Mental Health In The Psalms: 142 Series

MENTAL HEALTH IN THE PSALMS: 142

PSALM 142:1-7

#mentalhealth

INTRODUCTION 1 … POOR BISHOP HOOPER PSALM 142 (EVERY PSALM) youtube.com/watch?v=cnjIGGu77Jo [4:27]

INTRODUCTION AND NEED FOR METAL HEALTH EMPHASIS… who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-strengthening-our-response

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines mental health as “a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community.”

I brought this definition up as we began this series of sermons in the Psalms weeks ago because our focus has been mental health and mental health impacts countless areas of our lives:

social interactions, the ability to go to church or school, control of emotions and feelings, gastrointestinal issues, marriage relationships, school and work performance, identity struggles, anxiety, eating disorders, our view of God, the ability to pay attention, and so many other areas.

I would add to the WHO’s definition of mental health and add spiritual aspects to it in that mental health also is “a state of spiritual well-being that enables people to cope with sin, navigate spiritual struggles, realize their identity in Christ, learn the Bible, and contribute to the Body of Christ.” It has been my hope these past weeks that you have seen how mental health and/or mental illness is addressed in the Bible and is an integrated part of our spiritual life. Mental health and physical health and spiritual health are all tied together. They are not separate. When we treat them as separate, we are not fully considering how Almighty God has made us.

The Bible absolutely addresses our mind and heart and emotions and patterns of thinking and when we ignore such things, we do so to our detriment. My point is simply this: We should not ignore mental health for it is an integral part of how God fashioned us as human beings. Because God knows us best as our Creator and as the All-Knowing Almighty, we should absolutely understand God’s Word for us about mental health.

TRANSITION

The Book of Psalms in the Old Testament, many written by King David, is an ideal book to dig into mental health because the psalms often share with us unfiltered thoughts, raw emotions, and a mind that is awash with the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Psalms are our mirrors for our souls. Our Psalm today is Psalm 142. Some of the words may sound familiar from the video I showed a few moments ago.

READ PSALM 142:1-7 (ESV)

With my voice I cry out to the LORD; with my voice I plead for mercy to the LORD. 2 I pour out my complaint before Him; I tell my trouble before Him. 3 When my spirit faints within me, You know my way! In the path where I walk they have hidden a trap for me. 4 Look to the right and see: there is none who takes notice of me; no refuge remains to me; no one cares for my soul. 5 I cry to You, O LORD; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” 6 Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low! Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me! 7 Bring me out of prison, that I may give thanks to Your Name! The righteous will surround me, for You will deal bountifully with me.

TRANSITION

The life situation David was in when he wrote Psalm 142 is one that we know about from other passages in the Old Testament. It is most likely reflected in 1 Samuel 22 and 24 which means David probably also wrote Psalm 34 and Psalm 57 about the same time. David was on the run for his life from King Saul. The amount of stress and fear and constant pressure would have been overwhelming for anyone. David was literally hiding for his life and overcome with helplessness and hopelessness.

* I see David dealing with much anxiety

* I see David wracked with depression

* I see David invaded with loneliness

* I see David doing his best in a terrible situation

Psalm 142 reflects all of what was going on inside of David and shows us how David was struggling. There are three primary thoughts in Psalm 142 and all of them direct us to think about mental health because we see ourselves reflected in David. After we talk about these three areas, I want to also investigate what we can do to help and love and minister to those in our lives who may deal with such emotional and mental obstacles. You see many times a mental illness or struggle will prevent someone from helping themselves and so help comes from God and many times help comes from God through another person which may in fact be us!