Pondering the Word – Jonah

The book of Jonah is one of my favorites in the Older Testament. Many moons ago, when rap music was still young, as a cool youth pastor I wrote a rap about Jonah. I have long since ceased to be cool (not that I ever really was) but I submit this here as a unique way to ponder this great book. (There is an audio recording at the end – I did not dare to do a video recording)

Rappin’ Those Jonah Blues
(aka The Jonah Rap)

Now Jonah’d been told that he should go and preach
But he said “No way, I’m headin’ for the beach.”
Now when he got to the beach he found himself a ship
And decided he’d take himself a little trip.
Well the ship set sail and it was Tarshish bound
And old Jonah figured there that he would never be found.
But things got rough when they encountered a storm
And Jonah finally figured out that it was from the Lord.
So everybody prayed … then threw Jonah overboard!

(Refrain)
Now the next time you think that things are really rough;
When you’re all fed up and you’ve had enough –
Then remember the lesson Jonah lived to tell:
It ain’t no better in the belly of a whale!
No it ain’t no better in the belly of a whale.
You can pretty much guess that things begin to smell
And no one even hears you when you let out a yell.
No I imagine it’s a lot like being in …. Well,

Jonah learned his lesson from that little stay
And in the belly of that whale Jonah really learned to pray.
So that fish acted fast when the Lord said “Hurl!”
And out shot Jonah like a flyin’ squirrel.
Then Jonah went straight to those old Ninevites
And told ‘em at best that they had 40 more nights.
And all the people knew that they’d been sinnin’ in the past
So they repented of their sin and declared themselves a fast.
And God had compassion when the people turned around
But the weird thing was that Jonah really came unwound.
See Jonah blamed the Lord, thinking he’d been made a fool.
He didn’t understand that he’d been used as God’s tool.
So he went outside the city and was hoping he would die
But the Lord taught him a lesson through a withered old vine.
See, Jonah was a prophet but he had a lot to learn:
There’s not much else that matters when salvation is concerned.

(Refrain)

You and I we act a lot like Jonah sometimes.
So take to heart the lessons to be learned from these rhymes.
See there are lots of people who are dying everyday;
They’re walking in the darkness and they cannot find their way.
But we who know the truth have an opportunity
To speak the Word of God that can really set them free.
See Jesus is the way and He’s the truth and the life.
And the Word of God is sharp and really cuts like a knife.
It is a word of healing and it is a word of hope –
A word for everybody at the end of their rope.
So don’t forget that God will always be on your side;
And don’t you do like Jonah who just tried to run and hide.

(Refrain)
Now the next time you think that things are really rough;
When you’re all fed up and you’ve had enough –
Then remember the lesson Jonah lived to tell:
It ain’t no better in the belly of a whale!
No it ain’t no better in the belly of a whale.
You can pretty much guess that things begin to smell
And no one even hears you when you let out a yell.
No I imagine it’s a lot like being in … Hell.