Jonah was anxious to be saved. He wished deliverance out of the fish’s belly, so he set himself to the task of delivering himself. But what was his condition? “The waters compassed me about even to the soul; the depth closed me round about; the weeds were wrapped about my head.” Now comes the question—Who can work deliverance out of this awful state? Jonah tries it; he prays; then he vowed and said, “I will pay that I have vowed.” Still God would not let him out. Vows and prayers won’t do—they won’t deliver from death—they can’t unwrap the “weeds of death” or deliver from the “belly of hell.” Jonah is not delivered yet; he has to learn what every delivered one must learn, that “salvation is of the Lord.” Poor Jonah is brought to own that, and Jonah is saved. He is cast out on dry land. The fish yields its prey at the voice of God; so Satan has to yield many a victim. Only confess and believe that “salvation is of the Lord,” thus renouncing all thy vows and prayers, and God will effect deliverance for you.
Troubled saint, not fully delivered in soul, art thou saying, “Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Have you given up all struggling, praying, and vowing, and thus owned your need of a deliverer? “Who shall deliver?” Listen to the answer. “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Is it so with you, beloved reader? Have you been brought practically to own that if deliverance is to come in, it must be by another, even by Jesus Christ? Then “thank God,” the work is done. You are delivered.