“Then Sings My Soul” - Wednesday, March 24, 2010
posted on 25 March 2010 in GeneralWhen the Sun Begins to Shine Again ….
Psalm 142
Depression is a serious battle in which both Christians and non-Christians sometimes find themselves engaged. According to Psalm 142:7, depression is a prison! It can be said that most Christians will deal with despondency sometime in their Christian walk. Despondency makes us feel blue and discouraged, but depression is far more serious.
The superscription of this Psalm, “Maschil of David. A prayer when he was in the cave”, will serve as our introduction. Our introduction is in four parts.
A. Maschil pronounced “Mas-Kil” means “to give wise instruction.” There are thirteen “Maschil” Psalms, meaning they were written with the specific purpose of instruction. The purpose of this Psalm is to give us instructions in dealing with depression. Depression has been described as a “great overwhelming distress.”
B. This Psalm was written by David. While David did not write all the Psalms, he did write more than any other writer.
C. This Psalm was written while David “was in the cave.” David had escaped from Saul and was hiding in a cave. Let’s notice I Samuel 22:1-2 for an understanding of what David was facing:
“David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father’s house heard it, they went down thither to him. And everyone that was in distress, and everyone that was in debt, and everyone that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.”
David’s time alone didn’t last long. His privacy was invaded by four hundred distressed, financially burdened, and discontented men. David was over-whelmed not only by his own burden but the burdens of four hundred others!
D. This was a “Prayer” of David. Charles Spurgeon said, “Caves make good prayer closets.” Here in this cave we find David crying out to the Lord. Notice the first two verses of his prayer. “I cried. I poured out my complaint.” Let’s look into these seven verses to find how David found the sun shining again!
1. Verse 1 - “I cried.” Notice this was an audible cry. David cried “with my voice.” When depressed, find a place you can cry aloud unto the Lord. David made his “supplication” unto the Lord meaning he begged God! David had hit bottom, but he knew Who could help him.
2. Verse 2 - “I poured out my complaint.” David laid everything out before God. He said, “I shewed before Him my trouble.” When he “shewed” his trouble means he held nothing back. His trouble was what was binding him. His trouble was more than he could handle.
God wants to be your Counselor. He wants you to trust Him with every care and secret aspect of your life. He wants to hear you confess what it is that binds and holds you. Many people who face depression have the most difficulty of admitting to what really bothers them. You can be brutally honest with God!
Most depressed people want to find a cave and stay hidden while saying very little. David was open about his problems.
3. Verse 3. Here David continues to admit to God “my spirit was overwhelmed.” Here he is saying my depression has caused my inner “spirit” to feel weak, but then he immediately says, God, I know “thou knewest my path”….God you didn’t forget me. You haven’t left me! You knew what I was facing even that “they privily laid a snare for me.” Here David is openly admitting to God his fears of Saul and his men.
4. Verse 4. David felt as though no one cared about him or his situation. Depressed people are very apt to only look one way - that is toward themselves. Depression will cause a person to become very selfish. Please read the next statement - “While depressed, you may feel alone and forgotten;, however, just because you may feel that way does not make it true!” God knows the depths of your distress! God knows your feelings, and HE CARES!
5. Verse 5. Again David “cried unto thee, O Lord.” Here he is beginning to mend his relationship with God - “Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.” The Lord is always there for you! “There” meaning even in the cave of despair!
6. Verse 6. David in this verse cries for deliverance. He knew WHOM to go to! He knew that only God could “deliver me.” David moves to asking God to deliver him from Saul and his men “persecutors.”
7. Verse 7. Here David describes depression. “Bring my soul out of prison..” Depression is bondage. David knew that his depression had captured him. He wanted out!
Another interesting note is “that I may praise Thy name.” Depression and Praise are rarely found in the same person. Depression can take the gratitude out of you!
“For Thou shalt deal bountifully with me” - David’s faith in God is plainly stated. He knew God would “bountifully” meet his great need. The sun will shine again and David is looking to the Lord to make it happen.
What about your cave or prison? Think about what put you there! Here are some things that contribute to prisons of depression:
1. You fear the future.
2. A recent disappointing event.
3. Something that you feel very bitter about.
4. A recent resentment.
5. Relationship problems with others.
Maybe something else has you trying to hide in a cave.
God sent four hundred very needy people to him. They elected him as their leader. David had little time to think about himself which helped his escape from the cave. Helping others can and will change your life.
LOOK AND LIVE!