Jonah 2:8-9 - Those who cling to worthless idols...

"Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the LORD." And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy. But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD. And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.

"Those who regard vain idols Forsake their faithfulness, But I will sacrifice to You With the voice of thanksgiving That which I have vowed I will pay Salvation is from the LORD." Then the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah up onto the dry land.

Jonah 2:8-9

Commentary

These verses provide a remarkably astute assessment of the nature of salvation. Those who pursue "worthless idols" forsake the mercy that God provides. "Salvation is of the Lord" as His precious gift.

Believer's Study Bible. 1997, c1995. C1991 Criswell Center for Biblical Studies. (electronic ed.) (Jon 2:3). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Not Merely A Sunday School Story...

A great fish, prepared by the Lord, swallowed Jonah and kept him a captive for three days and three nights. (The miracle was not that a fish could swallow a man, but that the man was not digested.)

Our Lord Himself used the prophet as a picture of His own death, burial for three days and nights, and His glorious resurrection:

(Jesus speaking) "For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." - (Matt. 12:40).

Incidentally, this shows that Christ accepted Jonah as a historical character, and not merely as a "parable," as some modern preachers claim.

MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (Jon 1:17). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Isaiah 5:11 - Woe to those who stay up late at night till they are inflamed with wine

Woe to those who rise early in the morning to run after their drinks, who stay up late at night till they are inflamed with wine.

Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!

Woe to those who rise early in the morning that they may pursue strong drink, Who stay up late in the evening that wine may inflame them!

Isaiah 5:11

Commentary

The second woe (of 6 woes listed from verse 8-23) is upon Judah's drunken inhabitants, who pursue intoxicating drink from dawn to dark. This intoxication even occurred at religious festivals (v. 12). In their drunken stupor, the inhabitants of Judah were not aware that God was at work in their midst, probably a reference to God's work of judgment (v. 12).

Thomas Nelson, I. (1997, c1995). Woman's study Bible . (Is 5:11). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Misuses of Wine

The dangers of drunkenness are abundantly recognized in the Bible (Prov. 20:1; 23:29-35). Wine often enslaved the heart (Hos. 4:11). The prophets accused Israel of being overcome with wine (Is. 28:1), of drinking wine by bowlfuls (Amos 6:6), and of wanting prophets who spoke of wine (Mic. 2:11). Leaders were interested in drinking and were not concerned about the ruin of the country (Is. 5:11-12; 22:13). The list of those drunken with wine in the Bible begins with Noah and includes Lot, Nabal, and Amnon (Gen. 9:21; 1 Sam. 25:36-37; 2 Sam. 13:28).

Youngblood, R. F., Bruce, F. F., Harrison, R. K., & Thomas Nelson Publishers. (1995). Nelson's new illustrated Bible dictionary. Rev. ed. of: Nelson's illustrated Bible dictionary.; Includes index. Nashville: T. Nelson.