Jonah Looking Toward God's Holy Temple Jonah 2:4

As Jonah abode inside the “great fish” which was “prepared by the LORD” for “three days and three nights”, he “called out” in prayer and described how “the LORD” “cast” him “into the deep, in the midst of the seas”. He also told how “the floods compassed” him “about”, and described how“all” the LORD's “billows” and “waves passed over” him. In chapter two and verse four of this prophesy, Jonah told how he was “cast out” of the LORD's “sight”, and responded by “looking toward” God's “holy temple” where we read:

Then I said, I am cast out of your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.

The verse begins, “Then I said, I am cast out of your sight;” The writer began with the word, “Then I said” which refers to Jonah “uttered, spoke, commanded, promised and intended” “I am cast out” or “driven out or away, expelled, divorced, put or thrust away” “of your sight” which means “beyond your physical eye, appearance and face”. Jonah felt that he was completely hidden from the face of God as he was inside the “great fish”.

The verse continues, “yet I will look again toward your holy temple.” The writer added, “yet I will look” which means “regard, behold, consider and scan” “again” or “more, further, and longer” “toward your holy” which refers to “sanctified, hallowed, consecrated and dedicated” “temple” or “palace, nave and sanctuary”. When Jonah finally called upon “the LORD”, he thought he was so far from God that “the LORD” Himself could not see or perceive him. When this thought came into his mind, Jonah “looked” another time “toward” God's “holy” sanctuary.

When we think through this verse, we see how Jonah had to be at his bottom where he thought not even God could see him. This caused him to remember where he should place his focus – He looked to “the LORD's” “holy temple” which was representative of the residing and abiding place of God. Jesus Christ wants everyone, everywhere to turn their focus toward Him, and should it take them believing that God doesn't see them (even though He always does), so be it.

Next time we see Jonah describe “the waters, the depth and the weeds”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.