical history that experienced a miracle of God. Jonah lived in the belly of a fish/whale for three days before being expelled to have the opportunity to obey God’s instructions.
Who are the two primary characters in the verses?
Jonah and God (the Lord) are the primary characters in Jonah 2:1-10. Both Jonah and God are mentioned in Jonah chapter 2, verses 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, and 10.
What is the primary topic mentioned in the verses?
The primary topic mentioned in Jonah 2:1-10 is praise to, of, and for God. From inside the belly of a fish/whale, Jonah recites a psalm of praise to God for rescuing him from drowning somewhere in the Mediterranean Sea. A psalm is a song.
Why is the primary topic mentioned in the verses?
If you can’t answer the question “why?” just by reading the verses repeatedly and reading the other chapters in the book of Jonah, sometimes your study of the Bible can be helped by consulting extra-biblical resources such as commentaries, maps, lexicons, etc.
In the New American Commentary, the writers suggest that the psalm in Jonah 2 is critical to the understanding and interpretation of the meaning of the book of Jonah because chapter two explains the following.
- Jonah’s partial heart change which led to his obedience in chapter three to go to Nineveh and proclaim God’s message.
- Jonah’s gratitude for his deliverance (i.e., he did not die).
- Jonah’s thoughts about the situation and what he has learned thus far.
- God’s forgiveness and mercy toward Jonah.
Therefore, Jonah 2:1-10 could be recorded in the Bible to teach future readers of the Bible that in any situation or life circumstance believers in God can speak (or sing or shout) their praise and thanksgiving to God (Jonah 2:4, 7).
How did the primary topic impact the audience and/or the people mentioned in the verses?
Jonah’s prayer/psalm/song of praise is heard by God (Jonah 2:2) and God delivered Jonah from death (Jonah 2:5, 6, 9, 10).
Describe the primary theme of the verses in a few words/phrases or one sentence.
The primary theme of Jonah 2:1-10 could be: Salvation is from God who mercifully offers salvation for all those who call on Him.
What are the Bible verses that precede and follow the verses you are studying?
The Bible verses that precede Jonah 2:1-10 are Jonah 1:1-17. The Bible verses that follow Jonah 2:1-10 are Jonah 3:1-10. The primary theme of Jonah 1:1-17 could be: God sovereignly acts according to His will even when His people/followers run from Him or disobey His instructions. The primary theme of Jonah 3:1-10 could be: Second chances are from God or God graciously provides second chances when people (both God’s people/His followers and not God’s people/pagans) cry out or turn to Him.
In what way does the primary themes of the preceding verses (Jonah 1:1-17), the verses that follow (Jonah 3:1-10), and the verses you are studying (Jonah 2:1-10) relate to one another?
The first, second, and third chapters of the book of Jonah all relate to one another in the following way: God’s mercy and compassion prevail despite man’s sinfulness.
Summarize the primary theme of the book of Jonah in a few words.
God’s mercy and compassion extend to all people.
How does studying Jonah 2:1-10 contribute to your understanding of the overall book of Jonah?
Jonah 2 helps you understand that even though Jonah ran from obeying God’s instructions and did not want to use his life for God’s purposes, God was merciful and compassionate toward Jonah by being willing to deliver/save Jonah from physical death (i.e., dying at sea in the ship, drowning in the raging waters, dying in the belly of a fish) despite Jonah’s disobedience to God. God gives Jonah a second chance to obey God’s instructions.
What does Jonah 2:1-10 teach about God?
- God hears when you pray. (Jonah 2:2, 7)
- God is merciful and compassionate. (Jonah 2:6)
- God alone is the source of salvation. (Jonah 2:9)
- God is worthy of worship/praise. (Jonah 2:8-9)
- God is sovereign over all creation. (Jonah 2:3, 6, 10)
- God performs miracles or supernatural acts to accomplish His purposes. (Jonah 2:10)
What does Jonah 2:1-10 teach about human beings?
At all times, human beings should/can cry out to God for help, especially in times of distress or discomfort, even when their circumstances are due to their own disobedience to God. (Jonah 2:2) Human beings need God to rescue them. Salvation comes from God alone. (Jonah 2:9) Despite human being’s disobedience to God, there is hope of deliverance because of who God is. God is merciful and compassionate. (Jonah 2:4, 6, 7, 9, 10) Human beings should express praise and thanksgiving to God when God rescues them or provides deliverance in their lives. (Jonah 2:9)
How does Jonah 2:1-10 point to Jesus?
Jesus likens Jonah’s experience in the belly of a fish/whale for three days to Jesus’ being in the tomb for three days and three nights before His resurrection. (Matthew 12:40) Just as Jonah’s experience in the belly of the fish/whale was a sign to the Ninevites of God’s merciful and compassionate pursuit of them, so Jesus’ incarnation, death, burial, and resurrection is a sign to all mankind God’s merciful and compassionate pursuit of them. (Luke 11:29-30) Jesus is God, the Son. Jesus is greater than the human prophet Jonah. (Matthew 12:41)
Why would you put forth the effort to study the Bible?
Your effort to study the Bible for yourself lets God know that you want to know Him. It also demonstrates to God that you are trying to express how much you love Him for delivering you from sin and reconciling you back to Him.
This study method of using observation questions is just one method to help you study the Bible for yourself. Why would you apply the teachings of the Bible to your life? Learn more in the second part of this series: Empowering Followers of Jesus to Study the Old Testament | Part 2: Application of Jonah 2:1-10
