One of my favorite stories in the bible is the one told in the book of Jonah. I have to confess, I'm really entertained by the attitude Jonah displays throughout his story. Maybe it's because I can relate to his stubbornness in not wanting to do something he knows he's suppose to do, something God told him to do. I read this story quite often, but earlier this week a particular passage stuck out to me. After Jonah throws himself into the sea and is swallowed up by the large fish, he cries out to God in repentance and God hears his cry.
“I cried out to the Lord because of my affliction, and he answered me. Out of the belly of Sheol I cried. And you heard my voice” – Jonah 2:2.
This passage illustrates to me how faithful God is. Jonah’s affliction is of his own doing, but when he cries out, God hears his cry and delivers him. Jonah’s story is a great example of how God is waiting on us, waiting for us to cry out to him even when we are in trouble, even when we’ve gotten ourselves into trouble.
Reading through the book of Psalms this theme of crying out to God and the sound reaching His ears plays out frequently. I’ve started a new section in my notebook. “He hears my cry”. When I call out to Him, He hears me, how amazing is that? And He doesn’t just hear me, but my cry causes Him to act. After Jonah cried out to the Lord in is affliction and repented, God released him from the belly of the fish.
In Psalm 18, David calls out to the Lord in distress and God moves in a mighty way.
“In my distress I called upon the Lord, And cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry came before Him, even to His ears. Then the earth shook and trembled; The foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken, Because He was angry…”- Psalm 18: 6-7
“The Lord thundered from heaven, And the Most High uttered His voice, Hailstones and coals of fire. He sent out His arrows and scattered the foe…”-Psalm 18:13-14
The imagery in this chapter is incredible, God getting up from His heavenly seat to plunge down to earth to destroy the enemies of his beloved David.
That’s what God wants to do for us, fight out battles. But first we have to cry out and give it over to Him.
So far in my notebook I have Jonah 2, Psalm 18, Psalm 34:4-6, Psalm 107:28, Psalm 116 and Psalm 118.
Can you find any more references to “He hears my cry”?
Bottom line, don’t suffer in silence, even if you think or know it’s your fault, God is still here for you and me.
Reference:
The MacArthur Study Bible.
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