Jonah 2:9

Jonah’s desperate condition had brought him to his senses. He would return to the source of loyal love and express his worship of Yahweh with a sacrifice. His sacrifice would have to be thanksgiving though since he despaired of being able to offer an animal or vegetable offering. He also promised to pay his vow to God. This probably refers to his commitment to serve the Lord faithfully from which he had departed but to which he now returned (cf. Psalms 50:14; Psalms 69:30; Psalms 107:22).

The testimony that salvation comes from Yahweh is the expression of Jonah’s thanksgiving that he promised God. The last declaration in this psalm is one of the great summary statements about salvation in the Bible. Salvation, either physical or spiritual, ultimately comes from Yahweh and only from Him, not from idols or people, including oneself (cf. Psalms 3:8; Psalms 37:39). It is in His power, and only He can give it. This statement also implies recognition of the fact that God has the right to save whom He will.

"Ironically, however, it is this very same fact which fills Jonah with intense anger in the final chapter of the book." [Note: Alexander, p. 118.]

The end of this psalm shows Jonah doing what the sailors had done earlier, namely, offering a sacrifice and making vows (Jonah 1:16).

"Jonah deserved death, not deliverance. And yet Yahweh graciously delivered him by special intervention so that Jonah could not but recognize the greatness of Yahweh’s compassion, praise him for it, and recognize his reliance on Yahweh alone (c. 2 Corinthians 1:9-10)." [Note: Stuart, p. 479.]

"The narrator by his inclusion of the psalm immediately after ch. 1 slyly intends his audience to draw a parallel between Jonah’s experience and that of the seamen. Both faced a similar crisis, peril from the sea; both cried to Yahweh, acknowledging his sovereignty. Both were physically saved; both offered worship. Ironically Jonah is at last brought to the point the Gentile seamen have already reached. In his supreme devotion he is still only following in the wake of the heathen crew. He who failed to pray, leaving it to the pagan sailors, eventually catches up with their spirit of supplication and submission." [Note: Allen, p. 219.]

Thus the prophet repented and returned to the Lord in his heart. Having experienced the precious gift of God’s salvation in his own life, Jonah was now more favorable to announcing His salvation to the Ninevites. He now appreciated the condition of the heathen as he had not done before.

One writer outlined Jonah’s prayer as follows. The prophet prayed for God’s help (Jonah 2:1-2), accepted God’s discipline (Jonah 2:3), trusted God’s promises (Jonah 2:4-7), and yielded to God’s will (Jonah 2:8-9). [Note: Wiersbe, pp. 380-82.]