Sermon # 20 - A Repentant Heart Series

For this study and meditation we will read, Jonah 1:17, “When Jonah fell into the sea, the LORD chose a very big fish to swallow Jonah. He was in the stomach of the fish for three days and three nights.” (ERV)

When Jonah disobeyed God, and voyaged in the opposite direction to the place God bid him to go, God sent a severe storm. It became evident to the ship’s crew that Jonah was the wrong-doer, and when Jonah was thrown into the sea at his own bidding, the sea became completely calm. Everyone on the ship, including Jonah must have assumed that it was the end for Jonah, but as Jonah fell into the deep sea, God had prepared a huge fish to swallow him up. Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of that big fish.

This was what Jonah did from inside the fish’s tummy as we read in Jonah 2:1, “Then Jonah made prayer to the Lord his God from the inside of the fish, and said,” (BBE)

Though Jonah was inside the belly of that fish for three full days and nights, it seemed that the hardness of his heart continued. Must have been dingy and dark inside the belly of the fish, the smell totally unpleasant, but in spite of these gruesome conditions, Jonah did not seem to have felt any remorse. It took three full days and nights for Jonah to actually feel penitent and sorrowful for his disobedience.

The grueling days that Jonah spent inside the fish’s belly, is a reminder to us too, that as long as we too continue in our sinful ways without repentance, there will be no change in our circumstances.

We read in the latter part of Psalm 119:144… “Give me understanding, that I may live.” (ESV) We must ask God to give us understanding to realize where we have failed and set things right, so we can live as God wants us to live.

I would like to share a few examples of people from the bible who like Jonah had to go through a hard time before they too got back to God.

The judge who lost it all

God called Samson to be a judge for the people of Israel. However, Samson did not perceive God’s great purpose for his life, but lived his life only to fulfill the desires of his heart. When Samson forgot the purpose for which God called him, the outcome was that he was trapped by his enemies, and had a most agonizing time of his life. Samson lost his eyes, his strength and the honor that was duly his.

We read in Judges 16:21,“The Philistines laid hold on him, and put out his eyes; and they brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he ground at the mill in the prison.” (WEB)

Even though Samson was in a deplorable condition, where he was blinded, fettered and made to grind in a mill, it didn’t seem that Samson had a repentant heart even then.

You might have heard some people say that they want to live their lives according to the aspirations of their own hearts. I would like to remind such people that God has called each one of us to accomplish His purposes for our lives, and not for us to live any way we want. Whenever we do wrong, it is crucial that we recognize our mistakes and set them right immediately, or else we will keep going down the wrong path of regression. If we are willing to confess our sins to God, He is ever willing to help us and bring about transformation in our lives.

We read in Judges 16:27, “Now the temple was completely filled with people. All the Philistine rulers were there, and there were about 3,000 men and women on the roof who were watching as Samson amused them.” (NLT)

Samson, the mighty man of God, who was chosen to be a judge and a deliverer for the people of God, who was also endowed with unimaginable strength and anointing of God, was now the object of scorn and ridicule as he stood before his enemies. The reason for Samson’s predicament was that he set his eyes on the little pleasures of life and lusted after them. The reason for Samson’s pathetic condition was that he had the misunderstanding that he could continue his sinful life, and yet would have God’s Spirit remain on him to be a triumphant leader.

The rebellious young man

We read of another young man in the New Testament in Luke 15. This is what it says about him in Luke 15:15, “So he got a job from someone in that country and was sent to feed pigs in the fields.”(GW)