When Depressed

Psalm 42-43

MESSAGES @ WHISPERING HOPE OCTOBER 2011

2nd When Depressed: Psalm 42-43, Samuel Ong

9th When Guilty: Psalm 51, Michael William

12-15th Special Session of the General Conference

16th The Entertainment World: Colossians 3:1-2; John 10:10, Rev. Dr. Andrew Tan

23rd When Anxious: Psalm 55, Goh Keat Peng

30th When in Doubt: Psalm 73, Annette Arulrajah

PSALMS

Collection of 150 songs of praise, prayers and spiritual poems. Hymnbook and prayer-book of the Jews.

Divided into 5 books, which parallel the Torah. Psalms 1-41; 42-72; 73-89; 90-106; 107-150.

Psalm (English) = Psalmos (Greek) = Tehillim (Hebrew) = musical praise or song of praise.

Korah collection = Psalms 42-49; 84-88 except 86.

SONS OF KORAH

The Korahites were Levites, descended through Kohath, Korah’s father (1 Chronicles 6:22-48; 9:17-32; 2 Chronicles 20:19). They were employed in the performance of temple music.

When the Israelites were wandering in the desert, Korah led a rebellion of 250 community leaders against Moses and perished by God’s judgment with the other leaders and their families (Numbers 16; Jude 11). For some reason, the sons of Korah were spared

It seems, from their later employment, that, in gratitude to God for his mercy, they must have dedicated themselves to producing and performing the music used to praise God at the wilderness tabernacle and later in the temple in Jerusalem (Numbers 26:11).

PSALM 42-43: STRUCTURE

42:1-5 Lament, 1-4 Refrain, 5

42:6-11 Lament, 6-10 Refrain, 11

43:1-5 Lament, 1-4 Refrain 5

DEPRESSION

An ever-present reality

DEFINITIONS

Severe despondency and dejection, typically felt over a period of time and accompanied by feelings of hopelessness and inadequacy

A condition of mental disturbance characterized by such feelings to a greater degree than seems warranted by the external circumstances, typically with lack of energy and difficulty in maintaining concentration or interest in life.

CAUSES (1)

DRYNESS – sense of thirst Forced absence from the temple

of God, where God was worshipped, 42:1-2

The taunt of unbelievers, 42:3 Memories of better days, 42:4

CAUSES (2)

DROWNING – sense of being overwhelmed The overwhelming trials of life,

42:7 Failure of God to act quickly on

our behalf, 42:9 The taunt of unbelievers, 42:10

CAUSES (3)

DISHEARTENED – sense of being misjudged Attacks from ungodly, deceitful

and wicked persons, 43:1

SYMPTOMS

Tears, 42:3

Fatigue (downcast), 42:5, 11; 43:5

Emotional disturbance, 42:5, 11:43:5 – troubled, in turmoil, sighs

Feeling overwhelmed (Drowning), 42:4

Feelings of rejection: distant from God, 42:9, 10, 43:2; mourning, 43:2

Murder in the bones, 42:10

SYMPTOMS (2)

Low or irritable mood most of the time

A loss of pleasure in usual activities

Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much

A big change in appetite, often with weight gain or weight loss

Tiredness and lack of energy

Feelings of worthlessness, self-hate and guilt

Difficulty concentrating

SYMPTOMS (3)

Slow or fast movements

Lack of activity and avoiding usual activities

Feeling hopeless or helpless

A big change in appetite, often with weight gain or weight loss

Repeated thoughts of death or suicide

Low self-esteem

DEALING WITH DEPRESSION (1)

FACE UP TO YOUR FEELINGS 42:9 43:2 Refrain: Why so downcast? Why

all these sighs? 42:5, 11; 43:5 Escapism Defensive walls

DEALING WITH DEPRESSION (2)

REMEMBER THE PAST 42:4 42:8 Remember the faithfulness and

goodness of God

DEALING WITH DEPRESSION (3)

SPEAK TO YOURSELF Be logical: Why are you cast

down? Be realistic: I will YET praise him,

32:5 Be patient: Hope in God or Wait

for God. Be firm: Stop wallowing in self-

pity

DEALING WITH DEPRESSION (4)

PRAY FOR DELIVERANCE 43:1-4 “But even though absent, how present

God turns out to be,” being mentioned twenty-two times in the two psalms, with a series of titles suggesting a personal relationship: the living God, the face of God, your God, my God, my living God, my rock, God in whom I take refuge, God my exceeding joy. “God is omnipresent in a poem that complains of his absence” and “ironically, the pain of separation is a way of feeling the presence”. (Schaefer, Psalms, 109).