Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name;
    make known his deeds among the peoples!
2 Sing to him, sing praises to him;
    tell of all his wondrous works!
3 Glory in his holy name;
    let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!
4 Seek the Lord and his strength;
    seek his presence continually!
5 Remember the wondrous works that he has done,
    his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,
6 O offspring of Abraham, his servant,
    children of Jacob, his chosen ones!
7 He is the Lord our God;
    his judgments are in all the earth.

8 He remembers his covenant forever,
    the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,
9 the covenant that he made with Abraham,
    his sworn promise to Isaac,
10 which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute,
    to Israel as an everlasting covenant,
11 saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan
    as your portion for an inheritance.”
 
12 When they were few in number,
    of little account, and sojourners in it,
13 wandering from nation to nation,
    from one kingdom to another people,
14 he allowed no one to oppress them;
    he rebuked kings on their account,
15 saying, “Touch not my anointed ones,
    do my prophets no harm!”
16 When he summoned a famine on the land
    and broke all supply of bread,
17 he had sent a man ahead of them,
    Joseph, who was sold as a slave.

18 His feet were hurt with fetters;
    his neck was put in a collar of iron;
19 until what he had said came to pass,
    the word of the Lord tested him.
20 The king sent and released him;
    the ruler of the peoples set him free;
21 he made him lord of his house
    and ruler of all his possessions,
22 to bind[b] his princes at his pleasure
    and to teach his elders wisdom.
23 Then Israel came to Egypt;
    Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.
24 And the Lord made his people very fruitful
    and made them stronger than their foes.
25 He turned their hearts to hate his people,
    to deal craftily with his servants.
26 He sent Moses, his servant,
    and Aaron, whom he had chosen.

27 They performed his signs among them
    and miracles in the land of Ham.
28 He sent darkness, and made the land dark;
    they did not rebel
against his words.
29 He turned their waters into blood
    and caused their fish to die.
30 Their land swarmed with frogs,
    even in the chambers of their kings.
31 He spoke, and there came swarms of flies,
    and gnats throughout their country.
32 He gave them hail for rain,
    and fiery lightning bolts through their land.

33 He struck down their vines and fig trees,
    and shattered the trees of their country.
34 He spoke, and the locusts came,
    young locusts without number,
35 which devoured all the vegetation in their land
    and ate up the fruit of their ground.
36 He struck down all the firstborn in their land,
    the firstfruits of all their strength.
37 Then he brought out Israel with silver and gold,
    and there was none among his tribes who stumbled.

38 Egypt was glad when they departed,
    for dread of them had fallen upon it.
39 He spread a cloud for a covering,
    and fire to give light by night.
40 They asked, and he brought quail,
    and gave them bread from heaven in abundance.
41 He opened the rock, and water gushed out;
    it flowed through the desert like a river.
42 For he remembered his holy promise,
    and Abraham, his servant.
43 So he brought his people out with joy,
    his chosen ones with singing.
44 And he gave them the lands of the nations,
    and they took possession of the fruit of the peoples' toil,
45 that they might keep his statutes
    and observe his laws.
Praise the Lord!
 
Meditation
God’s grace causes people to sing. Adam sang over the grace of being given Eve (Genesis 2:23). Moses and Miriam sang after crossing the Red Sea (Exodus 15). Hannah and Elizabeth share lyrics of a song of praise after receiving the grace of pregnancy (1 Samuel 2, Luke 1). Believers from all time and all nations sing a song of salvation around the throne of our Savior Jesus Christ (Revelation 5, 7).  God’s grace gives voice to sing.
 
Rescued hearts will rejoice in the Lord. The song of celebration comes from the heart (3). God Himself leads His people to salvation with great joy (43) so it is right for us to respond with rejoicing (3).
 
God is forever faithful to His covenant, faithful to His word to a thousand generations (7-8). God remembers His holy promises and redeems His chosen people (42). God’s sovereign grace gives both famine (16) and fruitfulness (24). God turns the hearts of enemies to repentance (25) and tramples over the gods of this world with His might (26-36). God provides the impossible, provision in the wilderness and water from a rock (37-41). God saves and God sustains, orchestrating all of life by His sovereign grace and for His glory.
 
Rejoicing is the response to God’s great grace. God’s covenant faithfulness is seen fully in the person and work of Jesus Christ. His great salvation on the cross, the victory of God revealed in resurrection from the grave. By grace God joyfully gives salvation! Let us rejoice in Him.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Where do you see God’s grace throughout this Psalm? Name at least three places.
 
-How is God’s grace the basis for rejoicing and singing in the Scriptures, God’s work leading to our worship?
 
-What does it look like for you to rejoice in the grace of God? What is keeping you from rejoicing? How can it be replaced with a refocus on Jesus and His work for you?
 
Key Verse
43 So he brought his people out with joy, his chosen ones with singing.

​ “And you, son of man, prophesy against Gog and say, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. 2 And I will turn you about and drive you forward, and bring you up from the uttermost parts of the north, and lead you against the mountains of Israel. 3 Then I will strike your bow from your left hand, and will make your arrows drop out of your right hand. 4 You shall fall on the mountains of Israel, you and all your hordes and the peoples who are with you. I will give you to birds of prey of every sort and to the beasts of the field to be devoured. 5 You shall fall in the open field, for I have spoken, declares the Lord God. 6 I will send fire on Magog and on those who dwell securely in the coastlands, and they shall know that I am the Lord.
7 “And my holy name I will make known in the midst of my people Israel, and I will not let my holy name be profaned anymore. And the nations shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel. 8 Behold, it is coming and it will be brought about, declares the Lord God. That is the day of which I have spoken.
9 “Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out and make fires of the weapons and burn them, shields and bucklers, bow and arrows, clubs  and spears; and they will make fires of them for seven years, 10 so that they will not need to take wood out of the field or cut down any out of the forests, for they will make their fires of the weapons. They will seize the spoil of those who despoiled them, and plunder those who plundered them, declares the Lord God.
11 “On that day I will give to Gog a place for burial in Israel, the Valley of the Travelers, east of the sea. It will block the travelers, for there Gog and all his multitude will be buried. It will be called the Valley of Hamon-gog. 12 For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them, in order to cleanse the land. 13 All the people of the land will bury them, and it will bring them renown on the day that I show my glory, declares the Lord God. 14 They will set apart men to travel through the land regularly and bury those travelers remaining on the face of the land, so as to cleanse it. At the end of seven months they will make their search.15 And when these travel through the land and anyone sees a human bone, then he shall set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in the Valley of Hamon-gog. 16 (Hamonah is also the name of the city.) Thus shall they cleanse the land.
17 “As for you, son of man, thus says the Lord God: Speak to the birds of every sort and to all beasts of the field: ‘Assemble and come, gather from all around to the sacrificial feast that I am preparing for you, a great sacrificial feast on the mountains of Israel, and you shall eat flesh and drink blood. 18 You shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth—of rams, of lambs, and of he-goats, of bulls, all of them fat beasts of Bashan. 19 And you shall eat fat till you are filled, and drink blood till you are drunk, at the sacrificial feast that I am preparing for you. 20 And you shall be filled at my table with horses and charioteers, with mighty men and all kinds of warriors,’ declares the Lord God.
21 “And I will set my glory among the nations, and all the nations shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid on them. 22 The house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God, from that day forward. 23 And the nations shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity, because they dealt so treacherously with me that I hid my face from them and gave them into the hand of their adversaries, and they all fell by the sword. 24 I dealt with them according to their uncleanness and their transgressions, and hid my face from them.
The Lord Will Restore Israel25 “Therefore thus says the Lord God: Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have mercy on the whole house of Israel, and I will be jealous for my holy name. 26 They shall forget their shame and all the treachery they have practiced against me, when they dwell securely in their land with none to make them afraid, 27 when I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them from their enemies' lands, and through them have vindicated my holiness in the sight of many nations. 28 Then they shall know that I am the Lord their God, because I sent them into exile among the nations and then assembled them into their own land. I will leave none of them remaining among the nations anymore. 29 And I will not hide my face anymore from them, when I pour out my Spirit upon the house of Israel, declares the Lord God.”

​Meditation
God promises to defeat His enemies and give peace to His people. The cross of Christ reveals God’s sovereign grace to work His will for the good of His people and the glory of His name. The cross of Christ reminds us that every detail of life, our sufferings and successes, are a vehicle for God’s glory.
 
Today’s reading begins with a confrontation with enemies (1) and ends with a foretold consummation of God and His people, a promise of pouring out God’s Spirit (29). Historic enemies of God personified by the title Gog will be defeated, removing threat externally. Internally there will be peace, promised personal relationship with the Lord. God’s work transforms difficulties into display cases for His glory (13, 21).
 
God’s glory comes through judgment on sin and the defeat of the enemy. When the world sees God’s power then the Lord’s name will be known, by His people (21-22) and among the nations (23-24). His work spreads His glory.
 
The cross of Christ is the place where Gog is transformed to glory. The enemy is defeated, removing threat externally. Peace is offered internally through the forgiveness of sins and the removal of shame. The place of judgment is transformed into a doorway of hope (Colossians 1:19-29; 2:13-15). Jesus is the glory of God and His work furthers God’s glory in our life and our world.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Do you live in victory, believing God has defeated His enemies and that there is not true external threat for His people?
 
-Do you believe God gives peace internally, offering forgiveness of sins and removal of shame?
 
-The cross of Christ is the catalyst to transformative hope. Through judgment God offers joy of victory and peace. Jesus died so the glory of God can be grabbed and carried by our souls! How can you hope in this glory, Christ in you? Be specific.
 
Key Verse
25 “Therefore thus says the Lord God: Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have mercy on the whole house of Israel, and I will be jealous for my holy name. 

Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. 2 And the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons, and the Philistines struck down Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul.3 The battle pressed hard against Saul, and the archers found him, and he was wounded by the archers. 4 Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and mistreat me.” But his armor-bearer would not, for he feared greatly. Therefore Saul took his own sword and fell upon it. 5 And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell upon his sword and died. 6 Thus Saul died; he and his three sons and all his house died together. 7 And when all the men of Israel who were in the valley saw that the army had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled, and the Philistines came and lived in them.
8 The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9 And they stripped him and took his head and his armor, and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to carry the good news to their idols and to the people. 10 And they put his armor in the temple of their gods and fastened his head in the temple of Dagon. 11 But when all Jabesh-gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 all the valiant men arose and took away the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh. And they buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh and fasted seven days.
13 So Saul died for his breach of faith. He broke faith with the Lord in that he did not keep the command of the Lord, and also consulted a medium, seeking guidance. 14 He did not seek guidance from the Lord. Therefore the Lord put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.

​Meditation
The leader promising charisma without character will go as far as natural ability carries them. God’s leader centered on God’s work whose foundation is God’s word and who is dependent on God’s Spirit will reflect God’s character and serve for God’s glory.
 
Saul was welcomed as king because he came from a wealthy family and was “head and shoulders” taller than anyone else (1 Samuel 9). Saul lacked character as he made rash vows, unlawful sacrifices, sought help from sorcerers, and rejected God’s direction. Self-focused and self-serving leadership is unsustainable.
 
God will not tolerate a leader of His people who rejects His word and ways. Saul and his three sons died in battle. The repetition of Saul’s death, mentioned five times in these verses as a backdrop to the passing around of his body and severed head, reinforces that leaders come and go but God’s work continues.
 
The narrative leaves you without question as to why Saul died. Saul broke faith, rejected God’s ways, ignored God’s guidance, and sought direction from a sorcerer (13-14). The story of Scripture continues to a greater King, Jesus Christ, who kept faith, was obedient to death, and followed the Father’s guidance to the cross, so that those of us like Saul can find salvation, the forgiveness of sins.
 
God’s grace through His greater King is the ground from which we grow godly character. Grace invites us to turn from our sin and begin again, centered on God’s work, and walking in God’s word, to live more faithfully and fruitfully for God’s glory.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Do you follow leaders with charisma or character? Why?
 
-Where have you seen the reality that God will not tolerate leaders of his people who reject His word and authority? Where do you see this in your own life?
 
-Saul is not the end of the story. Jesus is the greater King whose service gives salvation to all who believe. How does God’s story of redemption center on Jesus and strengthen your desire to have God’s character in your life and leadership?
 
Key Verse
13 So Saul died for his breach of faith. He broke faith with the Lord in that he did not keep the command of the Lord, and also consulted a medium, seeking guidance. 14 He did not seek guidance from the Lord. Therefore the Lord put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.

The Lord spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they drew near before the Lord and died, 2 and the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat that is on the ark, so that he may not die. For I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat. 3 But in this way Aaron shall come into the Holy Place: with a bull from the herd for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.4 He shall put on the holy linen coat and shall have the linen undergarment on his body, and he shall tie the linen sash around his waist, and wear the linen turban; these are the holy garments. He shall bathe his body in water and then put them on. 5 And he shall take from the congregation of the people of Israel two male goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.
6 “Aaron shall offer the bull as a sin offering for himself and shall make atonement for himself and for his house. 7 Then he shall take the two goats and set them before the Lord at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 8 And Aaron shall cast lots over the two goats, one lot for the Lord and the other lot for Azazel, 9 And Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for the Lord and use it as a sin offering, 10 but the goat on which the lot fell for Azazel shall be presented alive before the Lord to make atonement over it, that it may be sent away into the wilderness to Azazel.
11 “Aaron shall present the bull as a sin offering for himself, and shall make atonement for himself and for his house. He shall kill the bull as a sin offering for himself. 12 And he shall take a censer full of coals of fire from the altar before the Lord, and two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small, and he shall bring it inside the veil 13 and put the incense on the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is over the testimony, so that he does not die. 14 And he shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the front of the mercy seat on the east side, and in front of the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times.
15 “Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people and bring its blood inside the veil and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, sprinkling it over the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat. 16 Thus he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleannesses of the people of Israel and because of their transgressions, all their sins. And so he shall do for the tent of meeting, which dwells with them in the midst of their uncleannesses. 17 No one may be in the tent of meeting from the time he enters to make atonement in the Holy Place until he comes out and has made atonement for himself and for his house and for all the assembly of Israel. 18 Then he shall go out to the altar that is before the Lord and make atonement for it, and shall take some of the blood of the bull and some of the blood of the goat, and put it on the horns of the altar all around. 19 And he shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it and consecrate it from the uncleannesses of the people of Israel.
20 “And when he has made an end of atoning for the Holy Place and the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall present the live goat. 21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins. And he shall put them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness.22 The goat shall bear all their iniquities on itself to a remote area, and he shall let the goat go free in the wilderness.
23 “Then Aaron shall come into the tent of meeting and shall take off the linen garments that he put on when he went into the Holy Place and shall leave them there. 24 And he shall bathe his body in water in a holy place and put on his garments and come out and offer his burnt offering and the burnt offering of the people and make atonement for himself and for the people.25 And the fat of the sin offering he shall burn on the altar. 26 And he who lets the goat go to Azazel shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterward he may come into the camp. 27 And the bull for the sin offering and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the Holy Place, shall be carried outside the camp. Their skin and their flesh and their dung shall be burned up with fire. 28 And he who burns them shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterward he may come into the camp.
29 “And it shall be a statute to you forever that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict yourselves and shall do no work, either the native or the stranger who sojourns among you.30 For on this day shall atonement be made for you to cleanse you. You shall be clean before the Lord from all your sins. 31 It is a Sabbath of solemn rest to you, and you shall afflict yourselves; it is a statute forever.32 And the priest who is anointed and consecrated as priest in his father's place shall make atonement, wearing the holy linen garments. 33 He shall make atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make atonement for the tent of meeting and for the altar, and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly. 34 And this shall be a statute forever for you, that atonement may be made for the people of Israel once in the year because of all their sins.” And Aaron did as the Lord commanded Moses.
 
Meditation
The etymology of the term “scapegoat” is rooted in this passage and used to refer to someone who takes the blame for failures, wrongdoings, or faults to free others to find a new beginning. A coach can be the scapegoat for the shortcomings of a team and a CEO for the failures of a company. The gospel proclaims our King is the scapegoat for our sins, freeing us to begin again.
 
The Day of Atonement was a gift to purify God’s people for personal relationship. Aaron used two goats, one sacrificed for sin and the other was the scapegoat. The scapegoat had the sins of the people prayed upon it before being sent into a “land cut off.” God makes provision to pay the penalty of sin AND remove the presence of sin. Grace restores relationship to begin again!
 
When we confess our sin God promises provision, faithful to forgive and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). God removes our sin as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:2) and remembers our sin no more (Hebrews 8:12; Jeremiah 31:34). God hurls our sin into the depths of the sea (Micah 7:19) and makes us white as snow (Isaiah 1:18). God’s grace both pays the penalty of sin and removes the stain of sin!
 
The cross of Christ secures the promised provision. Jesus took our sin as the ultimate scapegoat. Jesus died to pay the penalty for sin, becoming sin to make us righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21) and purify us for personal relationship with Him.
 
Richly Dwelling
-God has woven the gospel into the fabric of redemptive history. How does the Day of Atonement fuel a more full picture of the work of Christ?
 
-God provides atonement for the penalty of sin and promises to remove sin through purification to restore personal relationship. How does this free you and form you?
 
-Take time to confess your sin and saturate your soul in Christ’s finished work. In Christ Jesus you are forgiven! And your sin has been removed. Gone. Forever.
 
Key Verse
21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins. And he shall put them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness.

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,
2 To Timothy, my true child in the faith:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Warning Against False Teachers
3 As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, 4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. 5 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.
8 Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9 understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, 10 the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound[c]doctrine, 11 in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.
Christ Jesus Came to Save Sinners
12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 17 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever.  Amen.
18 This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, 20 among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.
 
Meditation
Authentic love in relationship will tell the truth. When a relationship is unimportant you will not take time to tell the truth. When someone or something is a high priority for you then you will make time to share the truth in love. Why? Truth in love leads to freedom and fruitfulness, so you may grow up into Christ (Ephesians 4:15).
 
Paul charges Timothy to remain in Ephesus to help the church become mature and fruitful. The “aim of the charge issues from a pure heart,” (5) writes the apostle, who longs to see genuine relationship for generational fruitfulness. Paul planted the church on his second missionary journey (Acts 18-20). Timothy is charged to water the plant with truth and love. God gives growth.
 
Timothy is to develop and deploy elders to oppose false teaching (3:15). The goal is to rekindle love in the hearts of the teachers (5) so they turn from their error (19-20). This “warfare” (18) is to be waged in humility, from mercy, for maturity. Paul himself had received mercy (13, 16) as the chief of sinners. God’s mercy is fertilizer for mature and fruitful faith.
 
Truth without love leads to fracturing, pushing agendas at the expense of personal relationship. Love without truth is fearful (1 John 4:18). God is love. Jesus is the truth and gives the Spirit of truth. God’s mercy invites the worst of sinners to fertilize faith for maturity and fruitfulness by living in love and truth.
 
 
Richly Dwelling
-Are you comfortable with the cohesion of truth in love?
 
-Where do you see maturity and fruitfulness coming through this combination, personally and corporately?
 
-Jesus is love and truth, offering freedom and fruitfulness for all who trust in Him. Where do you need to welcome truth, personally and in personal relationship with others? Where do you need to walk in love, personally and in personal relationship with others?
 
Key Verse
5 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 

1  And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
2 Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, 2 saying,
“I called out 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 For 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;
yet I shall again look
    upon your holy temple.’
5 The waters closed in over me to take my life;
    the deep surrounded me;
weeds were wrapped about 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 When my life was fainting away,
    I remembered the Lord,
and my prayer came to you,
    into your holy temple.
8 Those who pay regard to vain idols
    forsake their hope of steadfast love.
9 But I with the voice of thanksgiving
    will sacrifice to you;
what I have vowed I will pay.
    Salvation belongs to the Lord!”
10 And the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land.
 
Meditation
Sometimes God takes you to the depths so that you can see the height of His love. Our loving Heavenly Father uses circumstances to refocus our hearts on His grace and the purposes He has for us.
 
Jonah was in the darkness and the depths of the sea. The prophet prayed “from the belly of the fish” (1). The Lord answered from Heaven (2). The amazing love of God restores us to relationship rather than removing or replacing us because of rebellion.
 
The song sung after being swallowed shows how God’s servant was re-shaped by His circumstances. “Yet You brought me up from the pit…” proclaims the prophet in prayer and praise (6). Grace brought Jonah back from the grave so that he would be redeployed on the call God had for him (7-8).  With thanksgiving the rescued rebel celebrated the salvation of God (9).
 
“Salvation belongs to the Lord” is a regular refrain in scripture, a song sung by redeemed saints redeployed for the service of the Lord (from Psalm 37 to Revelation 19!). The prophet’s prayer points to the covenant promises in Christ and the purposes God has for His people. In Romans 10:13 we are told that whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved! In parallel with Jonah, Paul points to the purpose of singing of God’s salvation, namely to share it with people who have not yet heard the good news- Our God saves! (Romans 10:14-17)
 
Richly Dwelling
1-How is God shaping you by circumstances to see His salvation?
2-How is this discipline making you more like Christ, shaped more for His service to share the gospel?
3-Who is God sending you to in order to share the good news? - Salvation belongs to the Lord! There is no other hope.
 
Key Verse
9 But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay.  Salvation belongs to the Lord!”