The Mariners' Prayer Jonah 1:14

As a “storm” came upon the “mariners” of the ship traveling to Joppa, they determined that Jonah was the person responsible for the troubled seas. Though he admitted his fault and told the men to “cast” him “forth into the sea”, the men continued to row against the winds and waves. When they worked ardently to no avail, in chapter one and verse fourteen of this prophesy we learn how the “mariners” “cried” or “prayed” “unto the LORD” where we read:

Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said, We beseech you, O LORD, we beseech you, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for you, O LORD, have done as it pleased you.

The verse begins, “Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said, We beseech you, O LORD, we beseech you, let us not perish for this man's life,...” The writer began with the words, “Wherefore they cried” or “the mariners called out, recited, read, proclaimed, uttered a loud sound and yelled for help” “unto the LORD” which refers to “Yehovah or Jehovah” who is “the existing One”, “and said” or “spoke, uttered, answered, commanded and intended”, “We beseech you” which means “oh now, pray now and we entreat you”, “O LORD” which refers to “Yehovah or Jehovah” who is “the existing One”, “we beseech you” which again means “oh now, pray now and we entreat you”, “let us not perish” or “vanish, go astray, be destroyed, exterminated, lost and strayed” “for this man's life” which refers to “Jonah's soul, person, mind, living being, desire, emotion and passion”. Because “rowing” had no effect upon their conditions, the “mariners” “begged God” not to let them be “destroyed” because of Jonah's fault.

The verse goes on to say, “...and lay not upon us innocent blood: for you, O LORD, have done as it pleased you.” The writer continued, “and lay” or “give, put, set, grant, bestow, permit, ascribe, devote, consecrate and dedicate” “not upon us innocent” which refers to the “mariners and the shipmaster” or “clean, free from, exempt, clear, free from guilt, punishment and obligations” “blood” which refers to “as that which when shed causes death”: “for you” which refers to “the LORD”, “O LORD” which refers to “Yehovah or Jehovah” who is “the existing One”, “have done as it” or “fashioned, accomplished, made and produced the way which” “pleased you” which means “delight, desire, take pleasure in, favor and like”. The “mariners” did not want Jonah's “innocent” blood to be their responsibility because they recognized who was in control of this storm, and “the LORD” always managed as He “pleased”.

When we think through the words in this verse, we see how this “storm” and the“mariners” inability to overcome it persuaded them to “call upon the LORD”. So often it is not until a person recognizes “the LORD” as the cause of their difficulties that they see their need for change. Jesus Christ will allow difficulties and troubles to bring us to our knees, have us calling upon Him and begging Him to preserve the “innocent”. If we are experiencing great disturbances, perhaps we can learn from these “mariners” and “call upon the LORD” and “beg” to be preserved.

Next time we see the “mariners” throw Jonah into the sea, 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.