Pt. 2
Comparatively few people think or
realize that scripture is replete with many examples of Depression. God never
glazed over the faults or struggles of the heroes of the Bible.
Following are several such passages:
Elijah
19 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything
Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So
Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it
ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of
one of them.”
3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his
life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he
himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat
down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said.
“Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the
bush and fell asleep.
All at once an angel touched him and
said, “Get up and eat.” 6 He looked around, and there by his head was some
bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay
down again.
7 The angel of the LORD came back a
second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too
much for you.” 8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he
traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of
God. 9 There he went into a cave and spent the night.
And the word of the LORD came to him:
“What are you doing here, Elijah?”
10 He replied, “I have been very
zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant,
torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the
only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
11 The LORD said, “Go out and stand on
the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore
the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was
not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not
in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in
the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he
pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, “What are
you doing here, Elijah?”
14 He replied, “I have been very
zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant,
torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the
only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
15 The LORD said to him, “Go back the
way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint
Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and
anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17
Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put
to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in
Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not
kissed him.”
(1st Kings 19)
Job
“Keep silent and let me speak;
then let come to me what may.
14 Why do I put myself in jeopardy
and take my life in my hands?
15 Though he slay me, yet will I hope
in him;
I will surely defend my ways to his face.
16 Indeed, this will turn out for my
deliverance,
for no godless person would dare come before him!
17 Listen carefully to what I say;
let my words ring in your ears.
18 Now that I have prepared my case,
I know I will be vindicated.
(Job 13)
Jesus
32 They went to a place called
Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He
took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed
and troubled. 34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he
said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”
35 Going a little farther, he fell to
the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 “Abba,
Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet
not what I will, but what you will.”
37 Then he returned to his disciples
and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t
you keep watch for one hour? 38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into
temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
39 Once more he went away and prayed
the same thing. 40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because
their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.
41 Returning the third time, he said
to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look,
the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise! Let us go! Here
comes my betrayer!”
(Mark 14)
by William McDonald, PhD. Copyright 1999
If you wish to copy, share or 'save' please include the credit line, above
by William McDonald, PhD. Copyright 1999
If you wish to copy, share or 'save' please include the credit line, above
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