Solitary Confinement
Solitary Confinement
“Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me” Psalm 42:7 KJV
Again, more of my imagination sees a frightened Jonah who was full of anxiety as he was feeling claustrophobic in his cramped belly spaces. Even if he told someone, no one would believe his tale of the high seas. He really couldn’t believe it himself, but he was inside the belly of a monster fish. Maybe this was other side of madness or did he finally loose his mind. He had escaped death, but for how long. Both hungry and thirsty, his grumbling stomach and dry cotton mouth continued to betray him. Unplanned and unprepared, he was forced into a complete fast from everything.
Unable to hold his feelings anymore, tears ran down his face as he became flooded with anger. He took his frustration out on the fish, hitting at the walls of its stomach until he was tired. He began to think about everything that has happened thus far, starting with the Lord’s call of him to go to Ninevah. He thoughts about how he ran from the presence of the Lord as he got on that boat heading elsewhere. His choices put an innocent crew in danger and all because of a lack of obedience.
Relenting and no longer full of foolish pride, we move into to Jonah chapter 2:1, a still tearful Jonah cried for help. Our prophet was made to reflect as he spent time in the depths of the sea, deep in solitary confinement. The dictionary defines solitary confinement as isolation. The lesson would deal firsthand with disobedience, as Jonah would be reminded of God’s authority OVERALL.
I picture Jonah contemplating that his prayers had fallen on death ears and that he had gone too far this time. Both physically and mentally drained, he remembered the Lord in sorrowful contrition as he prayed to Him saying, “I will pay that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord.” Then Jonah fell silent. Amen.
Remember friends, we are each other’s keeper and the only time we should be looking down on someone is when we are helping them up.