I Kgs 19:1-10-Recession Into Depression – Part 2 - Elijah Series – 11 of 18
11-1Kgs19.1-10-Recession-Into-Depression-Pt.-2-–-Zemeski.docPosted by: bzemeski <bzemeski@...>
Recession Into Depression – Part 2
Elijah Series – 11 of 18
TEXT: I Kings 19:1-10
AIM: To show the course that led to Elijah’s depression.
INTRODUCTION:
A. In chap 18 of 1Kings, Elijah there was victorious in a contest on Mt. Carmel between Elijah vs. the prophets of Baal
This was a contest as to whose God was the real LORD Almighty. As a result of Elijah’s victory, revival broke out among the leaders of Israel who shouted, “Jehovah, he is Elohim; the LORD, He is the God!” (18:39) Elijah thought for certain, now the battle had been won for God that Baalism was destroyed and now the nation could get on with serving the true God.
In excited presumption, Elijah runs a foot race against Ahab and his horse drawn chariot to Jezreel expecting upon his arrival to find that Jezebel would be converted and that he would establish the revival in the country starting by making things proper in the Kings winter residence of Jezreel.
But when Jezebel got the report of the situation from her husband, king Ahab, Elijah rather than being delighted by her repentance, was so disappointed with her rage.
She looked outside her window and saw the prophet Elijah strutting around the gateway as if was the man of the hour. Straight away, she revengefully sends him a message and says, “By tomorrow this time, it is going to be with you as it was with my prophets, if not, I’ll cash in my chips myself.” She vowed to her gods he was to get his or she would get hers.
Looking back over Elijah’s past, what reaction would we expect from this giant of the faith? How would he respond to this puff of hot air coming from a contemptuous, reprobate old bag as Jezebel? One would have thought he would have responded in a positive manner for God and righteousness sake, but instead, he ran in fear and receded into DEPRESSION.
NO ONE is immune to depression. In our 1st message on this subject, we sympathetically look at Elijah’s case history and at least Three Thoughts concerning his depression.
B. 1st message addressed the need to IDENTIFY the CAUSE of Elijah’s depression
1. FIRST, there was CARNAL Presumption – God did not lead him to leave Mt. Carmel, he went on his own. He ran ahead of God in presuming God’s will.
2. SECONDLY, Elijah was CONSUMED with Disappointment – He thought the battle was won and now things would be great for the Lord.
a. When he discovered things hadn’t turned out the way he expected, and he hadn’t won at all, and Jezebel was fiercer now than she had ever been – he thought his life and efforts had been in vain – he thought his life had been a waste – he thought he was a failure.
b. The perception of failure is one of the biggest causes of depression today! People who feel they have not accomplished their goals or lived up to their ideals in life quite often end up depressing themselves—you heard me correctly—THEY DEPRESS THEMSELVES!
c. Things, do not depress, people, do not depress, circumstances, do not depress – we depress ourselves!
d. There are factors that may enter your life that can set the stage for depression—things we are not responsible for, but we are responsible for the way we respond to the things that happen to us. Elijah responded improperly to his disappointment.
3. The THIRD cause that lead to his depression was the CONSTRAINT of Fear – he ran for his very life.
a. Elijah failed in his strongest point! The Bible revealed him as a very bold man, but at the rage of Jezebel—he ran in fear of his life!
b. Various other things/factors were NOT present in Elijah’s life: i.e. sins of immorality, bitterness, grief, afflictions, chemical imbalances, biological problems, or hormonal interactions.
We saw these causes: 1) Carnal Presumption; being 2) Consumed with Disappointment and the 3) Constraint of Fear, we observed the course he followed down into depression. Depression is a descending spiral staircase.
This message we examines THE INEXCUSABLE COURSE OF ELIJAH’S DEPRESSION.
We can picture life, as if we are walking a line and as we walk down the primrose lane, something bumps us off the path and we fall off into the nettles—we then experience a state of depression or low spirits known at various times as "the blues, the doldrums, the mully-grumps,[1] or being down in the pits or simply a bout of crankiness or a bad mood!”
Most people pick themselves up, dust themselves off (put a little dock wee on the nettle sting) and get on with life. BUT for some people when they find themselves going down they begin to feel sorry for themselves and commit the sin of self-pity and then something else comes along and hits them about the same time and drives them down deeper, putting them into a tailspin. They invariably spin out of control down into depression.
For them, there can be found no silver lining in the storm clouds, everyday seems worse than the last one. No one or nothing brings relief—it is hopeless. In this message, I would like us to look at 8 stages or 8 steps on the staircase of Elijah’s downward spiral into depression.
I. elijah casts off his trust IN GOD
A. Up to this point his life had been characterised by absolute trust and dependency upon God.
1. He experienced God’s PROVISION at the Brook Cherith and with the widow of Zarephath
2. In every trial he trusted in God for his PRESERVATION and PROTECTION
B. The Rage of Jezebel caused him to lose faith in God and His care—he fleas for his life and RUNS
1. Depressed people do not trust God in their trouble!
2. Elijah had been known as a man of prayer but there was no record of prayer here. He casts off his trust in God and relies on his own wisdom for guidance.
3. Remember his present situation and predicament exists because he acted on Mt. Carmel without God’s counsel.
4. Confronted with Jezebel’s rage, this pattern of self-reliance continues—there is no consultation with God. As a result of this course of action he acts in his own wisdom and runs.
C. Experience teaches once a person is depressed it is very difficult for them to place their trust in God.
1. Elijah’s failure to consult God and trust His wisdom was unwittingly his first step down into depression.
2. Believe it or not, reminding a person in depression of God’s mercies and promises is a fruitless endeavour.
a. It is the depress thoughts that build up an inability now to lay hold of godly counsel and comprehend what you are saying.
b. The typical response to your encouragement is, “Yes, I know that, BUT… I know it is true, BUT… they just cannot express faith in God. They distance themselves further in their fear—departing form the promises of God.
D. It may surprise you to learn that Elijah Failed In His Prayer Life –
1. Remember, he did not consult God in this whole scenario for guidance.
2. Only prayer request was to die in 19:4. There was NO prayer for guidance, NO prayer for strength – being depressed means has very little desire to pray!
a. Unwittingly depressed people lose confidence in Lord’s ability to solve their problems.
b. Some maybe even feel guilty for their situation and presume they aren’t worth helping.
c. Devotions come to a halt – this also maybe even a preceding factor to their self will – Bible reading ceases, prayer is consider a vain exercise.
3. Elijah had known intimate communion with God, but now he flees from Him.
a. Unfortunately, depressed people flee form God and His influence
b. They dread church – they don’t want to attend.
They may force themselves to go, but dread going.
1) They find fault with the church, they pastor, and criticise those who care for them whose love at other times was so well received.
2) They cringe hearing happy songs—or the promises of God, because they seem so empty. They just can’t get a hold of them, their faith is gone because of the perceived hopelessness of their situation.
3) Because they feel they just couldn’t face another let down or failure— they run. It is not that God has or would fail them, but since they believed He has let you down or just didn’t care they can’t trust Him.
c. Depressed people fail to read their Bibles – the promise of God only drives one further into despair
1) Look at Elijah—a man known for his boldness, known for his faith and trust – NOW running.
2) He runs about 150 mile from Jezreel to Beersheba in the south of Judah. He did not even feel safe there due to the King of Judah being married to Jezebel's daughter. Elijah leaves his servant companion and ran another full day beyond Judah into the Arabian Desert.
The FIRST STEP downward by Elijah – was the Casting Off of His Trust in God.
SECONDLY, coupled with his running is:
II. elijah’s CESSATION of service
A. Elijah had a place of responsibility – he was CALLED to be a Prophet and God gave him a mission.
1. He deserts his field of service, his place of responsibility and field of battle.
2. He had a zeal for His God assigned work and he had zeal for the Lord boldly preaching God’s message wherever and whenever He directed
3. But in this situation, he failed those who committed themselves to God and who looked to him for encouragement, for help, prayers, instruction and guidance – He doesn’t care about them any more! He just Runs!
B. Elijah In Running Ceased In Fulfilling His Responsibility
1. As soon as a person stops trusting God they look for ways of getting out of their spiritual responsibilities.
2. They try to find some excuse to give up their Sunday School class, some excuse not to go out on church visitation, some excuse to give up Christian calling or some specific calling or responsibility that God had given them to fill.
3. Depression causes them to lose their concern, their hunger and desire to be used of God, and lose their joy for their calling or responsibility—so, they run.
4. Not only do they run form their area of spiritual service, but also as they go down in their depression—they also become neglectful and irresponsible in the secular employment.
a. Quality of work deteriorates – many mistakes.
b. Use to be on time now late and don’t care.
c. Their mind seems preoccupied and they don’t really seem interested in what they are doing.
5. Throw off responsibilities in the home.
6. Personal appearance deteriorates – use to be concerned how they look, but now they just don’t care anymore.
C. Elijah stopped serving when he looked away from God and placed his eyes on his Circumstances
1. In the past, Elijah never lost sight of God – he could always see Him in it all, but now Jezebel’s threats were no longer vocal they were visual.
19:3 – “when he saw that…” i.e. her rage
2. The apostle Peter had the same problem as he tried to walk on water in Mt. 14:3 – “When he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord save me! Elijah failed to cry for God’s help, he only cried for the Lord to take his life.
3. Elijah dwelt on his problem to the point where he thought more of his life than of God’s cause.
All Elijah cared about now was getting away from Jezebel and in so doing he deserts his responsibilities, he ceases his godly service that the Lord has called him to.
A depressed person will either go backward spiritually, or drive deeper into their depression. He/she will go into the wasteland of the battle—drugs or gluttony – they do something anything to make themselves feel good as to mask over their problems – BUT they don’t deal with the problem.
III. as the depressed person spins further down his companions are forsaken.
A. In 19:3 Elijah left his servant in Beersheba and went a day’s journey into the wilderness.
1. It is doubtful that he talked with the servant while he ran – He would have feared Conversation, especially explaining his actions
2. He left his servant as he wanted to be alone to sulk—He did not want anyone to talk with him and he did not want to converse with anyone.
3. The further you go into depression the more you want to be alone you just can’t bear the thought of people.
B. The history of depressed people is that they usually withdraw from those that care the most.
1. People who can help, people who really want to help, it is from those people the depressed run.
2. Brood – (Explain my PERSONAL experience of depression for 3 months)
3. Elijah was so far out of fellowship with God that not only did he not want friends to bother him he did not want God to bother – he came to the point where he didn’t care about life.
IV. Elijah collapses in exhaustion – 19:4
A. He was PHYSICALLY Exhausted
1. Remember he ran approx. 25 miles from Mt. Carmel to Jezreel
2. He then ran from there at least 120 miles to Beersheba in the south of Judah and then went beyond that for a day! There is no record that he partook of any food or drink during this marathon.
3. There is a close relationship between mental and physical health – A worried mind can produce a sick body and a sick body can produce an anxious mind.
4. A sick body tends to produce melancholy and depression.
5. Problems are always bigger when you are tired; wrong decisions are easily made during those times.
B. He was MENTALLY Exhausted
1. The contest on Mt. Carmel – produced a great amount of TENSION & STRESS
a. He wondered how would the people react after the fire fell from heaven?
– There was TENSION
b. How would the people react to the order to slay the 850 prophets of Baal?
– There was TENSION
2. Then there was the STRESS of fervent prayer for rain on Mt. Carmel
C. He Collapse Exhausted Under A Juniper Tree –
The Juniper Tree was not a shade tree, but a desert shrub known as a ‘broom bush’ or in other arid places the ‘Spanish broom.’ It is the largest and most conspicuous shrub of the deserts, growing thickly in the watercourses and valleys.
1. Elijah goes to sleep – no doubt he needed sleep
2. Exhaustion is a symptom of depression
a. If you are tired all the time and there is nothing physically wrong you may be suffering from depression.
b. A depressed person goes to bed tired and wakes up tired, goes to work tired, comes home tired – they never seem to be rested.
c. Elijah had plenty of good reason to be tired, but being tired was also part of his problem.
V. ELIJAH’S tender care BY THE angels – 19:5-7
A. God’s loving care and blessings are still with him.
1. Even though he was running from God's will, God was still caring for him.
2. As Paul wrote to the Hebrews in 13:5 “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee,” the same is applied to His OT servants. God was still with him.
3. Elijah didn’t have to worry about food, drink or protection as God never forsook him—it was he who ran from God.
B. NOTE: Elijah’s ability to comprehend spiritual truth, at this point in time, is dulled.
1. A depressed person reading the precious promises of God’s word says,
“Yeah, I know that, but…”
2. Elijah having fallen asleep under the Juniper is awakened by an angel to feed on heavenly prepared grub. In response Elijah might have said, “Yeah, I know God loves me, I know God is providing for me, BUT Jezebel is after me!
a. It seems at his first feeding he might have only sampled the food to please the angel. The appetite is gone.
b. The Angel shook him a second time and told him to eat up as he’s got places to go and things to do—but he seemingly ungrateful for God’s tender loving and compassionate care.
c. Depressed people do not readily respond to efforts by loving and concerned people – they seem in different and just want to brood and run or hide.
VI. In 19:4 ELIJAH MAKES A Choice of death over life
A. I am not better than my fathers
1. This is a statement of pride – the implication is that he thought he would do more than those who loved and served God before him.
2. He thought he’d bring about revival where others failed that he’d outshine them!
3. Since Jezebel burst his bubble, he was now ready to die – such thinking comes from a proud heart.
B. Failure to achieve or reach unrealistic goals punctures our pride
1. Elijah resorted to self-justification of waiting to die – vs. 10, 14
2. What about ALL the representative leaders of Israel who committed themselves to God on Mt. Carmel? Wasn’t that something?
3. Later 19:18 God revealed that there were 7,000 who did “not bow the knee to Baal.”
C. Elijah came to the point where he believed the situation was hopeless, there is no way out, and the only alternative is to die – he would starve himself to death
1. If he was in such a hurry to die he could have stayed at Jezreel. Jezebel wanted very much to oblige him in his demise.
2. NOTE that total despair results in:
a. Tendencies to suicide
b. Escapism through the use of alcoholism or some other form of drugs
c. BUT NONE of these reactions are satisfactory answers for the Christian.
D. There were other folks in the Bible who came to that place were they thought they were better off dead.
1. Job’s suffering was so great he asked God 3-times to let him die (3:11; 6:8; 10:18).
2. Jeremiah was so burdened and broken hearted over the sins of his people, he asked God to let him die (Jer. 20:14).
3. Because of Jonah’s nationalism he would rather die then live than to witness God’s blessings on the Ninevites (Jonah 4:3).
4. Depressed people, if they go down deep enough, will prefer death over life because life becomes too painful to go on. LIFE is just too much to bear.
E. We can praise God He didn’t answer Elijah’s prayer!
1. It was God’s will for Elijah to never die!
2. Elijah could have prayed all he wanted to, but God wasn’t going to let him die – Elijah would later be taken up in a whirlwind in s chariot of fire.
3. God still had a lot more things for Elijah to do: he wanted him to establish a school of prophets and among other things to train and commission Elisha.
VII.concealed in a cave – 19:7-9
A. It does not 40 days to walk to the mount of God in Horeb
1. This distance can be covered in a 10-day walk.
2. Mt. Sinai – “the mount of God” is one of the peaks in Horeb’s chain of mountains
B. What is he doing? Why does it take him so long to get there?
1. I think he is wandering aimlessly because of his despondent condition.
2. He doesn’t know where he is going, nor does he care where he is going
3. Picture lost men in deserts or jungles wandering from one direction to the next
4. This is the picture of a depressed person – even if I am wrong as to why it took him so long. He lost sight of God, goals, and direction – he was functioning like a zombie – all his happiness is gone – all his joy is gone—he just existed.
C. After 40 days of wondering around he finds a cave – stumbles in to die
1. He doesn’t care for food or water.
a. He doesn’t have a concern for anyone or anything
b. See him collapsed in a corner – curled up in a fetal position – inviting death.
2. A person in this condition will finally cease to function.
This is truly the case of a depressed person
3. Everything that has or needs to be done must be done by others
4. Elijah’s problem of depression started when he began feeling sorry for himself
5. He ran from his problems, he ran from God, he ran from his responsibility and finally stumbled into the cave wanting to die.
VIII. Elijah is clothed in self-pity
A. In vs. 9 God asks him a question
“What are you doing here Elijah?”
B. Elijah’s Answer – Vs. 10
1. He attempts to justifies his condition by blaming others
2. It is Israel’s fault – the nation has turned against God.
3. He blames Israel’s sin for his problem.
4. NOTE: he was not responsible for Israel’s sin, BUT he was responsible for his response to the threat from Jezebel and for being in the cave.
5. Remember it was his decision to leave Mt. Carmel and to go to Jezreel.
6. It was his decision to run from Jezebel in Jezreel and go another 100 plus miles to Beersheba.
7. The reality is he who made the decision to go into the wilderness—he made the decision to go to the cave, and every step of the way in his depression. He was totally responsible for and couldn’t blame anybody or anything else for it.
8. Blaming others when clothed in self-pity is the make up of a depressed person.
What are you doing here? I’m here because of what he did…
What are you doing here? I’m here because of all those things that decided to happen!
No you are not! You are here because you decided to go on your own.
You deemed the situation hopeless, useless or a wasted effort
LISTEN! You may not be responsible for what he did or she did, or for the uncontrollable circumstances that occurred, but we are totally responsible for the way we respond to those things. It becomes our own personal sin!
IX. Elijah claimED to be the only one that cares for god – vs. 10
A. What about the servant Elijah left behind in Beersheba? Wasn’t he faithful?
1. God’s question to Elijah in vs. 9 puts the blame squarely on him.
What are you doing here?
2. It was Elijah who made the decision to leave God’s will now he can make the decision to leave the cave and make the decision to go back.
a. His cure will be based on same decisions that he makes on his own.
b. His cure will be based on his response to the instructions that God gives him.
Is there any hope for Elijah? YES! There is!
Is there any hope for today’s depressed person? Yes Absolutely! Yes there’s hope!
And thank God there is hope!
The biggest source of hope is the realization that depression is sin, and because Christ came, He came to deal with sin.
We can confess our sin, receive Gods forgiveness and depend upon Him for His help and can get out from the situation we find our self in.
Step outside the cave with Elijah and listen to the still small voice of God and follow His instructions.
You say I don’t know how! – Come talk to me I’ll tell you how.
[1] There actually is a creature called a “mully-grub,” at least in Australia. It’s a kind of grub that feeds on coarse grain, and the “mully” part is an old English word meaning “dusty or mealy.”
http://www.word-detective.com/2012/10/mulligrubs/
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