An artist once tried to paint a portrait of Charles Spurgeon. After much frustration, he said, "I can't paint you. Your face is different every day. You are never the same." Spurgeon was the most popular preacher in the Victorian era called "The Prince of Preachers." He owned more than thirty books on mental health. He read about depression, wrote about depression, and suffered from depression. His letters contain numerous references to his sinking spirits. He often called himself a "prisoner" and wept without knowing why. "I pity a dog who has to suffer what I have." Some biographers have claimed Spurgeon had bipolar disorder, fluctuating between highs and lows, ups and downs, productivity and inability. Others believed his "fainting fits" were also caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. His wife believed the weather affected his mental stability. "Dull and dreary days depressed him," she wrote.
In the last two Sundays, we have learned about depression: types of depression and how hundreds of million people around the world, including godly men (like Spurgeon, John Bunyan, and Martin Luther), politicians (like Abraham Lincoln and Winston Churchill), great musicians (George Frideric Handel and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart), and psychologists (like William James and Sigmund Freud) had been affected by it. We also have learned the factors that cause it and how to deal with it. Today we will learn from King David how he dealt with the depression he wrote of in Psalm 143. In studying this Psalm, I will focus on the spiritual approach/treatment in dealing with situational depression (you need to see a doctor for medical depression). Let's read it.
David began this Psalm with a prayer. In verse 1, he prayed, "Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief." David came to God in his difficult time. Later in verse 3, he told what happened to him. The first lesson we learn from this chapter is, when you are in trouble, come to God, bring your problems to Him, and ask His help. People who struggle with depression tend to withdraw/isolate themselves from others, even from God. That is not good! Don't bear your burden alone. God tells us: "call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me." (Psalm 50:15). Jesus invites us, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matt 11:28).
In verse 2, he said, "Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you." David acknowledged that he was a sinner and asked God not to bring him into judgment. We need to confess our sin before we ask God something because sin can hinder our prayers. Isaiah 59:2 reminds us, "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear." As I mentioned before, sin can be a factor in depression. Siang-Yang Tan, a pastor who was also the professor of psychology at Fuller Seminary, says, "There are cases where depression appears to be a consequence of sin in a person's life, although this does not mean that depression is always due to personal sin. Possible sin-related causes of depression include negative attitudes or feelings like bitterness and hatred, guilt and lack of repentance over sinful behavior or attitude, turning away from God and His Word, fear of the future and lack of trust in God as sufficient Provider, and unbelief in general." (Caring For People God's Way, p. 148)
In verse 3, he says, "The enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in the darkness like those long dead." David described his circumstances in his prayer. He knew what happened to him and shared it with God. Some people wonder why we need to tell God our problems. Doesn't God know our situation? God indeed knows everything about us, but sometimes we cannot see our situation clearly, especially when we are depressed. According to Ken Campbell (in "Those Ugly Emotions"), the first step to deal with depression is knowing what makes you feel depressed.
Identify the causes. Describe your experience of depression in vivid detail. People are different, so depression comes in many shapes and sizes. Depression often is not just something we have; it is something we do. Examine your heart with this question: If your depression could speak, what would it say? What does it say about you? To others? To God? Depression is an active experience and can result from many sources other than the physiological: guilt due to unconfessed sin, false guilt, misplaced shame, ungodly fears, suppressed bitterness or hatred, hopeless grieving, and unbiblical expectations. In other words, we need to find out what makes us feel depressed. In David's case, he said he was depressed because his enemy, probably Saul, hunted him and tried to kill him.
In verse 4, David expressed his feelings: "So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed." Those are signs of depression. From the book of Psalm, we know that David struggled with depression. For example, in 42:9-11, he said, "I say to God my Rock, "Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy? My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, … Why are you downcast, O my soul Why so disturbed within me?" When someone is depressed, they tend to feel down, helpless and stuck with their emotional despair. But David did not let his depression control him. He did something.
In verses 5, he told what he did about it: "I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done." Here David gave us an excellent example of overcoming the feeling of depression by remembering God's goodness, His help, and blessings in his life. The God who had helped him in the past would surely help him again. And David often remembered God when he was depressed. For example, in Psalm 103:1-5, he told himself to: "Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's." When we face a big problem, we tend to pity ourselves, feel like we are the most unfortunate people, and forget what God has done for us. Because of that, we become afraid and despair. Like David, let us count God's blessings and remember what He has done for us!
Verse 6a: "I spread out my hands to you." According to Albert Barnes' notes, this prayer showed that David thought he had nowhere else to go. The good thing was when he couldn't go to the front or back, to the right or the left, he could go up to God. When you feel stuck with your situation and go nowhere, remember that you can go up to God. Verse 6b - I thirst for you like a parched land. The word "thirsty" here means appropriately "weary." The idea is that of land that seems to be weary, with no growth, and everything seems to be exhausted. In his dried situation, David knew that God could satisfy his thirst. He came to God and surrendered his life to Him.
Verse 7: "Answer me quickly, Lord; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit." David honestly expressed his feelings of helplessness. Other translations say, "Hasten; answer me. I am in imminent danger. Do not delay coming to my relief." Or "My strength is declining. I can hold out no longer. I am ready to give up and die. Hide not thy face from me." In other words, David said, unless God helped him, he would die. David was honest with God. He did not pretend to be okay. When we come to God, do not be shy or afraid to tell Him how you feel and what you need (remember, He understands your situation!). Psalm 34:18 says, "The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." So, it is undoubtedly fine to come to God with a broken heart and ask for His help.
Verse 8: "Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life." David expressed his trust in God twice here. This is very important. According to psychiatrist Aaron Beck, depressed people show negative thinking in three areas: First, the world is viewed negatively. Life is seen as a succession of burdens, obstacles, and defeats in a world that is falling apart or "going down the drain." Second, many depressed people view themselves negatively. They perceive themselves as inadequate, unworthy, incapable of performing adequately and lacking the skills, traits, or physical features they value. This attitude can lead to self-blame and self-pity. Third, some people negatively view the future. Looking ahead, they see continuing hardship, frustration, and hopelessness. Do not let depression discourage you. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5)
Verse 9: "Rescue me from my enemies, Lord, for I hide myself in you." David asked God to rescue him from his enemies. Depression is like the enemy within us that disrupts our daily activities, discourages us, and can destroy our lives. Like David, cry to God and ask Him to rescue you from your' enemy.'
Verse 10a: "Teach me to do your will, for you are my God." David admitted he didn't know God's will entirely. Therefore, he asked God to teach him His will. We thank God because we have the Bible that shows us His wills. 2 Tim 3:16 says, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." It is so important to meditate on God's Word for comfort, direction/guidance, and receive His peace and strength during a difficult time. Verse 10b: "may your good Spirit lead me on level ground." David relied on the power of the Holy Spirit (not his own). As believers, we have received the Holy Spirit in our hearts. Ask Him to lead you so that you can produce: "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." (Gal 5:18, 22,23).
Verse 11: "For your name's sake, Lord, preserve my life; in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble." David asked God to bring him out of trouble not just for his benefit but for the sake of God's name. This is similar to Daniel's prayer in Daniel 9:17, "Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary." We ask God to heal us not only to become healed/healthy, but more than that so that through health, we may serve God, glorify His Name, and people can honor Him! What is the point of us having a healthy body and emotions if we fail to glorify God?
Verse 12: "In your unfailing love, silence my enemies; destroy all my foes, for I am your servant." David called himself a servant of God twice (v. 2 and 12). He showed respect and humbled himself before God. Sadly, some Christians pray as if God is their Servant. They command and even demand God to do this or that. When we come to God, we should humble ourselves before Him, knowing that He is God, our Creator, and Master. We ask God to destroy our ' enemy ' (depression) with humble hearts, and by His grace, love, and mercy, we ask God to destroy our 'enemy' (depression).
May what David did and shared in Psalm 143 help us deal with situational depression and other emotional problems so that we can overcome them with God's help.
