Bible Study - Storm (4) - The Shelter of GOD'S Encouragement - Psalms 42 and 43 - December 28, 2014

Bible Study – Strom (4) – The Shelter of GOD’S Encouragement – December 28, 2014

This is lesson four (4) in our series entitled “Storm Shelter: Psalms of GOD’S Embrace.”

Our focus scripture is Psalms 42:1-3, 6-8; 43:3-5.

GOD encourages me when I feel overwhelmed. All of us feel overwhelmed at times in our lives, including Christians. When we are overwhelmed to whom, where or what do we turn?

Psalms 42 and 43 were not written by King David but written by one person who was a member of a group referred to as the “sons of Korah.” The “Advanced Bible Commentary,” Winter 2014-2015, published by LifeWay, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN37234-0175, page 51 states “The title to Psalm 42 ascribes it to the “sons of Korah.” This was a family of Levites, descendants of the clan of Kohath (1 Chronicles 6:22), who serve in the temple. Among their duties was service as a kind of temple choir (vv. 33-38; 2 Chronicles 20:19). We should not take the title to mean that Psalm 42 was written by a committee. Its ascription to the “sons of Korah” means they belonged to a specific temple collection of songs and that a single member of the guild of Korah wrote it. Beyond that information, we do not know when or by whom the psalm was composed. The sons of Korah had a long history of association with the sanctuary, and this psalm could have been written during the lifetime of David or much later. Neither do we know the specific circumstances that prompted the psalmist to compose the song.”

Continuing on to page 53 it reads, “The three refrains at 42:5, 11 and 43:5 divide the text into three stanzas: 421-5, 42:6-11 and 43:1-5. Each stanza has a distinctive focus. In 42:1-5, the psalmist felt he had lost contact with God and no longer had the joy of his salvation. In 42:6-11, although he had not lost faith in God, he considered himself to be abandoned by God and that he had to endure the taunts of his enemies, who somehow perceived the nature of his plight. In 43:1-5, the psalmist described his distress over the evil he saw about him and appealed to God for vindication and enlightenment.”

This is a great introduction to these two psalms which most Bible scholars believe that they were originally written as one psalm. On page 51, the writer of this part of the lesson commentary, Doctor Duane Garrett, professor of Old Testament at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, wrote:

“First, both psalms repeat the refrain “Why am I so depressed? Why this turmoil within me? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him. My Savior and my God (42:5, 11; 43:5). Second, Psalm 43 has no title. This is unusual in Book II of the Psalter (Psalm 42-72). One would expect that Psalm 43 would have a title of its own if it were composed separately. Third, a number of old Hebrew manuscripts present the two psalms as one. Against this view, it is not clear what would have motivated an editor to divide the one psalm into two. Perhaps one psalmist wrote both psalms as separate works but in the same style. But even if the two psalms were written separately, their format and content are so similar that they can be studied as one.”

We know the trinity of man is the body, soul and spirit. The body ties us to earth and was made for functioning upon earth. The spirit gives life to the earth body and lives forever. The soul is the product which is produced when the body and the spirit function. It is the spirit that is released upon the death of the earth body and goes into eternity to either live with GOD provided it has been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, JESUS or into outer darkness, if it has not been redeemed. The rebirth of the spirit is the choice every person makes. GOD’S Spirit moves within every person and issues him an invitation to accept JESUS as his or her Savior and to make HIM LORD of his or her life. Accepting GOD’S invitation to accept CHRIST as his or her Savior results in the miracle of rebirth in the person’s spirit, which instantly becomes the new born-again Spirit of that person. It is the born-again Spirit that goes immediately to heaven upon the death of the physical body to live for eternity, never to be judged by GOD; only to be rewarded.

In these psalms the writer is having a monologue discussion between his earthly mind and his soul. The psalmist knows the Spiritual relationship he had with GOD but now that relationship cannot be realized because he was depressed or that his soul was “dissolving.” The reason his soul was dissolving was that his illness had cut off his communication and presence with GOD. To him GOD was associated with a physical place. He had to find just the right spot to fellowship with GOD.

Christians have the joy of knowing that GOD is everywhere. They can call upon HIM 24/7. This psalmist once knew the presence of GOD but what he believes and thinks about GOD shapes his concept of GOD. This can happen to Christians. We get false notions about GOD and our relationship with CHRIST but what does GOD’S Word, the Bible, reveal to us? We as Christians are responsible to go to GOD’S Word and seek answers to our questions but often we go to the person who will give us a feel good answer. But is that person’s response the truth based upon GOD’S Word?

The Bible is very clear as stated in Matthew 7:7-11 by JESUS:

7 Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, [the door] will be opened. 9 Or what man is there of you, if his son asks him for a loaf of bread, will hand him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will hand him a serpent? 11 If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father Who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give good and advantageous things to those who keep on asking Him!

Most of us want answers instantly. Sometimes answers do come quickly but often it takes time. Often the reason they take time is because we are not ready to receive, comprehend and respond to the answer.

In these psalms, the writer is depressed and his depression has blocked the joyous relationship he once had with GOD. His desire is to rekindle that relationship.

On pages 52-53 of the commentary, Dr. Garrett wrote, “The HCSB rendition loses the sense of the internal dialogue between a man and his soul but it captures the reality of what he is experiencing. Specifically, we can list four implications of the question that the psalmist repeatedly addresses to his soul.

Depression: The psalmist was beset by lingering sorrow over which he had no control. He could not shake off the gloom that clung to him.

Confusion: The psalmist felt alienated from his own soul, his inner life and could not comprehend why his thoughts and feelings seemed to be in rebellion against his higher ideals. Strangely, he had to try to encourage his own soul, and he spoke to it as if to another person. He held fast to his faith in God, and yet he continued to experience depression, as though he had lost faith. This, too, bewildered him.

Apathy: In Hebrew thinking, the soul animates the person. When the psalmist said that his soul was “dissolving away,” he implied that he had lost energy and initiative. His words suggest that he knew he should have gotten up and become busy dealing with the problems around him, but he couldn’t do it. In spite of what he knew to be right, he just didn’t seem to care.

Despair: The psalmist had not lost all hope, but he continued to experience feelings of hopelessness. He was looking for answers, wanting to know how to regain the optimism that comes from knowing that God was watching over him.”

Let’s explore!

Again, we see that this psalm is a Maskil or a poem intended to be contemplative. The two psalms focus upon spiritual and physical depression. One of the hallmarks of depression is darkness. Darkness can come from Satan or mental problems. Redemption from either is specific and unique. Discernment is a must. 

Let’s read Psalm 42:1-3:

Longing for God For the choir director. A • Maskil of the sons of Korah.

1 As a deer longs for streams of water, so I long for You, God. 2 I thirst for God, the living God. When can I come and appear before God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while all day long people say to me, “Where is your God?”

This psalm involves a person who has experienced the presence of GOD in his life but at this time in his life the person feels that GOD had abandoned him. The person is seeking to re-establish the relationship he had. The intensity of the person’s desire is compare to the intense thirst of a deer desperately seeking water to quench its thirst and sustain its life. The deer can smell the water but it must find its source.

The psalmist considered his need for water to sustain his physical life vital and his need for Spiritual water, which can only be supplied by GOD, to be just as vital to sustain his Spiritual life. Spiritual water is only available from GOD through relationship.

Do you recall what JESUS told the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4:13-14:

13 Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks from this water will get thirsty again. 14 But whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty again —ever! In fact, the water I will give him will become a well of water springing up within him for eternal life.”

Also, JESUS said in John 7:37-39:

37 On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, he should come to Me and drink! 38 The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.” 39 He said this about the Spirit. Those who believed in Jesus were going to receive the Spirit, for the Spirit had not yet been received because Jesus had not yet been glorified.

WOW!!! If only we as Christians would die to self and allow the living water to flow through us. What would our world look like?

This psalmist earnestly desired to rekindle his relationship with GOD but he was unable to because of his depression which exacerbated his desire to rekindle his relationship with GOD. Since GOD was associated with certain places, the psalmist considered the places where he once had a relationship with GOD and thought about returning to them to rediscover GOD and for GOD to see that he still desired a relationship with him.

The psalmist was distraught and cried because he could not rediscover the relationship he once had with GOD. His desire was so intense that food was of no concern. His constant crying sent a message to those around him that he had not found GOD, therefore, the person seeking GOD became a point of ridicule. This again exacerbated the person’s depression because there was either a problem with the person seeking GOD or with his GOD/god.

The psalmist was seeking the One True GOD of Israel or the living GOD. It was common for the Jews to consider that a person who did not have a relationship with GOD to suffer because of sin. This psalmist was much like Job and knew that he had not sinned, yet he did not seemingly have a relationship with GOD.

Depression is a serious health issue.

The psalmist focuses upon the times of great joy when he worshipped in specific places as we read our next verses.

Let’s read Psalm 42:4-6:

4 I remember this as I pour out my heart: how I walked with many, leading the festive procession to the house of God, with joyful and thankful shouts. 5 Why am I so depressed? Why this turmoil within me? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him, my Savior and my God. 6 I am deeply depressed; therefore I remember You from the land of Jordan and the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.

This psalmist recalled the joy of his relationship with GOD, so why is he depressed? The psalmist still utters the words of praise but the joy is gone. Why? Knowing the relationship and joy he once had with GOD at one time did not carry over to this time in his life. Why?
Depression is dark and it is a mental illness. It is of great concern to the person with the illness and to those around him.

Let’s continue with verses 7-11:

7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfalls; all Your breakers and Your billows have swept over me. 8 The Lord will send His faithful love by day; His song will be with me in the night— a prayer to the God of my life. 9 I will say to God, my rock, “Why have You forgotten me? Why must I go about in sorrow because of the enemy’s oppression?” 10 My adversaries taunt me, as if crushing my bones, while all day long they say to me, “Where is your God?” 11 Why am I so depressed? Why this turmoil within me? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him, my Savior and my God.

The psalmist compares his or her depression to a large waterfall. Huge amounts of water that falls from on high into a hole making a thunderous sound. All the water that falls is continuous, never ending and consumed. It reminded the psalmist of the endless troubles that keep coming upon him. They never cease. His troubles keep buffeting him like the endless billows and waves produced by the raging waters. Trouble keeps buffeting his body. The psalmist tried to deal with his problem but it is greater than him. He needs relief from GOD.

The psalmist knows the ability of GOD to bring him relief as stated in verse 8 but it does not happen, yet GOD is his rock to Whom he prays. The psalmist questioned, Where is GOD and why has HE forgotten me?

The psalmist hated being in that state of mind, yet he cannot do anything about it. Those around the psalmist, taunted him. We do not taunt a person with a visible problem such as a broken leg, yet those who have a mental illness are often taunted because he cannot suck it up and deal with it. With a broken bone once it is set, it heals but with mental illness we cannot look into the mind and see the broken part. It needs professional help to be mended and it takes time.

The psalmist was eager to have answers and has the desire to be healed and restored.

I believe medicine is a gift from GOD. GOD can heal with the touch of HIS hand, through medicine or both. GOD is a good therapist and so are those HE gifts to help others.

The psalmist still places his trust in GOD for healing.

Let’s read Psalm 43:1-5:

1 Vindicate me, God, and defend my cause against an ungodly nation; rescue me from the deceitful and unjust man. 2 For You are the God of my refuge. Why have You rejected me? Why must I go about in sorrow because of the enemy’s oppression?

The psalmist was being taunted by others because of his mental state. He asked GOD to let the ungodly to see that HE was active in his life and the psalmist was not guilty of some un-confessed sin.

People can be relentless in blaming or criticizing the less fortunate. He asked GOD to defend his cause. His cause was depression. An ungodly person or nation could not see that he needed help rather than being ridiculed by deceitful and unjust man. The deceitful and ungodly hide their short-falls and see the short-falls of others as weakness. They do this to cover their own deficiencies.

The psalmist seeks refuge in GOD and he asks GOD why HE had not come to his aid, which in his mind equates to GOD’S rejecting him. If GOD would vindicate him that would counteract his enemy’s oppression of him or at least he thought it would.

Then it seems that the psalmist has a thought as we read these next verses.

Let’s continue with verses 3-5:                                                                                                                                                            

3 Send Your light and Your truth; let them lead me. Let them bring me to Your holy mountain, to Your dwelling place. 4 Then I will come to the altar of God, to God, my greatest joy. I will praise You with the lyre, God, my God. 5 Why am I so depressed? Why this turmoil within me? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him, my Savior and my God.

When we are in the dark, we need light. The psalmist has been in darkness and he desperately needs light. Simply put, if GOD would send him light, he could find HIM. GOD is light and light reveals truth and GOD is truth. Light exposes the hidden things in life such that a person can separate truth from error. It would allow the psalmist to put matters into proper perspective.

The psalmist asks GOD to lead him to the place where HE was residing. Once GOD leads him to the place of HIS presence, GOD can see him and in turn he hopes that he will experience GOD. Then he can obediently serve HIM as a priest. Being a priest was his greatest joy. When he has joy in his heart, he expresses it in song. The psalmist knows that he once had this joy, so, why is he so depressed and has such turmoil within?

Turmoil comes from a Hebrew word which can mean “the roar of the crowds” or “the thunderous crash of waves.” The psalmist was struggling with where he was and where he wanted to be in relationship with GOD and those around him.

On page 58, Dr. Garrett wrote, “When we go to church, it can be one of two things. It can be going into a building where people sing songs, listen to messages, and carry out certain religious rituals. Or, it can be an encounter with GOD.” Do we go through the motions or do we seek an intimate, loving relationship with GOD through faith in CHRIST and the desire to obediently serve HIM as led by the indwelling Holy Spirit?

Then the psalmist seems to have a breakthrough.  He knows that his hope is in GOD and he will still seek HIM and praise HIM because of this hope. The psalmist acknowledges GOD as his savior and GOD.

Christians are just as susceptible to mental illness as anyone else. When we have the flu, a broken bone or needing dental work we go to the appropriate trained person to diagnose what needs to be done. When we have mental issues we go to the appropriate trained person to diagnose what needs to be done to help us. During treatment Christians must keep their focus upon their relationship with CHRIST because during such times Satan can send negatives in hopes we will doubt the sovereignty of GOD in all things. When mental illness is involved that means the family and friends of that person must also stay focused upon the LORD and pray, pray, pray and pray so more.

Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years are the times when depression raises its ugly head. The times when most of us are the happiest for others it is the saddest. Prayers for all who struggle and for those who have family members and friends who struggle with mental illness.

In the words of Dr. Vance Havner, “Christians must practice in the dark what they learn in the light.” Blessings!!!