Even The Best Get Depressed
1 Kings 19: “And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had aslain all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, bSo let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time. 3 And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to cBeer-sheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there. 4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he drequested †for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.” [1]
1. Elation
A, Kings
B. Things
2. Depression
A. Doom
B. Gloom
3. Consolation
A. Supporter
B. Sustainer
Introduction: We live in a time when people look to the outlandish to get their minds off of the hard things that are in front of them. Or should I say most people. People who have not found where to find that thing that we have found, though we admit it or not; look where often there is so much distraction and confusion that they get lost in their search .
People look for answers when they don’t understand the things that seem to be controlling their lives. They rebel but often turn to something that will take them away from their self-pity. For me it’s getting up in the sky. Things down here don’t look so big up there. I can get alone with the sound of the wind across the airplane and the noise of the engine and believe it or not, for me that’s peaceful. For others that would be terror.
Some people use something like alcohol or drugs to take them away. We do all sorts of things to mess ourselves up to get our minds off what we perceive as unpleasant. Overeating is my mess-up thing that I turn to way too often. Food is good and I was taught to eat all my food because my parents came through the depression years. Different kind of depression that we’re discussing today but similar. Clinical depression attacks individually. The great world depression back then brought everybody down until the learned to trust again.
Today we are going to talk and maybe learn about a man who is very unique in the Bible. He was one of only two men who left this life without passing through death. We are fortunate enough to know the story about Elijah even though at the time of his depression, even Elijah didn’t know the end of his Biblical story.
If you are suffering with that affliction called depression, you don’t know how you are going to travel to the end of your emotional story either. But there is One who does know! He wrote the book. He loves you and He is where He always has been and always will be.
The demons will try to trick you into thinking that there are none who understand who are like minded with you but you are never alone even when you are 10,000 feet above the earth in the cockpit of a little airplane with no other souls on board. In fact if you are like me, that might be where you go to hear the One who loves you the most and will never leave you alone.
Scripture: The message title today is “The Best Get Depressed.” The scripture is 1 Kings 19:1-4, Please stand for the reading of God’s word.
Prayer:
Message: The first word in our text today is “and.” To start a new sentence and especially a new paragraph with a conjunction such as and, or, and therefore means that to understand this passage requires at least a review of the preceding passages.
In chapter eighteen Elijah is there with King Ahab of Israel. Elijah brought word from God that there would be a drought because Israel had abandoned their worship of God and had chosen to hear from the prophets of the false god Baal.
The prophets were involved in a contest which included 400 false Baal prophets and Elijah, the true prophet of God. Altars were set and offerings were offered. We know the story. Elijah showed the 400 for what they were, fools and liars.
After that, Elijah and his companion stood and looked for a sign of rain. When a little tiny cloud showed up, Elijah told King Ahab he’d better run for cover because a monsoon was coming. Rain came and the drought was over.
God used Elijah to bring about great miracles. Elijah’s elation was great because God showed that He is the God above all kings and all things and all people and God chose Elijah to make His point. Have you ever been up on such a mountain top? It must have seemed to Elijah that now finally God had brought him to that place of elation and nothing would bring him down from his high place.
That happened to Rachael, preachers wife, just recently and therefore it happened to me. We had a wonderful healthy little trip watching the ocean and driving around Myrtle Beach. We have had our New Year trips for years and some of those trips have been harsh including one with me in the hospital. This year was nearly perfect; a true time for recreation when God allowed our relationship to be recreated with just the two of us with Him in the middle.
So what could possibly happen to knock us down from this renewal? Well you know the answer to that. Rachael so looks forward to walking on her own again into that door so that we can be together again with you.
Back to Elijah, now we’re at chapter nineteen. Jezebel was upset that the false prophets were dead at the hand of Elijah and she promised that she would see him dead. Just that fast, Elijah’s mood changed from elation to depression. He probably thought that Ahab would turn to God after all he had seen. Elijah thought after Ahab saw God’s power that surely this would be a new start for Israel. Well doom is the opposite of a new beginning. Doom is a harsh end. Instead of a new chance for Israel, now Elijah thought surely this meant doom for Israel.
Ahab told his wife and she was not ready to let the king be turned into a true believer. She had control of Ahab because she had control of those who controlled the worship and nobody was going to change her mind. There would be no new light for Israel. Now Elijah only saw the same gloom as before. Now he was in the pit though he had just been on top.
Now let’s read what happened next in verses five through 8. “5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. 6 And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his †head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. 7 And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. 8 And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat eforty days and forty nights unto fHoreb the mount of God.” [2]
Notice here that God the Father did not show up in person to Elijah there in that place and at that time. He sent His Angel instead. So did the Angel of The Lord get Elijah to do a great thing to support his confidence?
What did He have Elijah do? Arise and Eat; the simplest thing that we must do to continue. Eat some food. Drink some water. OK, now it’s time to jump up and quit feeling sorry for yourself, right? No! Elijah laid himself down again to rest.
The angel came a second time. Consolation doesn’t come after someone tells you everything is going to be alright and then they leave you to your own misery thinking foolishly that you’re OK now. It takes someone willing to go the second step with you. God knows that. Sometime I’m not ready to get up. God brings that one that will come back again and again. A supporter is there to support until you are ready for the sustainer.
Let’s read what happened when the Sustainer came in verses nine through thirteen. "9 And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? 10 And he said, I have been very gjealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, hthrown down thine altars, and islain thy prophets with the sword; and jI, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. 11 And he said, Go forth, and stand kupon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and la great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: 12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a mstill small voice. 13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that nhe wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave." [3]
Several years ago there was a band called Earth, Wind, and Fire. Some think that’s where God shows Himself. Forces of this world’s fallen nature such as earthquakes, tornadoes, and lightning storms are referred to by some as acts of God.
God allows those things to get our attention but God is always where He showed up for Elijah. God is in the still small voice. To hear Him requires a quiet peaceful open and sometimes broken heart ready to listen and trust again.
Some believe that when the Bible refers to the Angel of the Lord that it’s a Christophany or Jesus showing up before He came as the Son of Man, as a baby.
Prayer:
Invitation: This is not the end of the story for Elijah or Elias as he is called in the KJV Matthew 9:4. “2 bAnd after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them. 3 And his raiment became shining, exceeding cwhite as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. 4 And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.” [4] If God uses you and you feel down, He will lift you up again if you trust Him.
Merry Oaks Baptist Church has been in the middle of depression for quite a while. God has allowed a myriad of things to come to us here and He has also shown His provision return when we proved our obedience and faith in Him. Will He return our peace? Some day He will. Will He use us as His church again? He already is! Will He show His miracles here again? You know more than anyone that He is and this community see that and wonder what’s happening. Are we ready to get up and continue until He decides to bring us home?
That really is the question today. How do we continue with all the sickness and family hurts and property losses and all the other darts that Satan is allowed to send our way? What will God do to console Merry Oaks Baptist Church?
He has sent us to encourage each other. Instead of this church closing the doors which is happening to others, which might be what dead churches deserve, He gives us grace. We are healing physically as this building is again leak proof. We are healing emotionally as we are here for each other to love each other and pray for each other in ways that I have missed for a long time. Rachael is so taken by you all that she came forward to this poor old preacher. Amazing! Yes God loves this church. Joe loves this church. What does that mean? Joe loves us here so much that he talks about us though his voice is weakening. God loves you.
This morning I invite you to be like Elijah there in the mouth of that cave. Let God speak to you with His still small voice as we sing…
a ch. 18:40.
b See Ruth 1:17.
c See Josh. 15:28.
d See Num. 11:15.
† Heb. for his life.
[1] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., 1 Ki 19). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
† Heb. bolster. Gen. 28:11, 18 (Heb.). 1 Sam. 19:13, 16. & 26:7, 11, 16.
e Comp. Ex. 24:18. & 34:28. Deut. 9:9, 18. Matt. 4:2. Mark 1:13. Luke 4:2.
f Ex. 3:1.
[2] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., 1 Ki 19:5–8). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
g Num. 25:11, 13. 2 Kin. 10:16 in the Heb.
h ver. 14. ch. 18:30 (Heb.). Cited Rom. 11:3.
i ch. 18:4.
j ch. 18:22.
k So Ex. 24:12. & 34:2.
l So Ezek. 1:4.
m Comp. Job 4:16 (Heb.). Ps. 107:29 (Heb.).
n See Ex. 3:6.
[3] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., 1 Ki 19:9–13). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
b To ver. 8, Matt. 17:1–8. Luke 9:28–36.
c See Matt. 28:3.
[4] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Mk 9:2–4). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
