Part 3 - David is Revived

Psalm 42

This is our final message in this little mini-series on depression. In our first message, we saw King David slide into depression and spiritual compromise. In our second message, we saw King David begin his recovery from Depression to Revival. Today, we make it personal. In this message, we look at how we can battle back From Depression to Revival.

Martin Lloyd-Jones calls the type of depression we are focusing on here, “Spiritual Depression.” He preached a twenty-one-sermon series on this subject, which became a book “Spiritual Depression,” which I gained insight from for this message. And I wish I would’ve read this term “spiritual depression” before because I think it best defines the area of depression that the Bible most speaks to. The spiritual side of depression is addressed clearly in God’s Word, and if we get the spiritual side right, that will give us a strong foundation to address all aspects of depression, and that is what we want to do today – learn how to begin to get the spiritual side right.

So first, let’s remember what led David into his depression and spiritual compromise in 1 Samuel 27 from our first message. Remember, it was the string of back-to-back-to-back crisis and high-stress emotional events which all together overwhelmed him and discouraged him until David found himself and his six hundred men living a dual life in the enemy’s territory.

And then last message, we saw David have a two-by-four upside the head “where’s your faith?” moment. The Lord used a hard consequence to shake David out of his depression haze, and as a believer, we desperately need these “where is your faith?” moments.

In Luke Chapter 8, Jesus takes his disciples out on the Sea of Galilee, and then he lays down for a nap just as a wild storm rushes down on the lake. And the Disciples are all thinking they’re going to die, even though Jesus is right there in the boat with them. And when they wake Jesus up, he instantly calms the storm, and then he looks at the Disciples and asks the question that we have to hear him asking us today, “Where is your faith?” (Notice, it’s not “Do you have faith?” but rather “Where is it?”)

Is your faith more in what you feel and see? Or is your faith in the truths and the promises of the God of the Bible? We’ve got to ask ourselves the hard question, where is my faith… right now? Then, we’ve got to have the courage to answer honestly.

We saw King David have that exact moment last week in 1 Samuel Chapter 30, where he finally woke up, and he put his faith and his actions back where they belonged – in the Lord!! David had lived with the enemy for sixteen months listening to himself and following himself. Then, finally, because of the consequences that God allowed into his life, in 1 Samuel Chapter 30, David woke up, and he turned from listening to himself, and he turned back to listening to his God instead.

Are you listening to yourself today while you’re in depression? Or are you listening to your God? If you are listening to your God and you’re in spiritual depression, I want to challenge your answer today. I want to at least say you’re not listening to God enough. You may not believe God – enough.

So, instead of allowing his depression to rule his life. “David strengthened himself in the Lord his God” (30:6)

And we listed four things last week that David did to battle back From Depression to Revival.

And these four things have to be the foundation of our own battle back From Depression to Revival. Here they are, from 1 Samuel 30. (Turn there).

#1) David Cried Out to God in Brokenness and Prayer
When David and his men realized their families had been taken and their town burned to the ground, we read in 1 Samuel 30:4,

1 Samuel 30:4 (NLT)
4 they wept until they could weep no more.


This is David crying out in brokenness in response to his slap in the face wake up call. And then when his six hundred men started talking about stoning David, we read the following in 1 Samuel 30:6(b).

1 Samuel 30:6(b) (NLT)
6 . . . But David found strength in the Lord his God. 


This is the beginning of David crying out to God in prayer. First in brokenness – then in prayer. David cried out to God.

#2) David Returned to Worshipping in the Presence of God
1 Samuel 30:7 (NLT)
7 Then he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring me the ephod!” So Abiathar brought it. 


The Ephod was part of the Priestly clothing. For the High Priest, it was very elaborate. For the common priest, it was simple. It was a sleeveless-like apron that covered the torso of the priest, front, and back. But the Ephod was the symbol of the presence of God coming upon and covering the priest. It represented immersing the priest in the presence of God, and it symbolized the leading of God, and so the Ephod (to me) is the perfect symbol of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Think of those times when you were covered in the presence of God, immersed in his presence, and you sensed God, and you sensed God’s direction. That is what David is seeking when he says, “Bring me the Ephod!” Asking for the Ephod is David stepping back into the place where he can sense the presence of God, where he can sense God’s direction. And we cannot battle back from depression to revival without that same thing.

#3) David Listened to (and Obeyed) the Word of God
1 Samuel 30:8 (NLT)
8 Then David asked the Lord, “Should I chase after this band of raiders? Will I catch them?” And the Lord told him, “Yes, go after them. You will surely recover everything that was taken from you!”

 
David first cries out to God. Then he enters the presence of God. Then he seeks the Word of God. And then, God answers him – as he will answer us.

#4) David Returned to Serving the Lord
Immediately, the Lord tells David to get back into the battle.

And King David does successfully fight back from his depression to revival.

And if we are going to do the same thing, then we are going to have to do these same four things.

1) Cry out to God in Brokenness and PRAYER
2) Return to Worshipping in the Presence Of God
3) Listen to (and obey) the WORD of God
4) Returned to SERVING God

Here’s my experience. It’s hard to take the first step. It’s hard to get started. It’s hard for me personally, and it’s hard for the many, many people I have helped through depression. Some successfully, some not. But I want to focus on the answer to the question today, how do we get started. Even if I know this foundation of brokenness and prayer and worship and the Word and serving. Even if I really understand that what if I can’t get out of bed? What if I can’t open the curtains?

How do we take the first step? This is my heart today. This is the heart of the message; this is my heart for you and for me today.

But here is the critical question that I really want to answer today. How do we get started? How do we take that first step to begin to fight back from depression to revival? And we see the answer in one of the greatest “Depression Psalms” in the Bible – Psalm 42. Turn there.

Some think this Psalm was written by David and dedicated to the “Sons of Korah” (title). In either case, in this Psalm, God is speaking directly to you and me, and you can easily see the crushing weight of spiritual depression on the Psalmist here.

He is cast down and dejected. He’s carrying the world on his shoulders. He’s not eating; he has only tears for food. He’s worried, and he’s afraid, and he has the physical pain of his heart breaking. We can easily see the dark place that he’s in. But… we can also see his role in his recovery from that dark place, and that is what we want to focus on today.

As we go through this Psalm, I want to point out both the dark place the Psalmist is in and his role in his recovery from that dark place. God knows. He is with you in the dark place Psalm 139 says. He is with you. His Spirit is with you. He knows where you’re at, but he also has called you to a role. You have a role. You have a part in your recovery from depression to revival, and I want you to see this battle.  

And I really want you to see the battle between self and faith here because it is a cage fight to the death of self versus faith. And it’s a battle that every Christian has to fight. And it’s a battle that we especially have to fight when we’re in this pit of depression. So, let’s go through Psalm 42 together, and you look for the battle of self versus faith.

Psalm 42:1-2 (NLT)
1 As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. 2 I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him? 


The Psalmist remembers God’s presence, and he longs to get back to him. He thirsts for the living water from God. It has been so long since he’s been in the Lord’s presence (and it’s killing him).

Psalm 42:3-4 (NLT)
3 Day and night I have only tears for food, while my enemies continually taunt me, saying, “Where is this God of yours?” 


He can’t eat – he can only cry, and he feels taunted by his enemies. These may be physical enemies. They may be spiritual enemies. They may be emotional enemies. And maybe his worst enemy is himself.

Can I tell you, please? You’ve got to grab this. When you and I are depressed, we are our own worst enemy. And no matter who we think the enemy is if we’re not pointing at ourselves, we’re wrong.

4 My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be: I walked among the crowds of worshipers, leading a great procession to the house of God, singing for joy and giving thanks amid the sound of a great celebration!
 
I remember when I used to be first in. I remember when I used to show up a half an hour early, so I could worship during rehearsal at church. I remember when I used to be first among the worshippers, singing for joy and giving thanks with great celebration. He says, “I remember those days and I long for them. I need to be back in the presence of God.”

And then, suddenly, in Psalm 42:5(a) he cries out,

Psalm 42:5(a) (NLT)
5 Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? . . .


The Psalmist says in his heart, “I’ve known God. I long for God. I remember what it was like when I was in his presence.”

Why am I so Discouraged? Why is my heart so Sad?

And then, it’s like the truth hits him and he knows what he has to do. And so, he turns on himself. He doesn’t coddle himself; he doesn’t embrace himself. He turns on self, and he shakes himself, and he speaks forcefully to himself.

Psalm 42:5(b)-6 (NLT)
5(b) . . . I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and 6 my God! Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember you— even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan, from the land of Mount Mizar. 


I WILL – I WILL – I WILL

No matter how I feel, no matter how far away I am. I will put my hope in God. I will praise him again. I will remember my God. This is war. This is war to the death. Either the presence of God is going to die in your life, or self is going to die.

Psalm 42:7-8 (NLT)
7 I hear the tumult of the raging seas as your waves and surging tides sweep over me.
8 But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life.


The waves of life are overwhelming. But I know each day the Lord pours out his unfailing love – on me. Whether I feel it or not. I know his unfailing love is with me. And each night, the Lord’s song is with me, though I feel forsaken, I am not.

But then he cries out again.

Psalm 42:9-10 (NLT)
9 “O God my rock,” I cry, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I wander around in grief, oppressed by my enemies?”
10 Their taunts break my bones. They scoff, “Where is this God of yours?” 


Listen, don’t turn on the Psalmist because you and I have done the same thing. One minute we’re saying, “God, I’m back, it’s good. You’re with me, Lord! I know you’re with me.” And then it’s “Oh, where are you, Lord? Why have you forsaken me?” This is a classic cycle of depression.

And so, again, the Psalmist falls back into his depression logic. But here’s the battle. This is what the battle looks like. But then, as fast as he does, he stops himself, and he takes ahold of himself, and he shakes himself again!

(In verse 11).

Psalm 42:11(a) (NLT)
11 Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? . . . 


Do you see the battle is on? It is self versus faith. It is the battle of depression for a Christ Follower. It’s depression logic versus God’s promises. And so, the Psalmist again confronts his self-nature and chooses faith over feeling. (Continuing in verse 11).

Psalm 42:11(b) (NLT)
11 . . . I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God!


I don’t know if you’ve ever done this – if you can handle it – I have. Where I have screamed out to God, “I WILL CHOOSE YOU! I will put my hope in you. I will choose faith, no matter how I feel, what I see, no matter what perspective the enemy is trying to force on me. It’s all wrong, God, and you’re the one who’s right. I will put my hope in you. I will praise you again, my Savior and my God.”

I WILL – I WILL – I will choose FAITH, and I will act on my faith.

Are you getting the sense of the battle? This is war! I’ve been involved in too many suicides to take this lightly. This is war. And self must die. Self must be crucified.

And finally, just look down at Psalm 43 (a continuation of Psalm 42).

Still in the same context (same battle). In Psalm 43:4-5, the Psalmist shakes himself again. You count the “I will’s” for me, and imagine yourself stomping the ground and screaming out.

Psalm 43:4–5 (NLT)
4 . . . I will go to the altar of God, to God—the source of all my joy. I will praise you with my harp, O God, my God!
5 Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God! 


Please listen to me very carefully right here. To go From Depression to Revival, we have got to learn how to handle “self.” Self is not your friend. Spiritual depression is a battle to the death between self and faith.

We’ve got to get a hold of self, and we’ve got to speak to self, and we’ve got to preach to self, and we’ve got to question self. We have got to turn on self. We’ve got to condemn self and exhort self. We have got to get this truth through to self.

Hey, self. “I will hope in God.” “I will praise my Savior and my God.” “I will remember my God.” N o matter what you’re trying to do in me, self, no matter how I feel or what you are trying to get me to think, it’s not going to happen.

And each day, the Lord is pouring his unfailing love upon me, and through each dark night, the Lord’s song is within me. And I will fight to believe the truths and the promises of God. So, self – shut up and be crucified! You’re not welcome here.

We have got to stop listening to self (self is not your friend), and we have got to start talking to self, and that is what we see the Psalmist fighting to do in Psalm 42.

Instead of believing him what self is telling him – he starts telling self what to believe. Instead of listening to the lies of self, he starts telling self what is true about God.
 
When we are in that dark place of depression, self is our worst enemy. Self is getting us to believe things that are contrary to God’s truth and God’s promises. Self is the enemy, and we must begin a war with self. Self must be fought against, not coddled, not cradled. We’ve got to turn on self, not embrace self. We’ve got to stop allowing self to lead us down that dark path of depression. That is not the Lord.

Guys, your flesh nature – your self-nature is the single, biggest access point for the enemy in your life. The principalities and powers of the air in spiritual places who are out to destroy your life and the lives of those around you – self is the widest open door that we give our spiritual enemy.

That’s why Jay Adams, the Godfather of Christian counseling, calls “self” The Enemy Within. We’ve got to stop letting our spiritual enemy capitalize on our self-enemy. It’s time to turn on self and demand:

“I will put my hope in God.”
“I will praise my God again.”
“I will remember him.”
“I will believe God alone.”
“I will trust God alone.”


Are you getting a picture here? This is a picture of the war we must wage of the battle we must fight in order to go From Depression to Revival.

Guys, I believe if we will grasp the spiritual side of our depression and win this battle, then we will have a foundation on which to build the other components of your victory.

Stop allowing your self to talk to you. Instead, start talking to your self, and when you do, speak forcefully the truths and the promises of God. Fight the battle with everything you’ve got until self is crucified, and the truths and the promises of God begin to come alive in you again. Carry the promises of God that speak directly to what self is trying to do to you. Speak them out loud. Yell them out loud… maybe in a field or on a hill where no one is around. Crucify self, and the truths and the promises of God will start to come alive in your life.

And then, as King David did:
1) Cry out to God in brokenness and prayer
2) Return to worshipping in the presence of God
3) Listen to and obey the Word of God
4) And finally, get back to serving God

And if you will do these things, you will victoriously go From Depression to Revival.