Title: “Dealing with Elijah’s Depression” Scripture: I Ki. 19:1-21
Type: Expository series Where: GNBC 11-26-23
Intro: “Charles Spurgeon, who is often considered the greatest preacher since Paul, would commonly take two to three months off to go to a resort in France because he was so depressed. He also would have days where he wouldn’t leave his couch.4 He considered these fits so common to a minister that he wrote a whole chapter on it in his book, Lectures to My Students. It’s called the “Ministers Fainting Fits.” We all have times of fainting. Martin Lloyd Jones also thought this was a common and perplexing issue for Christians in general. Since Christians have so much to be thankful for, why do we so commonly struggle with discouragement and depression? As a trained medical doctor and well-known pastor, he wrote a whole book addressing the issue called Spiritual Depression: Its Causes and Its Cure. Again, many great leaders have struggled with it. Abraham Lincoln, one of the greatest American presidents once said this: “I am now the most miserable man living. If what I feel were distributed to the whole human family, there would not be one cheerful face on earth. ... To remain as I am is impossible. I must die to be better.”5 Here in this text, Elijah, one of the greatest prophets and spiritual heroes in the Bible, has a season of depression. (Greg Brown, Overcoming Bouts…) Important lessons can learn.
Prop: In I Ki. 19 we’ll notice 4 Important aspects surrounding Elijah’s depression.
BG: 1. Elijah the prophet, lived about 850 years before the birth of Christ, 150 years after David.
2. Depression leading cause of disability. About 300 million worldwide (clinical). About 1in 4 American women and 1:10 men clinically depressed in lifetime. Men probably higher.
3.
Prop: Let’s look to I Ki. 19 in order to notice 4 Important Aspects Surrounding Elijah’s Depression.
I. Contributing Factors in Elijah’s Depression vv. 1-3
A. The prophet was scared by the threats of an evil individual.
1. King Ahab reports to Queen Jezebel the events of Mt. Carmel.
a. Queen Jezebel was a Sidonian, and as such, was a Baal worshipper. She shamelessly promoted the worship of Baal in the Northern Kingdom and her milk toast husband, King Ahab, was too passive and spiritually acquiescent to take a stand against his wife. He had witnessed the power of God and knew that as the king he should be leading his nation in the unadulterated worship of Jehovah, but he was in fact a spiritual coward.
b. Ilust: Men, there used to be an expression that was often used by the older generation. “I always get the last word in with my wife…yes ma’am.” For last couple of generations people have snickered about that story. However, can I say something very contradictory? The Bible makes it very clear men, that you are to lead your family spiritually. (Eph.5:25-33 – Like Christ we are to wash wives with the word. We are to treat lovingly and with empathy. If don’t prayers will be hindered. (I Pet. 3:7). Absolutely nowhere in the Bible does it say that women naturally have more spiritual insight than men based simply on the fact they have one more “X” chromosome than men do. Part of your job, husbands, is to lead, to guide, to protect, and correct. Lovingly. Ahab completely blew it with Jezebel. After the confrontation at Mt. Carmel, Ahab should have come back home to the palace and had a prayer meeting with Jezebel, but he didn’t. He was a spiritual coward.
2. The Response of Wicked Queen Jezebel.
a. V.2 – Jezebel sends courier with a message of vengeance to Elijah. Essentially said: “You are a dead man, Elijah!” Now, I wonder if Elijah was at his home. Maybe still celebrating the victory of Mt. Carmel. Unexpected and terrifying announcement interrupts his previous celebration. Illust: Have you ever had a somewhat startling letter or announcement arrive unexpectedly? Several years ago was in the evening. Doorbell rang. Sheriff’s deputy. “Chris Arch? Yes. You have been served.” (Wouldn’t you like to know?!) Unnerving.
b. Now here we find the first of many important “take aways” from this text. Depression is not logical and we cannot logically reason our way out of it. What do I mean? In chapt. 18 Elijah had just gone up against 850 prophets of Baal and Asherah in the challenge on Mt. Carmel. He knew very well that had he lost that challenge, he would have been executed. However, he fearlessly stood for the Lord and the Lord answered with fire. Now it is sometime later and one woman writes a letter telling him he will die. If God is able to fight for you on the Mt. He can fight for you at your home.
B. The Prophet was Physically, Spiritually, and Emotionally Exhausted from the Recent Events.
1. Physical Factors Contributing to Elijah’s Depression.
a. “and ran for his life.” – No other way to interpret but scared. Illust: About 6th grade. Best friend and I were playing BB in park near our house. Hit ball into backyard of house. Jumped fence to get ball. Off the porch jumped a Chow! Jumped fence but to my horror, so did the Chow! My friend stood in shocked belief. One Maple tree about 30 yds away. Knew I was faster than friend and if I got to tree first would be ok. We literally “ran for our lives!”
b. Elijah was physically exhausted. From I Ki. 18:46 – 19:3, we see the prophet running about 35 mi from Mt. Carmel to Jezreel and then about 100 mi from Jezreel to Beersheba! The prophet has run the equivalent of about 6.5 marathons in not too many days! Exhausted. Do you know that you can train so much that actually becomes hard to sleep? Do you know a significant portion of marathon racers struggle with depression? Endorphins, etc. Wasn’t eating right. Wasn’t sleeping right. (May I just add same is true today. Many people depressed today for physical reasons. Exertion. Sleep. Food. Rest.)
2. Spiritual and Emotional Factors Contributing to Elijah’s Depression.- The last few days had been an absolute emotional roller coaster for the prophet. Sometimes, this emotional/physical fatigue can last a long time, especially when we’ve been running on adrenaline and caffeine to accomplish the task for a long period. In addition, from a spiritual side, after a major spiritual victory—a wonderful time at Sunday worship, finishing a weekend retreat, or mission trip—in the celebration and excitement, we tend to lower our guard, relax, and the enemy who does not rest attacks us. This is very normal and that probably happened to Elijah. After a major success, he was vulnerable.
C. Applic: If we are going to overcome depression in our lives we need to be sensitive to the contributing factors and do what we can to minimize them.
II. God Ministers to Elijah’s Depression. Vv. 4-8
A. Elijah Reaches Spiritual Rock Bottom in his Bout of Depression.
1. V.4 – We see the sad state of the prophet.
a. The synergy of our sin and suffering will naturally take our focus off of God’s sovereignty. Elijah had allowed his exhaustion, the queen’s threats, and his own incomplete understanding to take his eyes off of the Lord. His focus is only on his perceived and real problems. What does he do? Collapses under a Juniper tree. Elijah is so depressed and exhausted he simply wants to die. (Does that embarrass you?)
b. Be careful of overwork, it will steal our joy and strength. It’s clear that this was a problem with Elijah because when God first ministers to him through an angel, he just allows Elijah to sleep, eat, and recover (v. 5-8). Again, a bow that is always bent will eventually break. It is no surprise that Satan tempted Christ at the end of forty days of fasting in the wilderness when he was hungry and weak (Matt 4:2-3). Satan often does the same to us when we are physically and emotionally exhausted. It’s often right before bedtime when couples are exhausted from work all day and taking care of kids at night that they get into fights. We must be aware of times of weariness; at those times, we’re especially prone to depression and attacks from the devil.
c. Depression is often accompanied by negative and irrational thinking. Look at what he says in v.4 and v.14 – neither statement is true! As I previously stated, depression can’t be argued away with logic. But God has an answer for Elijah’s depression.
2. God Sends His Angel to Minister to Elijah.v.5
a. The angel ministers to Elijah’s physical needs. I personally believe this is the Angel of the Lord, non-other than a preincarnate appearance of the Lord Jesus, Himself. He knows what Elijah needs. He needs rest, food, and faith. V. 5- Wakes him up and tells to eat. Often lose appetite when depressed. Need to eat. God provides bread and water for the prophet. Lets him sleep again. Provides for him again.
b. The angel ministers to Elijah’s spiritual needs. Vv.5&7 The angel touches the prophet. Friend, when you are depressed, discouraged, and discontent, you and I need the touch of God in our lives. We need to know that He lives, He loves, and He cares for us.
B. God is the One Who knows us best and what we need in our times of Depression.
1.Jesus Christ is the Christian’s Great Help in times of Depression.
a. Dear one, Jesus knows your need. Are you depressed and discouraged? Now there is a place for professional help, but friend, I think a lot of Christians would do well to begin telling God about their problems laying under a Juniper tree before they would go and lay on the psychiatrist’s couch. Jesus is the one who said: Mt. 11:28-30 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (NASB)
b. The Bible says that we have a merciful high priest (Heb. 2:17). Jesus is compassionate towards us. He knows our frame, he remembers that we are but dust. He suffered, he became a man, so that he could experience what we experience. Jesus wept. Jesus partook in our sufferings. He knows what we feel like. He knows our weaknesses. Jesus can have compassion, because he walked the earth as one of us.
3. The Angel of the Lord Assesses Elijah’s Situation: “Arise and eat because the journey is too great for you.”
a. Now, obviously the angel was talking about this extended hike that Elijah was about to take from Beersheba to Mt. Horeb (Sinai or Arabic Jabal Musa – Mt. of Moses). Was going to be one more, long and exhausting journey, and Elijah was already weak and tired. V.8 read 40 days/nights. Illust: 40 is number of spiritual significance in Bible. Moses was 40 days and nights in presence of God (Ex. 24:18) without eating when given the Law. Jesus 40 days and nights w/o eating before entering into publicly ministry. This is not wasted time. God has a purpose for prophet, He is bringing him to a point of need and new understanding of Who God is.
b. Friend, may I speak directly to you today? The journey in life is too great for you and me to do in our own strength! Need help. Need hope. Need a Savior. Need Christ! Illust: Some of you are single mothers, trying to provide, raise children, work 2 jobs. Can’t do it in own strength. Maybe you are here today, addicted to… Can’t do it in own strength! Need Christ! Your marriage is falling apart? Need Christ! Maybe recently widowed…You recognize you are a sinner. Can’t improve on own or earn God’s favor. Need free gift of salvation in Christ!
C. Applic: God created us emotional beings. Sometimes we become depressed. Allow Christ to minister to you.
III. Elijah Expresses his Depression. Vv. 9-10
A. Coming to Horeb, Elijah is confronted by the Lord’s question.
1. Elijah responds to the Lord’s Question v.10
a. Up to this point Elijah has been so depressed and discouraged that he could not accurately assess his own situation. He thinks he is worse off than his forefathers. He wasn’t. He thinks he alone is the only prophet representing God. He wasn’t. There were 7000 others God had protected. Friend, God always has His remnant. He wants to whine to God about how very zealous he was. However, now he was suffering from “Woe is meism”! Very easy for Christians to want to show God our spiritual resume rather grow in a relationship of grace.
b. May I gently point out something that demonstrated the prophet’s spiritual condition in the previous verses we examined? Let’s note Elijah’s response in verse 6: “So he ate and drank and lay down again.” What does this tell us about Elijah? When we are depressed and out of fellowship with the Lord, we tend to be as insensitive and ungrateful as the unbelieving world. Elijah seemed to be neither surprised nor overwhelmed by this supply of grace. There is no record of any response, not even a “thank you.” It appears he simply took God for granted. Depression takes God for granted and is further heightened by a lack of gratitude for God’s blessings. (Illust: Depressed? Begin to write a list of God’s blessings! Begin to thank others.)
2. We need to recognize that Depression often Distorts a Proper Assessment of one’s condition.
a. Illust: Again, here we see Elijah a great spiritual leader. Man of God. Prophet who prayed and rain stopped. Prayed again and the fire fell. However, he is depressed and afraid. Read last half of v. 10. Again, God had 7000 followers. God had protected the prophet before, why should he doubt that he would again? (Yet, we struggle this same way, don’t we. Depression and fear distort our vision and choke out our faith.
b. Illust: Some of the most “spiritual” Christians in missions history have struggled with depression. A. Judson, Hudson Taylor, A.B. Simpson, Rowland Bingham, Betty Olsen, the great Reformer, M. Luther. Another, many famous preachers including M. Lloyd-Jones. David Brainerd, the great 18th cent. Missionary to the Native Americas was another example. From his journal he writes on one occasion: “My heart was sunk…it seemed to me I should never have any success among the Indians. My soul was weary of life. I longed for death beyond measure.”
B. Notice the Interesting Question God asks his prophet.
1. God asks Elijah a curious question in v. 9. “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Now back in v.4 we see he was a day’s journey into the wilderness outside of Beersheba. Then it would seem that he was told by the angel of the Lord of the journey he was supposed to take over 40 days to Horeb. ( I might have also been a bit salty in my reply. Just walked about 200 mi. and you are asking me why I am here?)
2. V. 9 Is an essential question for Elijah. It’s also an essential question for you and me when we are struggling with depression. “What are you doing here?” (Elijah, Chris, etc.) God has the prophet at Horeb for a purpose, but Elijah doesn’t know why. Dear one, Christ has you in the place where you find yourself right now.
C. Applic: In James 5 we read that Elijah was a man with a nature like ours. Just like the rest of us, he experienced the problem of depression--that mental and emotional condition marked by feelings of discouragement, worthlessness, dejection, guilt, apprehension, and failure
IV. God’s Answer to Elijah’s Depression vv. 11-16
A. God Reveals New Aspects of His Character and Power to the Depressed Prophet.
1. Use Your Depression to Learn new Lessons about the Person of Christ.
a. Illust: In this chapter, Elijah becomes a classic illustration of a depressed person. We find in his thinking, words, and actions many classic symptoms of depression—withdrawal, isolation, or escape, moodiness, apprehension or fear, self-pity, feelings of worthlessness, loss of hope or confidence, anger, irritability, painful and wrong thinking, and physical exhaustion to name some of the symptoms.
b. God next has a little lesson for the perturbed and perplexed prophet vv. 11-13.
2. God shows Himself anew to Elijah!
b. Elijah realizes the presence of God not in the great wind, nor in the earthquake, nor in the fire, but rather in the gentle blowing of the wind. I think that is a symbol of the tenderness of God. Possibly Elijah had known the God of droughts, and the God of power, and certainly the God Who answers by fire…but maybe he needed to know the tender mercies of our God. Illust: Can I tell you something? The God I know as a 57 yrs. old man with children and grandchildren, is in some ways very different from the God I was sure I knew as a 24 yrs old brand-new pastor.
2. Notice (v.13) that God once again asks the prophet the important question: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Personally, I think the Lord is now addressing something different with Elijah, as well as us. There is a time to be depressed. There is a time to draw near to God with pain and hurt and depression. There is a time to run and hide out at Mt. Horeb. There is a time to learn new things about the Lord. However, there is a time to get your butt up off of the bench and get back into the ballgame.
B. God Reveals a New Work for the Depressed Prophet. Vv.15ff
1. God informs the Prophet of a New work for him to perform.
a. V. 15 – The Lord gets Elijah active and involved in ministry again. Note the “Go, return on your way . . .” in verse 15. When feeling down, depressed, apart from getting needed rest, do not give in to the temptation to mope about and do nothing. Doing nothing only reinforces the depression. By the same token, never use activity to narcotize the pain. Give it to the Lord. Rest, relaxation, and solitude with the Lord needs the balance of involvement in work and ministry, but always out of a spirit of faith, never just activity.
b. Illust: Cybil Megahey was my adoptive Irish grandmother. Last time I saw her she was 93 yrs of age. “Chris, I am an old worn out woman of 93yrs. of age. I don’t know why the Lord doesn’t take me. Well, find out the reason why He hasn’t and keep working at it until He does!” Elijah thought he was a dead man when Jezebel sent that message, but look here at what the Lord is telling him: Read v,.16 – Hazael over Aram and Jehu OVER ISRAEL! In other words, the one whose wife is troubling you is going to be dead! God is telling the prophet that He, not Ahab, is in control. Maybe need to hear this today too!
2. God Gives him a Companion
a. v.19 God provided Elijah with a companion. He commanded him to find Elisha. Elijah was trying to do too much himself. He had to learn to share the work load and burden with others. Eventually, others must be able to share our load and even take our place.
b. Friend, this is why we need the Church. This is why we need Christian friends. You want to have friends? Be a friend.
C. Applic: The Chinese bamboo tree does absolutely nothing--or so it seems--for the first four years. Then suddenly, sometime during the fifth year, it shoots up ninety feet in sixty days. Would you say the bamboo tree grows in six weeks or in five years? Well, our lives and ministry are often like the bamboo tree. Sometimes we put forth effort, put forth effort, and put forth effort . . . and nothing seems to happen. But if you do the right things long enough, you’ll receive the rewards of your efforts.3
