约拿书［第二章］
Book of Jonah 2
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约拿书 第二章 |Book of Jonah 2【安息之中转向神】
01/03/2023
一只鱼都可以被神拣选。鱼其实也有自由意志，但是它没有埋怨，没有嫌弃，没有说为什么要用我的鱼腹做这件事情？可见我们人有时候连鱼都不如，是什么让我们不能听呢？因为我们与神的关系……
一、安息中祷告神（V1）
当约拿在船上被船主催促的时候，他没有做任何的祷告，一心坚定于自己的决定。但是当他被抛在海中的时候，他才开始祷告。在鱼腹中，就如一片漆黑的环境，又死不去，什么都不能做的时候，他开始背诵神的话，祷告神，思念神的殿。
相信大家在疫情的时候，都开始在安息中祷告神，背诵神的话，思念神的殿；但是随着疫情的情况稳定，我们是否又回到过去更忙碌的生活，而把神抛在后头呢？
二、患难时求告神（V2-3）
我们可以想象一个人在鱼腹中三天三夜的情景，吃或许是一些被鱼吞进肚子里的海洋生物、没有水喝、在黑暗中、面对很臭的胃酸，更不是到时间的过去。约拿在一个昏昏迷迷的当中，他选择哼出诗篇，回想起神的美好，他开始求告神。
弟兄姐妹，当我们遭遇患难的时候，神的话语很重要。约拿不但把神的话背诵在心里，在遇到困难的时候，他背诵出来，在海的深处他经历神，在死亡中他体验生命，在黑暗中他看见亮光。
三、挣扎时要回转（V4-7）
约拿在海中的挣扎：被海水淹没、海草缠绕他的头、深渊围住他（黑暗和稀少的空气）、甚至心里已经发昏了。
当约拿在海中挣扎时，他的第一个念头就是自己已经与神隔绝。虽然过去约拿凭着血气不肯顺服，以为可以逃往他施去躲避神，但被抛在海中后，他才发现从神眼前被驱逐是何等可怕的经历。因此，他在海水中急切地仰望神、呼求神，会转归向神，盼望与神恢复关系。
世界的事情可以成为我们的挣扎，海水就如我们的工作，有人因为工作而喘不过气；海草就如一些瘾癖的捆绑，拦阻我们的自由去服事神；压力就如深渊，导致我们看不见希望。我们要回转！
四、迷失时转向神（V8-9）
约拿在鱼腹中说他必用感谢的声音献祭与神。他所许的愿，他必偿还。救恩出于耶和华。他所想要感谢并不是因为神要救他脱离鱼腹。而是一个人躲避神，像是被神驱逐得罪人，他回转祷告神，神竟然还应允和垂听。
我们迷失的时候，要回转。因为天父就在门口等待我们回家。这是神对每一个浪子回头的应许。
总结：安息中经历反败为胜（V10）
当我们真实在面对许多生活上的烦恼、困难、疲惫、挣扎、压抑、甚至是死亡的危急的时候，仇敌就是想让我们乱，然后就开始用自己很多以为是神的方式做事。
但是若我们等候神，就能在安息中与神相遇，得着最好的方式。摩西常常祷告神，与神相处，得见神的荣耀；以斯帖面对灭族的危机，却是禁食安静祷告神；耶稣在拣选门徒，和面对试探的时候，祂也选择在神的面前安息祷告。
面对困境并不是绝路，当我们愿意安息在主中，转向神，神就把我们从困境的腹中，被吐到旱地来。就如约拿一样。
Jonah 2: Turning to God in Rest
GK611 Morning Devotion
01/03/2023
Speaker: Asher Chang + Rev David Tan
Introduction: Fish and human being
A fish can be chosen by God. A fish actually has free will, but it does not complain, it does not dislike, it does not say why should I do this with my fish belly? It is evident that we humans are sometimes worse than even a fish. What keeps us from listening? Because of our relationship with God ......
1. Praying to God in Rest（V1）
When Jonah was urged by the master of the ship in the boat, he did not make any prayer, and was determined on his own decision. But when he was thrown into the sea, he only began to pray. When he was in the belly of the fish, just like a dark environment, and could not die or do anything, he began to recite the Word of God, pray to God, and think about the temple of God.
I believe we all began to pray God in rest, recite God's Words, and think about God's temple during the pandemic; but as the situation of the epidemic stabilised, did we go back to our old, busier lives, and leave God behind?
2. Asking God in times of trouble（V2-3）
We can imagine a man in the belly of a fish for three days and three nights, eating perhaps some sea creatures swallowed by the fish, without water to drink, in the dark, facing very foul stomach acid, not to mention the passage of time. In the midst of a daze, Jonah chose to hum the Psalms, recalling the goodness of God, and he began to ask God.
Brothers and sisters, the Word of God is important when we are in times of trouble. Jonah not only recited God’s Words in his heart, but in times of trouble he recited them. He experienced God in the depths of the sea, he experienced life in the midst of death, and he saw light in the midst of darkness.
3. Turn back when you struggle（V4-7）
Jonah's struggle in the midst of the sea: he was overwhelmed by the waters, the seaweed was wrapped around his head, the deep surrounded him (darkness and scarce air), and he even became faint in his heart.
As Jonah struggled in the sea, his first thought was that he was separated from God. Although Jonah had refused to obey in his blood, thinking that he could flee to Tarshish to hide from God, after being thrown into the sea he realised what a terrible experience it was to be expelled from the sight of God. Therefore, he eagerly looked up to God and called on Him in the sea, and would turn to Him, hoping for a restored relationship with Him.
The things of the world can be our struggle. The sea is like our work, and some people are out of breath because of it; the seaweed is like the bondage of some addictions, blocking our freedom to serve God; the pressure is like the deep, causing us to lose sight of hope. We need to turn back!
4. Turning to God when lost（V8-9）
Jonah said in the belly of the fish that he would sacrifice to God with a voice of thanksgiving. He will pay for what he has wished. Salvation comes from the LORD. His desire to give thanks was not because God was going to save him from the belly of the fish. Rather, it is because a man who hid from God, as if he were a sinner expelled by God, turned to God in prayer, and still God answered and listened to him.
When we are lost, we need to turn back. For the Father is at the door waiting for us to come home. This is God's promise to every prodigal son to turn back.
Conclusion: Experiencing Defeat in Rest（V10）
When we are truly facing many of life's troubles, difficulties, weariness, struggles, depressions, and even the danger of death, the enemy is trying to get us to mess up and then start doing things in the way that many of us think is God's way.
But if we wait on God, we can meet God in rest and get the best way. Moses often prayed to God and spent time with Him to see His glory; Esther faced the crisis of annihilation, but fasted and prayed to God in silence; Jesus chose to rest and pray in the presence of God when He chose His disciples and faced temptation.
When we are willing to rest in the Lord and turn to God, God will spit us out of the belly of trouble and into dry land. Just as Jonah did.