Jonas2: Salvation belongs to God!

Jonas was about to die in the middle of the ocean. There was no way to survive. I will face death one day; a death that is certain.
Jonah saw the power of the Lord moving in his favor to deliver him; although he was fleeing from the Lord. Certainly the Lord was merciful to Jonah.
For Jonah, the temple of Jerusalem was very important, even though he was prophet from Israel and not from Judah. Jonah expected death:

3-4 You threw me into ocean’s depths,
    into a watery grave,
With ocean waves, ocean breakers
    crashing over me.
I said, ‘I’ve been thrown away,
    thrown out, out of your sight.
I’ll never again lay eyes
    on your Holy Temple.’

facing death, Jonah prayed to the Lord:

2 He prayed:
“In trouble, deep trouble, I prayed to God.
    He answered me.
From the belly of the grave I cried, ‘Help!’
    You heard my cry.

and he was saved:

6b-9 Yet you pulled me up from that grave alive,
    O God, my God!
When my life was slipping away,
    I remembered God,
And my prayer got through to you,
    made it all the way to your Holy Temple.
Those who worship hollow gods, god-frauds,
    walk away from their only true love.
But I’m worshiping you, God,
    calling out in thanksgiving!
And I’ll do what I promised I’d do!
    Salvation belongs to God!”

Jonah saw that his prayer went to the Holy Temple where the Lord listened to Him. Jonah was very thankful and he wanted to please the Lord through sacrifices. We are called to carry the cross after Jesus. May I carry the cross with joy in my heard, pleased by what Jesus has been doing to me.