MENTAL HEALTH IN THE PSALMS: 42
PSALM 42:1-11
#mentalhealth
INTRODUCTION 1 … POOR BISHOP HOOPER PSALM 42 (EVERY PSALM) youtube.com/watch?v=wwDs1dKHZ1Q [4:33]
INTRODUCTION AND NEED FOR METAL HEALTH EMPHASIS… ‘Depression, Anxiety, and the Christian Life.’ Richard Baxter. Crossway 2018. Pages 74-84.
Last year (2022), I became acquainted with a book by a puritan pastor, Richard Baxter (1615-1691) which addresses depression and anxiety from a Christian perspective. Two things struck me about this book. First, it was written in the 1600s and the guy was 100% on target. Second, it was written in the 1600s and the guy was 100% on target.
I would like to share with you a little of what he explains about mental health and the Christian life because that is our focus for a few weeks in this sermon series in the Psalms. For example, Richard Baxter helps us with a definition of depression in that he says: [adapted edited for brevity, but quoted]
“I mean a diseased craziness, hurt, or error in imagination, and consequently of understanding. It is known by these following signs (not all of which occur in every individual case of depression):
1. They are fearful and everything they hear and see is apt to increase fears.
2. The imagination errs most in exaggerating their sin, danger, and unhappiness.
3. They are consumed with excessive sadness and think this is somehow proper.
4. Religion for them emphasizes mourning and punishment.
5. They are extremely self-critical and second-guess themselves always.
6. They continually sense themselves forsaken by God and are prone to despair.
7. They feel that grace has past them by.
8. They feel that God has rejected them.”
Pastor Richard Baxter then goes on to lay out 35 more marks of what depression looks like in a person’s life. Even in the 1600s, he could see the deep and hurtful nature of this type of mental illness. Some of our wording has changed from Richard Baxter’s time, but depression has not.
Why bring this up? We are continuing a series of sermons today in the Psalms and our focus is mental health. Before we get too far, we have to make sure we address an issue that may plague us in these weeks as we talk about mental health. The issue is: We may not think this is a worthy topic to address in sermons or from the Bible or in Church. Mental health is not a topic that the Church (the big ‘C’ church) traditionally addresses well. Many times, we believe in the separation of the mental and the spiritual and we do so at our own detriment. Also, many times we have attitudes and say things that are not helpful for those who deal with any type of mental illness.
* Churches traditionally tell people with mental illness to go elsewhere for help.
* Christians tell other Christians just to pray more and the mental illness will disappear.
* Christians tell other Christians just to read their Bible and everything will get fixed.
* A common suggestion is also to sleep with a Bible under one’s pillow to help feel happy.
* A common thought is that all mental illness is caused by demons or demon possession.
* Christians also say that ‘real’ Christians don’t get depressed or have eating disorders.
Every. Single. One. Of. These. Is. Wrong.
Our purpose in these sermons is to look at mental health in the Bible and to learn from the Scriptures what God says about mental health and emotional fitness and healthy patterns of thinking and feeling and living. We can do that because God already shares those truths with us.
TRANSITION
Let’s read from Psalm 42. If some of the words sound familiar, that is because Martin Nystrom wrote a praise song in 1984 which uses some of Psalm 42 and… I just played a song where you heard those words.
READ PSALM 42:1-11 (ESV)
“As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for You, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” 4 These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival. 5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my Salvation 6 and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember You from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. 7 Deep calls to deep at the roar of Your waterfalls; all Your breakers and Your waves have gone over me. 8 By day the LORD commands His steadfast love, and at night His song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. 9 I say to God, my Rock: “Why have You forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?” 10 As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” 11 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God.”
TRANSITION
As I look over Psalm 42 and think about what David is writing to us. He begins by letting us see his insides and his heart which are not in a good place. Then as we think about his mental state, we are going to look at deer behavior and see some very specific applications that I personally believe David has in mind for us.
THE STATUS OF THE HEART: DOWNCAST AND TURMOIL
The words overall in this psalm denote a person who is having issues. Panting, thirsts, tears, cast down, turmoil, forgotten, mourning, oppression, wound, and adversaries. The tone of this psalm is one of mental and emotional pain.
There are two words I want you to notice because David repeats the words in the song so we will see the way he describes his heart patterns and state of mind. These words are significant and specific.
First, we have the word ‘downcast.’ Three times in these short 11 verses David says that his soul is ‘downcast’ or ‘cast down.’ This is not the kind of sadness that one feels, for example, when you go to your favorite restaurant for breakfast and they no longer serve the sunflower multigrain bagel breakfast sandwich. That is one kind of sadness, but not what David says here.
The kind of state that David is indicating here is a sadness that goes deep into his soul and reaches to levels of despair. We talked last week and it bears repeating that King David, the writer of the Psalms, is a person who knows about depression and anxiety and other mental and emotional stressors. Much of David’s life was abject chaos. We see a pattern of thought and feelings from David that seem to indicate that depression was a persistent daily damaging impactful part of his daily life. He knows what it means to have despair as a constant companion.
READ PSALM 6:6 (ESV)
I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping.
READ PSALM 13:2 (ESV)
How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
READ PSALM 102:4 (ESV)
My heart is struck down like grass and has withered; I forget to eat my bread.
‘Downcast’ is excessive sorrow, loneliness in the midst of sadness, joylessness, an overactive accusative conscience, discontentment, and physical fatigue all rolled into one and it does not stop. This is the type of feeling that King David is describing. We have a word for that: depression.
Second, we have the word ‘turmoil.’ This word is repeated twice in these 11 verses. In case we miss the state of his heart and mind, David adds another descriptor for what is going on inside of him. The word he uses that we translate ‘turmoil’ (ESV) or ‘disquieted’ (KJV) or ‘troubled’ (YLT) or ‘disturbed’ (NIV) means a loud roaring growl that stirs in a tumultuous manner. This word is used 34 times in the Old Testament and a proper illustration of this word is the sights and sounds of the worst storm at sea. David has in mind a hurricane in his soul which blows and beats against his heart with wave after wave of trouble.
Another proper illustration of this word, based off of a use in Zechariah 9:15 is a destructive loud howling raging drunk. That same word would have been used by David to describe such a person. David has in mind a loud raging drunk crashing through his soul tossing over self-confidence and spouting profanity and causing trouble that damages everything.
The state of King David’s soul is downcast and turmoil. I hope that you can see that his state of mind and the disposition of his heart is one in need. David needs relief from being downcast and the turmoil.
TRANSITION
What I appreciate about David in Psalm 42 is that not only does he give us a word picture of his heart and mind as a destructive storm sea or a raging drunk, but he also gives us a word picture on how he navigates that storm and deals with the drunk. The word picture is in verse 1 and I believe is laced all throughout Psalm 42. Before we get practical for us, we have to understand deer behavior because a deer at the side of a stream is the word picture that David uses.
DEER BEHAVIOR [content adapted from realtree.com/brow-tines-and-backstrap/5-watering-habits-of-mature-deer]
Verse 1 of Psalm 42 gives us a picture of a thirsty deer by a stream of water. Let’s discuss some Bambi or Bullwinkle or Rudolph behavior to understand what King David has in mind. David already knows how deer behave. You may already know how deer behave. As a certified city-dweller for most of my life, I don’t know and so we shall cover it so we are all on the same page. I will make five observations about deer behavior.
When it comes to deer behavior, they will drink several times per day. Deer are fairly large animals and you know this if you have ever introduced your car to one. A 200-pound deer will typically drink about half a gallon to over a gallon of water per day. This number fluctuates, but it does generally fall within that window. This does not happen all at once but throughout the day.
When it comes to Bambi and thirst, the temperature usually dictates quantity. The biggest factor in how much a deer will drink is temperature. The hotter it is outside the more water is needed to stay hydrated. In this way, deer are a lot like people. For us, the hotter it is the more we sweat and the more we need to drink. It is the same for deer. That makes sense, right?
Additionally, number three, deer and reindeer, and other selected moose-type animals will sleep relatively close to a water source. Hunters and wildlife researchers tell us that most deer beds are discovered in heavy cover and the vast majority of them have been located within 75 yards of a water source, even if it was a very small source. Deer sleep close to their water. That is number three.
Fourth, we should also know that Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen often go to water before finding food in the evening. This is a general observable fact that deer go find water before searching about for food. Before doing other needed activities, a deer will make sure their water needs have been tended.
Lastly, deer don't need large sources of water to drink from, a puddle will do every so often. Deers will absolutely drink from a pond or brook or river, but will also make use of a rain puddle. A deer can drink from anywhere and keep on going.
So, now you have the basics of deer drinking behavior. I don’t know if that makes us experts, but it does actually help you find a deer in the wild. I think I should add that deer are not fans of drinking beer even though it rhymes with their name and some desert-dwelling deer like gazelles can recycle their urine internally so they need less water. I am a fount of knowledge.
TRANSITION
Why bring up such stellar facts about deer?
King David has a panting deer in mind in this psalm/song even as he reflects on his downcast soul full of turmoil. The two are connected. I believe the answer that David found to his downcast tumultuous soul is in his recollections of deer and he applied that to his life. We can do the same.
APPLICATION: DEER BEHAVIOR FOR THE SOUL
If you are someone who deals with mental illness or have someone in your life who would resonate with the words David uses for his soul, then the application today of Psalm 42 should be quite helpful. David tells us how he deals with a soul that is downcast and full of turmoil.
First, for someone who is dealing with mental illness, what is needed is to take time and slowly drink from the Lord throughout the day. Make no mistake, the streams in this psalm are the Lord. Several times a day a person whose soul is downcast needs to hear and remember that God steadfastly loves them and that He is in control and He is salvation. The problem is we think we are not thirsty for God, but we are and we need to slowly and continually take Him in.
* Listen to the Bible in small bursts throughout the day
* Begin listening to a sermon at breakfast, continue at lunch, and finish before dinner
* Use your phone to listen to encouraging Christian podcasts whenever driving in the car
* Keep Christian music on in the background at work if possible
* Work out with a friend a habit of texting back and forth Bible verses
The reason I am saying slowly throughout the day is that depression and anxiety (which we will dig more into in following weeks) and other forms of mental illness are continual and ongoing. Only a gulp of God in the morning or only a chug of God at night means you are suffering during the day and your soul is wearing down. Note the deer behavior, they drink several times a day. So too must a soul that is downcast continually and ongoingly needs to take in God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
By the way, this suggestion is helpful to anyone no matter your mental state.
Second, for someone who is dealing with mental illness, what is needed is to have an intentional pattern of being mindful of the temperature of your life. Some days are harder/hotter than others. Some situations or days at work or family situations will plunge you deeper into depression than other days. If you know bad days or difficult seasons are coming up, be prepared. Love yourself enough to realize who you are, what you struggle with, and plan to stay mentally healthy.
The reason I am saying to be mindful of the temperature of your life is that increased stress, hard conversations, comments from people, and difficult life situations only make depression and mental illness worse because this is another layer on top of what you are already dealing with. The more difficult life is means the more intentional and more intense you will need to be about staying connected to the Lord and resting in the Holy Spirit. God is our rock in times when it feels like life is sinking.
In verse 4, David talks about being part of a throng, procession, and multitude that are all focused on praise and God. It seems counterintuitive for mental illness which is very isolating, but including people when life is overwhelming is key. Including people who believe in God and love you and are willing to help you manage the temperature of life is key. We need other people. It is going to feel like a massive effort to reach out to someone when hurting, but it will be worth it.
* If you know people in your life will be oppressive, schedule times of prayer at home
* If you feel forgotten by the Lord on hard days, have a person you can call and pray with
* When life gets too much, plan to stop by and see your pastor
By the way, this suggestion is helpful to anyone no matter your mental state.
Third, for someone who is dealing with mental illness, you must end your day everyday drinking from living water. It must be a holy habit to conclude your day resetting your brain patterns and your emotions with the Lord in a wise routine. It must be a holy habit that the last thing your conscious and subconscious mind thinks on is the Lord.
The reason I am saying to end your day resetting your patterns in emotions and thinking is because deer never sleep far from a water source. Neither should we spiritually speaking. Those of us who continually and ongoingly suffer and struggle with diseased craziness, hurt, or error in imagination, and error in understanding need to repattern what is in there with what is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable or worthy of praise (Philippians 4:8). Depression feels like weariness and so making a routine feels like the opposite of what you want to do. None of what we are talking about is easy. It is still true.
* Create a habit of having a spiritual conversation before bed with your spouse
* Spend time in prayer as you go to sleep
* Journal about your day and write down Bible verses to re-frame and re-think what happened
* Use the Abide app to go to sleep listening to the Scriptures and meditating on God
By the way, this suggestion is helpful to anyone no matter your mental state.
Fourth, for someone who is dealing with a downcast soul or turmoil, having spiritual priorities in their proper place is important and will help stem the tide of trouble. Deer drink before other activities. Spiritually speaking, we need to place God first. In verses 4-8, David lines out that he prays, fellowships with others, actively remembers what God has done, and sings to God… he makes God a priority.
The reason I am saying to have proper spiritual priorities is because the self-recrimination and temptations and disordered thoughts and unhappiness and purposeless feelings will take over and take front row in our soul if we do not occupy those chairs first with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. When we let our spiritual life slide, we allow mental illness to slide in and take over.
* Make sure you are studying the Bible in a group on a weekly basis
* Reading Christian books on mental health is important and regular
* Worship and prayer and Bible study and fasting and giving are non-negotiables for living
* Serve the Lord in the church and get outside yourself
* Take your medicine regularly and praise God that such help exists
By the way, this suggestion is helpful to anyone no matter your mental state.
Lastly, for someone who is dealing with a downcast soul or turmoil, having even small amounts of spiritual pick-me-ups will be helpful and spiritually important. Deer can even drink from a puddle. Even small spiritual things are helpful when a soul is in distress.
ILLUSTRATION… ‘Depression, Anxiety, and the Christian Life.’ Richard Baxter. Crossway 2018. Page 87.
Richard Baxter, in the book I mentioned at the beginning, has this as a principle to learn from. He says on page 87: “Do not engage too long a time in any private duty you find yourself unable to bear. Prayer itself, when you are incapable of it, must be performed only to the degree that you are able. When you are unable to do better, then short confessions and requests to God will have to serve rather than lengthy private prayers.”
He also says: “Where you find yourselves incapable of private devotions, don’t be too hard on yourselves. Instead, go at a pace that is not too uncomfortable. Preserve your willingness to fulfill your duty, and avoid things that make it miserable for you.”
He would say drink from puddles when you need to. By the way, this suggestion is helpful to anyone no matter your mental state.
CONCLUSION
READ PSALM 42:1-3 (ESV)
As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”
King David writes these words as his soul is downcast and in turmoil. He has in mind a deer panting for waters. He likes that to our own spirits that pant and thirst for God. Please understand that a person dealing with mental illness needs medicine and therapy, but they also need a good steady source of the Lord. If you are a person dealing with mental illness, please do not leave God behind.
He is worthy of praise (verse 5).
He is the source of salvation (verse 5).
He is the wave breaker (verse 7).
He is steadfast love (verse 8).
He is the rock (verse 9).
INVITATION
