WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.679 Just bow your heads in prayer. 00:00:08.560 --> 00:00:17.980 Heavenly Father, I admit at times it's hard to pray honestly to you. 00:00:19.260 --> 00:00:28.960 At times, emotions are so hard to express that we don't know how to express them to you. 00:00:28.960 --> 00:00:38.799 And Father, as we approach this psalm now, I ask that the Holy Spirit would speak to our hearts and minds. 00:00:39.480 --> 00:00:45.340 As I prayed earlier, that any distractions from this week, whether good or bad, would just fall away. 00:00:45.620 --> 00:00:51.000 And we would be able to hear your voice speaking to our hearts. 00:00:51.439 --> 00:00:54.060 And I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:00:56.939 --> 00:00:58.719 So this past... Oh, please be seated. 00:00:58.960 --> 00:01:09.960 This past week honestly has been one of the hardest weeks personally for me to do sermon prep. 00:01:09.959 --> 00:01:16.719 I've never struggled so much with preparing a sermon. 00:01:16.719 --> 00:01:26.719 As many of you know, me and Amy, we've moved now to Port Perry, where I'll be continuing my... 00:01:28.000 --> 00:01:32.039 I'll be starting a new job as a curate, which is basically an associate pastor. 00:01:33.480 --> 00:01:35.120 And so we moved this past week. 00:01:35.259 --> 00:01:40.920 And at the beginning, as we were moving, three family members were admitted to the hospital. 00:01:40.920 --> 00:01:45.920 And it definitely stirred a lot of emotions in us. 00:01:45.920 --> 00:01:52.420 And during this move, as we moved our entire lives four hours from here, closer to Toronto, 00:01:52.920 --> 00:01:59.659 the sense of a feeling of great loss I found personally as I moved. 00:01:59.740 --> 00:02:03.620 It's super exciting for us to move, to start a new chapter in our lives. 00:02:03.620 --> 00:02:07.359 But there's this really big sense of a loss. 00:02:07.980 --> 00:02:10.759 And it's been something that's been really weighing on me lately. 00:02:10.759 --> 00:02:17.179 And through all this stress and emotions, other emotions from the past couple of years with COVID 00:02:17.179 --> 00:02:22.599 and other things that have gone on in our lives have come up over the past week. 00:02:22.599 --> 00:02:30.419 And this combined with depression that I've suffered with or dealt with for pretty much my entire life 00:02:30.419 --> 00:02:33.939 has been quite a combo. 00:02:34.159 --> 00:02:35.680 It's definitely been one for the books. 00:02:35.680 --> 00:02:41.099 And because of all this, I feel like I shouldn't be up here. 00:02:42.240 --> 00:02:49.040 I feel like someone, my mind tells me, someone who has it more put together should be up here speaking to you guys. 00:02:49.040 --> 00:03:00.120 But as the great renowned Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon said once when he was speaking on depression, 00:03:01.060 --> 00:03:04.219 and he is someone who struggled immensely with depression, 00:03:04.219 --> 00:03:09.960 he said that I am up here only to remind you about Jesus. 00:03:10.479 --> 00:03:13.159 And that motivates me to come up. 00:03:13.259 --> 00:03:20.159 And I can relate to that because I am up here, a beggar leading other beggars to bread, 00:03:20.740 --> 00:03:22.379 to tell you about Jesus. 00:03:23.780 --> 00:03:29.960 And the writer of this psalm that we're looking at today is bearing his soul to God. 00:03:30.620 --> 00:03:33.400 He is in the abyss of depression. 00:03:33.400 --> 00:03:37.900 He is suffering so greatly. 00:03:38.560 --> 00:03:40.860 And we have a front row seat to this. 00:03:41.860 --> 00:03:47.819 And the thing that's so encouraging that I get to tell you about Jesus is that 00:03:47.819 --> 00:03:53.780 he is the only hope in a world full of pain, suffering, and death. 00:03:54.280 --> 00:03:59.800 He is the only true hope, the only hope that lasts, that goes the whole nine yards, as they say. 00:03:59.800 --> 00:04:07.600 And I pray that I do it justice because I am very aware only those who have been to the cliff edge 00:04:07.600 --> 00:04:15.780 or to the great depths of suffering can truly understand what someone is experiencing through as they go through these things. 00:04:15.780 --> 00:04:20.199 So I just ask for grace as I approach this topic. 00:04:20.199 --> 00:04:26.800 Because I know there's people here who have or who are at this moment going through it. 00:04:26.899 --> 00:04:27.459 Going through it. 00:04:27.459 --> 00:04:30.719 They feel like they are in the pits of hell. 00:04:30.720 --> 00:04:35.000 And I just ask for grace as we approach this topic. 00:04:35.980 --> 00:04:39.760 So let's see what the writer of Psalm 42 is saying. 00:04:39.960 --> 00:04:40.940 What he's saying to God. 00:04:41.020 --> 00:04:42.820 So please turn to Psalm 42 with me. 00:04:42.940 --> 00:04:43.800 That would be a big help. 00:04:44.840 --> 00:04:48.000 And as Ross pointed out, he kind of stole my thunder a bit. 00:04:48.000 --> 00:04:50.779 It says book two at the top. 00:04:50.899 --> 00:04:53.620 And he gave a great explanation of it. 00:04:54.060 --> 00:04:58.819 Another, because the commentators are a bit divided on this. 00:04:59.160 --> 00:05:05.079 Another thing is that they divide the books into five books to symbolize the first five books of the Bible. 00:05:05.379 --> 00:05:08.779 Which is Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. 00:05:09.199 --> 00:05:12.660 And they did this for a liturgical purpose, as Ross mentioned. 00:05:12.660 --> 00:05:16.280 And then you also may be wondering what a mascal is. 00:05:16.840 --> 00:05:18.640 And Ross, again, alluded to this. 00:05:19.120 --> 00:05:22.120 It is most likely a musical or liturgical term. 00:05:23.240 --> 00:05:24.820 So let's take a look at the psalm. 00:05:24.960 --> 00:05:25.960 And I'll begin reading it. 00:05:26.480 --> 00:05:29.420 I'll read verses one to the beginning of six. 00:05:30.879 --> 00:05:34.140 As a deer pants for flowing streams, 00:05:34.700 --> 00:05:37.260 So pants my soul for you, O God. 00:05:37.960 --> 00:05:42.180 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. 00:05:42.660 --> 00:05:45.439 When shall I come and appear before God? 00:05:45.939 --> 00:05:48.939 My tears have been my food day and night. 00:05:49.680 --> 00:05:51.840 While they say to me all the day long, 00:05:51.980 --> 00:05:53.280 Where is your God? 00:05:53.939 --> 00:05:56.380 These things I remember as I pour out my soul. 00:05:56.900 --> 00:06:01.320 How I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God. 00:06:02.300 --> 00:06:04.900 With glad shouts and songs of praise. 00:06:05.040 --> 00:06:06.700 A multitude keeping festival. 00:06:07.720 --> 00:06:09.680 Why are you cast down, O my soul? 00:06:10.120 --> 00:06:12.020 And why are you in turmoil within me? 00:06:12.899 --> 00:06:15.680 Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him. 00:06:15.740 --> 00:06:17.759 My salvation and my God. 00:06:18.719 --> 00:06:23.240 Now when he says soul, he's not talking about this out-of-body experience 00:06:23.240 --> 00:06:27.180 that you maybe sometimes hear around our culture today. 00:06:27.519 --> 00:06:29.299 What he's talking about when he says soul, 00:06:29.300 --> 00:06:33.960 When the Bible says soul, it's talking about our very inner being. 00:06:34.480 --> 00:06:37.480 The depths, when we feel emotions. 00:06:38.740 --> 00:06:42.520 It also talks often in the Bible about the heart, which means the same thing. 00:06:42.580 --> 00:06:45.100 It's the depths of our very self. 00:06:45.560 --> 00:06:46.560 Our very identity. 00:06:46.780 --> 00:06:48.939 Everything is wrapped up in that. 00:06:49.360 --> 00:06:51.100 It's not an out-of-body experience. 00:06:51.100 --> 00:06:55.540 And then as anyone knows, anyone who has suffered deeply knows, 00:06:56.100 --> 00:07:00.020 sometimes you can't describe adequately what you're going through. 00:07:00.420 --> 00:07:01.480 You're lost for words. 00:07:01.560 --> 00:07:04.300 There's no words that can describe it. 00:07:04.560 --> 00:07:07.300 And the same is true for this psalmist that we see here. 00:07:07.300 --> 00:07:10.100 He has to resort to using metaphors. 00:07:11.120 --> 00:07:12.360 Here again what he says. 00:07:12.960 --> 00:07:13.340 He says, 00:07:13.560 --> 00:07:15.860 As the deer pants for flowing streams, 00:07:16.520 --> 00:07:19.600 so pants my soul for you, O God. 00:07:20.120 --> 00:07:23.800 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. 00:07:24.400 --> 00:07:26.560 See, he's talking about a desolate place. 00:07:26.960 --> 00:07:28.699 He is in a desolate place right now. 00:07:28.800 --> 00:07:31.840 He is searching for revival. 00:07:32.180 --> 00:07:33.220 Or for survival. 00:07:33.680 --> 00:07:34.680 It could be a revival too. 00:07:34.680 --> 00:07:38.459 He feels so lost. 00:07:38.740 --> 00:07:39.939 So out of place. 00:07:40.639 --> 00:07:42.439 So, in a sense, abandoned. 00:07:42.959 --> 00:07:47.000 That he is parched for a God. 00:07:47.220 --> 00:07:51.019 For just having an experience with God. 00:07:51.100 --> 00:07:52.980 I don't mean like a big Pentecostal experience. 00:07:53.100 --> 00:07:56.000 But just a sense of knowing that he is with him. 00:07:56.259 --> 00:07:57.160 That God is with him. 00:07:57.759 --> 00:07:58.240 Anything. 00:07:58.460 --> 00:08:02.519 Just the little drip of God's presence would quench his thirst. 00:08:02.800 --> 00:08:04.639 But he's not getting that in this. 00:08:05.680 --> 00:08:09.040 As many of you know, I'm an avid rock climber. 00:08:09.519 --> 00:08:16.600 And the closest I've ever been to feeling so quenched for thirst was when I was climbing with Amy. 00:08:17.240 --> 00:08:19.019 In this place called Skaha. 00:08:19.579 --> 00:08:20.480 Which is in BC. 00:08:20.740 --> 00:08:22.680 Just on the outskirts of Kelowna. 00:08:23.579 --> 00:08:28.300 It's a place that's known for being almost desert-like in Canada. 00:08:28.959 --> 00:08:33.720 And as we were climbing, we were very underprepared with water. 00:08:33.879 --> 00:08:35.200 We only brought a liter of water. 00:08:35.360 --> 00:08:37.360 And we went through that very quickly in the morning. 00:08:37.360 --> 00:08:40.159 But we were young, so we kept climbing. 00:08:40.320 --> 00:08:41.220 We didn't go get water. 00:08:41.300 --> 00:08:42.680 We just kept climbing for the rest of the day. 00:08:43.220 --> 00:08:50.899 And at the end of the day, when we were walking out, I have never experienced being so thirsty in my life. 00:08:51.899 --> 00:08:58.139 My mind, everything was just focused on getting to the corner store as quick as possible and drinking water. 00:08:58.639 --> 00:09:02.980 Literally, when I got to the corner store, I started drinking the water before I paid for it. 00:09:03.000 --> 00:09:04.559 I didn't even think of handing it to Amy. 00:09:04.740 --> 00:09:05.620 I just started. 00:09:05.620 --> 00:09:07.820 Unfortunately, I just started drinking it. 00:09:09.179 --> 00:09:10.440 You can ask her about that. 00:09:10.500 --> 00:09:12.139 It's pretty funny to reflect on. 00:09:13.480 --> 00:09:17.720 And if we continue looking at this psalm, it continues. 00:09:17.899 --> 00:09:20.539 He almost doubles down on what he's feeling. 00:09:20.840 --> 00:09:22.960 And we see this in verse 3, as I read. 00:09:23.440 --> 00:09:25.639 The psalmist is utterly depressed. 00:09:26.100 --> 00:09:27.639 He is beyond himself. 00:09:28.240 --> 00:09:28.620 He says, 00:09:28.620 --> 00:09:32.039 My tears have been my food day and night. 00:09:32.779 --> 00:09:34.620 At the same time, he's being mocked. 00:09:35.620 --> 00:09:36.840 By those around him. 00:09:37.240 --> 00:09:38.259 Where is your God? 00:09:39.539 --> 00:09:40.500 Where is he? 00:09:42.000 --> 00:09:45.820 See, no one would say this to him unless he looked abandoned. 00:09:46.399 --> 00:09:47.639 Unless he looked pitiful. 00:09:48.700 --> 00:09:49.620 Completely alone. 00:09:52.360 --> 00:09:54.519 And then we see that he continues. 00:09:55.159 --> 00:09:59.159 He is haunted from his memories of when he could freely worship. 00:10:00.019 --> 00:10:01.659 Look at verse 4. 00:10:02.539 --> 00:10:05.120 These things I remember as I pour out my soul. 00:10:05.620 --> 00:10:11.480 How I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God. 00:10:11.879 --> 00:10:15.000 With glad shouts and songs of praise. 00:10:15.139 --> 00:10:16.840 A multitude keeping festival. 00:10:16.840 --> 00:10:26.120 Personally, this is one of the worst things for me I've ever experienced with depression. 00:10:28.200 --> 00:10:30.320 Is experiencing memories. 00:10:31.100 --> 00:10:33.139 And you think in your mind about the good days. 00:10:33.259 --> 00:10:34.960 For me personally, I think about good days. 00:10:36.259 --> 00:10:39.019 Like the glory days when things seemed so good. 00:10:39.560 --> 00:10:41.019 When almost I was younger. 00:10:41.139 --> 00:10:42.300 Those were the better days. 00:10:42.299 --> 00:10:45.939 Or it could have been for other people I know they experienced. 00:10:46.259 --> 00:10:48.759 Maybe it was a different church they used to go to back in the day. 00:10:48.799 --> 00:10:50.159 But that church doesn't exist anymore. 00:10:50.259 --> 00:10:51.479 It was like the glory days. 00:10:52.039 --> 00:10:53.399 Or it was a time. 00:10:53.599 --> 00:10:54.259 It could be another thing. 00:10:54.319 --> 00:10:59.000 Where a time where you felt like you were more your whole self. 00:10:59.799 --> 00:11:00.919 And it haunts you. 00:11:00.919 --> 00:11:03.399 And it could also be on the flip side. 00:11:04.120 --> 00:11:07.459 It could be something horrible that you've experienced that haunts you. 00:11:07.979 --> 00:11:09.759 And you can't get it out of your mind. 00:11:10.779 --> 00:11:12.360 You almost pray to God. 00:11:12.879 --> 00:11:15.399 Why won't these leave my mind, God? 00:11:15.699 --> 00:11:16.779 Why won't they go? 00:11:17.459 --> 00:11:19.899 Or it could be the thought of your mind wrestling with you. 00:11:19.979 --> 00:11:20.939 Where is your God? 00:11:20.940 --> 00:11:21.020 God. 00:11:22.800 --> 00:11:27.140 That I find personally is the hardest thing going through suffering and depression. 00:11:27.380 --> 00:11:29.520 Is that your mind thinks about other times. 00:11:29.720 --> 00:11:30.860 When things were easier. 00:11:31.000 --> 00:11:31.700 When things were better. 00:11:31.980 --> 00:11:32.820 And it haunts you. 00:11:33.100 --> 00:11:34.440 And that's what's going on here. 00:11:35.720 --> 00:11:38.520 He in a sense is having a nostalgic moment. 00:11:38.880 --> 00:11:41.280 But this nostalgic moment is haunting him. 00:11:41.620 --> 00:11:43.740 Because he's thinking about it as he's crying. 00:11:44.240 --> 00:11:45.340 It's not a good thing. 00:11:45.820 --> 00:11:47.220 He's weeping. 00:11:47.340 --> 00:11:48.240 It's haunting him. 00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:52.580 And this is something most of us, many people can relate to. 00:11:52.740 --> 00:11:54.720 Is things that haunt them from their past. 00:11:55.100 --> 00:11:56.519 It could be good or it could be bad. 00:11:57.639 --> 00:12:00.700 And he then finishes the stanza with this. 00:12:01.580 --> 00:12:02.379 What does he say? 00:12:02.440 --> 00:12:02.680 He says, 00:12:03.080 --> 00:12:04.840 Why are you cast down, O my soul? 00:12:05.180 --> 00:12:07.259 And why are you in turmoil within me? 00:12:07.840 --> 00:12:08.840 Hope in God. 00:12:09.379 --> 00:12:10.919 For I shall again praise him. 00:12:11.000 --> 00:12:12.840 My salvation and my God. 00:12:14.159 --> 00:12:16.840 Two of the biggest critiques of Christianity are 00:12:16.840 --> 00:12:22.320 How could God allow people to go through such suffering? 00:12:22.840 --> 00:12:24.639 How could he allow pain and suffering? 00:12:24.639 --> 00:12:27.920 If he is an all-powerful, all-good, all-loving God. 00:12:28.960 --> 00:12:30.160 Or another critique. 00:12:30.560 --> 00:12:31.740 I've heard this often. 00:12:32.399 --> 00:12:37.320 Christianity is just a crutch for people to live in a utopian delusion. 00:12:37.899 --> 00:12:39.259 As they go through life. 00:12:39.340 --> 00:12:40.399 They find life too hard. 00:12:40.500 --> 00:12:43.160 So they need to make up something to believe in. 00:12:43.159 --> 00:12:55.439 But I would argue that Christianity and the Bible give the only rational explanation for suffering and a hope that's based on an external factor. 00:12:55.799 --> 00:12:57.779 It's not based on a factor within. 00:13:00.059 --> 00:13:01.019 Give me a second. 00:13:01.019 --> 00:13:12.639 In the opening verses of the song, That's Life, which is made famous by Frank Sinatra, who did a cover of it, it goes like this. 00:13:13.860 --> 00:13:14.840 That's life. 00:13:15.639 --> 00:13:17.699 That's what all the people say. 00:13:18.579 --> 00:13:22.179 You're riding high in April, shot down in May. 00:13:22.179 --> 00:13:27.459 But I know I'm going to change that tune when I'm back on top. 00:13:27.639 --> 00:13:29.059 Back on top in June. 00:13:30.099 --> 00:13:33.399 Isn't this something we hear all the time as we go through life? 00:13:33.779 --> 00:13:42.000 The advertisements, slogans, everything's always about just getting up, picking up our socks and continuing on, doing our own self. 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:49.179 A very common thing we hear now is something that if you need to deal with something, you need to practice mindfulness. 00:13:50.100 --> 00:13:51.899 It could be another thing, just overcome it. 00:13:52.519 --> 00:13:52.980 Chin up. 00:13:53.779 --> 00:13:55.220 You just need to try harder. 00:13:56.399 --> 00:13:58.460 Only you can change your circumstances. 00:13:59.240 --> 00:14:00.480 You just need more faith. 00:14:02.500 --> 00:14:05.320 What if you never overcome it? 00:14:05.320 --> 00:14:09.440 What if your strength to carry on fades? 00:14:10.820 --> 00:14:14.920 What if you never get out of that slump and never get back on top? 00:14:16.340 --> 00:14:18.720 What if you can't muster more faith? 00:14:20.420 --> 00:14:26.280 The psalmist in this situation is so utterly bleak, his situation. 00:14:27.040 --> 00:14:31.300 But instead of relying on himself, he hopes in God. 00:14:31.299 --> 00:14:36.279 But you might be thinking, why would I hope in a distant God? 00:14:36.719 --> 00:14:39.799 In this God that seems so, if God even truly exists. 00:14:40.039 --> 00:14:41.019 He's so distant. 00:14:41.539 --> 00:14:43.000 Why would I hope in that God? 00:14:43.839 --> 00:14:45.500 Why would I do that? 00:14:46.059 --> 00:14:48.500 I'd rather hope in things that I can see and that I can touch. 00:14:49.500 --> 00:14:50.859 But God is not distant. 00:14:52.219 --> 00:14:55.299 God came into history and walked on this earth. 00:14:56.519 --> 00:14:58.699 Jesus came into the world. 00:14:59.059 --> 00:15:00.079 God sent his son. 00:15:00.080 --> 00:15:01.460 He came for you. 00:15:02.740 --> 00:15:09.120 In the book of Isaiah, it is prophesied hundreds of years before Jesus came about Jesus. 00:15:09.400 --> 00:15:10.379 And I'm just going to read it. 00:15:11.100 --> 00:15:15.420 In Isaiah 53, verses 3 and 4, he says, 00:15:15.820 --> 00:15:21.320 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief. 00:15:21.320 --> 00:15:29.840 And as one from whom men hid their faces, he was despised and we esteemed him not. 00:15:30.640 --> 00:15:34.400 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. 00:15:34.399 --> 00:15:40.519 You see, what Isaiah is saying here, Jesus is a man of sorrows. 00:15:41.159 --> 00:15:47.199 Only he knows what you truly are going through to your deepest being, to your deepest soul. 00:15:47.939 --> 00:15:49.539 Your pains and your longings. 00:15:49.539 --> 00:15:55.399 And I know me being up here, just saying, hope in Jesus. 00:15:56.319 --> 00:15:58.179 Hope in the salvation of the future. 00:15:58.980 --> 00:16:01.360 That could come across pretty flat. 00:16:01.639 --> 00:16:03.259 Pretty, doesn't help at all. 00:16:03.360 --> 00:16:08.079 For those of us who have gone through suffering or depression, it comes out flat. 00:16:08.080 --> 00:16:15.759 But if that's the case for you, remember Jesus, the man of sorrows. 00:16:15.820 --> 00:16:19.660 If you can remember one thing from this sermon, is that remember Jesus. 00:16:19.960 --> 00:16:21.220 He is a man of sorrows. 00:16:21.740 --> 00:16:23.540 He has gone through everything. 00:16:23.940 --> 00:16:27.480 He is the suffering servant who said in the garden, 00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:34.480 My soul, before he was betrayed, my soul is very sorrowful, even to death. 00:16:35.660 --> 00:16:37.120 He knows what you're going through. 00:16:38.400 --> 00:16:39.700 He's been there before. 00:16:40.620 --> 00:16:42.259 And this psalm isn't over yet. 00:16:42.860 --> 00:16:47.879 So we go back to the psalm now, into the second stanza, in verses 6 to 11. 00:16:51.160 --> 00:16:53.639 My soul is cast down within me. 00:16:53.900 --> 00:16:58.440 Therefore, I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. 00:16:59.160 --> 00:17:05.000 Deep calls to deep, at the roar of your waterfalls, all your breakers and your waves have gone over me. 00:17:05.000 --> 00:17:08.700 By day the Lord commands his steadfast love. 00:17:09.059 --> 00:17:11.000 And at night his song is with me. 00:17:11.579 --> 00:17:14.619 A prayer to the God of my life. 00:17:15.359 --> 00:17:19.000 I say to God, my rock, why have you forgotten me? 00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:22.640 Why do I go on mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? 00:17:23.279 --> 00:17:29.819 As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversary taunts me. 00:17:30.220 --> 00:17:33.480 While they say to me all the day long, where is your God? 00:17:33.480 --> 00:17:36.599 Why are you cast down, O my soul? 00:17:36.700 --> 00:17:38.539 And why are you in turmoil within me? 00:17:39.039 --> 00:17:41.860 Hope in God, for I shall again praise him. 00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:43.599 My salvation and my God. 00:17:43.599 --> 00:17:49.219 As you see here, the psalmist is separated from Jerusalem. 00:17:49.959 --> 00:17:51.480 He's completely isolated. 00:17:51.980 --> 00:17:55.719 He gives the location of where he is, which is north of the Jordan River. 00:17:56.519 --> 00:17:59.279 If you have a Bible, most Bibles have maps in the back. 00:17:59.699 --> 00:18:04.199 I personally really like being able to look at maps to see historical parts. 00:18:04.639 --> 00:18:06.319 And this gives a historical reference. 00:18:06.319 --> 00:18:09.279 So if you have maps in the back, you can look at that later where he is. 00:18:10.439 --> 00:18:12.039 He's completely separated. 00:18:12.679 --> 00:18:13.679 Completely alone. 00:18:14.179 --> 00:18:18.399 And people are taunting him, asking him, where is your God? 00:18:18.679 --> 00:18:19.460 You look pitiful. 00:18:19.619 --> 00:18:20.240 You look hopeless. 00:18:21.439 --> 00:18:22.480 And he's remembering. 00:18:22.599 --> 00:18:23.939 He's separated from the temple. 00:18:24.439 --> 00:18:29.779 And the temple then signified where the presence of God is in that time. 00:18:30.939 --> 00:18:33.319 And if you've gone through depression or suffering, 00:18:33.319 --> 00:18:35.759 you know what it feels like to feel separated. 00:18:36.319 --> 00:18:39.899 Because when you go through it, you feel like you're completely separated from everything. 00:18:40.119 --> 00:18:41.039 You're completely alone. 00:18:42.539 --> 00:18:45.240 He's surrounded by people who don't believe in his God. 00:18:46.139 --> 00:18:48.519 They believe in other gods, other ways. 00:18:49.939 --> 00:18:51.899 He would appear pitiful to them. 00:18:52.179 --> 00:18:54.059 But notice the language in verse 7. 00:18:54.859 --> 00:18:57.819 He resorts to metaphors again to express his feelings. 00:18:58.740 --> 00:18:59.579 What does he say? 00:18:59.759 --> 00:19:00.559 He says, 00:19:00.899 --> 00:19:03.460 Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls. 00:19:03.460 --> 00:19:07.380 All your breakers and your waves have gone over me. 00:19:08.039 --> 00:19:10.920 See, he's using a chaotic water symbolism here. 00:19:11.259 --> 00:19:15.640 In the Bible, anytime there's water and it's chaotic, it symbolizes chaos. 00:19:16.600 --> 00:19:17.039 Unrest. 00:19:18.799 --> 00:19:20.299 Just complete separation. 00:19:20.519 --> 00:19:21.319 You see it in Genesis. 00:19:21.880 --> 00:19:27.559 Anytime it talks about water, it normally talks about if God is separated from it, it's chaotic. 00:19:27.559 --> 00:19:30.220 But when God comes in, it turns into calm waters. 00:19:31.700 --> 00:19:37.159 Charles Spurgeon, as I mentioned him before, he was a famous preacher. 00:19:37.679 --> 00:19:39.700 And he was crippled by depression. 00:19:40.980 --> 00:19:43.339 He struggled with it his whole life. 00:19:43.440 --> 00:19:44.919 And at times, he would just weep. 00:19:45.220 --> 00:19:46.819 And he couldn't come up on stage. 00:19:47.899 --> 00:19:49.519 And he talked often about depression. 00:19:49.519 --> 00:19:57.119 In his commentary, The Treasury of David, while commenting on Psalm 88, he says this, which I find so profound. 00:19:57.859 --> 00:20:01.500 The mind can descend far lower than the body. 00:20:02.200 --> 00:20:05.000 For in it, there are bottomless pits. 00:20:05.700 --> 00:20:09.539 The flesh can bear only a certain number of wounds and no more. 00:20:10.440 --> 00:20:17.220 But the soul can bleed in 10,000 ways and die over and over again each hour. 00:20:17.220 --> 00:20:19.579 Isn't this true? 00:20:20.299 --> 00:20:22.400 The psalmist feels forgotten by God. 00:20:23.059 --> 00:20:25.360 But still, he hopes in God. 00:20:27.680 --> 00:20:30.600 This psalm teaches us three things. 00:20:30.720 --> 00:20:32.180 Three very important things. 00:20:32.360 --> 00:20:35.940 It teaches us how to pray as we look at it. 00:20:36.279 --> 00:20:37.900 And that's the beauty of the psalms. 00:20:38.000 --> 00:20:39.240 They teach us how to pray. 00:20:40.059 --> 00:20:43.019 It teaches you how to express our emotions. 00:20:44.059 --> 00:20:46.759 But it always comes back to praising God. 00:20:47.220 --> 00:20:54.079 No matter what we go through, there is a God who is there, who is constantly with us, walking with us. 00:20:54.680 --> 00:21:00.200 Secondly, it teaches us to show empathy to those who are suffering from pain or depression. 00:21:00.779 --> 00:21:05.079 It shows us how to come up alongside them and walk with them, pray with them. 00:21:05.640 --> 00:21:09.279 And thirdly, it teaches us to hope in God and not in ourselves. 00:21:09.279 --> 00:21:12.539 Because if we hope in ourselves, it will just fail. 00:21:13.440 --> 00:21:15.819 But if we hope in God, he is steadfast. 00:21:15.920 --> 00:21:20.519 He is a steadfast rock, as it says here. 00:21:20.639 --> 00:21:23.980 He is, the symbolism of him being a rock is steadfast, solid. 00:21:25.559 --> 00:21:27.180 So listen to the psalm again. 00:21:27.440 --> 00:21:30.160 Because it is so important, this psalm. 00:21:30.160 --> 00:21:32.680 It is balm to the soul. 00:21:33.200 --> 00:21:37.019 If you are going through depression or suffering, come to this psalm. 00:21:37.259 --> 00:21:37.640 Read it. 00:21:37.759 --> 00:21:38.580 Reflect on it. 00:21:39.259 --> 00:21:40.120 Listen to it again. 00:21:40.840 --> 00:21:41.560 I'll read it quicker. 00:21:41.559 --> 00:21:46.720 As a deer pants for the flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. 00:21:47.220 --> 00:21:50.339 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. 00:21:50.859 --> 00:21:53.139 When shall I come and appear before God? 00:21:53.579 --> 00:21:58.240 My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, 00:21:58.759 --> 00:22:00.079 Where is your God? 00:22:00.659 --> 00:22:03.039 These things I remember as I pour out my soul. 00:22:03.379 --> 00:22:07.419 How I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God, 00:22:07.859 --> 00:22:10.059 with glad shouts and songs of praise. 00:22:10.059 --> 00:22:12.139 A multitude keeping festival. 00:22:13.220 --> 00:22:14.779 Why are you cast down, O my soul? 00:22:14.980 --> 00:22:16.859 And why are you in turmoil within me? 00:22:17.379 --> 00:22:20.179 Hoping God, for I shall again praise him. 00:22:20.399 --> 00:22:22.059 My salvation and my God. 00:22:22.599 --> 00:22:24.940 My soul is cast down within me. 00:22:25.399 --> 00:22:30.639 Therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermit, of Mount Mizar. 00:22:31.319 --> 00:22:34.399 Deep calls the deep at the roars of your waterfalls. 00:22:34.799 --> 00:22:37.259 All your breakers and your ways have gone over me. 00:22:37.259 --> 00:22:42.400 By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me. 00:22:42.879 --> 00:22:44.480 A prayer to the God of my life. 00:22:45.279 --> 00:22:48.480 I say to God, my rock, why have you forgotten me? 00:22:48.640 --> 00:22:51.599 Why do I go on mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? 00:22:52.279 --> 00:22:55.480 As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me. 00:22:55.799 --> 00:22:58.599 While they say to me all the day long, where is your God? 00:22:59.480 --> 00:23:01.119 Why are you cast down, O my soul? 00:23:01.180 --> 00:23:02.900 And why are you in turmoil within me? 00:23:02.900 --> 00:23:06.160 Hope in God, for I shall again praise him. 00:23:06.420 --> 00:23:08.140 My salvation and my God. 00:23:08.880 --> 00:23:12.500 Notice how there is no resolve here in this psalm. 00:23:12.940 --> 00:23:14.400 It doesn't have a happy ending. 00:23:15.240 --> 00:23:16.980 The psalmist is still separated. 00:23:17.240 --> 00:23:18.360 He's still isolated. 00:23:18.880 --> 00:23:22.400 He's still suffering, being taunted constantly. 00:23:23.340 --> 00:23:24.140 There's no resolve. 00:23:25.160 --> 00:23:27.460 And that's the thing with suffering and depression. 00:23:27.460 --> 00:23:32.980 There's normally, most of the time, no resolve. 00:23:33.240 --> 00:23:35.120 It is a lifelong thing that you go through. 00:23:36.160 --> 00:23:39.360 But the Bible doesn't end here. 00:23:39.740 --> 00:23:41.100 There is resolve in the Bible. 00:23:42.200 --> 00:23:42.900 There's hope. 00:23:43.539 --> 00:23:46.640 See, God sent his son into the world to save the world. 00:23:47.600 --> 00:23:52.460 He sent his only son into the world to save it from itself. 00:23:52.460 --> 00:23:59.180 That all those who put their faith and trust in him will be saved, will have eternal life. 00:24:01.480 --> 00:24:04.319 Jesus, on the cross, cried out, 00:24:04.860 --> 00:24:07.860 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? 00:24:08.059 --> 00:24:11.779 And the psalmist here says, why have you forgotten me? 00:24:12.079 --> 00:24:15.860 See, Jesus knows what it feels like to be completely separated from God. 00:24:15.859 --> 00:24:18.759 He knows what it's like. 00:24:19.000 --> 00:24:21.559 But he also said, it is finished. 00:24:22.059 --> 00:24:24.479 It is finished for all those who trust in him. 00:24:24.859 --> 00:24:26.299 There is a hope in the future. 00:24:26.740 --> 00:24:29.359 It may seem like that it is hopeless right now. 00:24:29.819 --> 00:24:31.779 But Jesus is the man of sorrows. 00:24:31.879 --> 00:24:34.119 He knows what you're going through. 00:24:34.399 --> 00:24:36.000 He'll walk alongside you. 00:24:37.019 --> 00:24:37.699 He's there. 00:24:38.139 --> 00:24:40.979 See, the finished work of Jesus has given the ultimate hope. 00:24:41.379 --> 00:24:43.000 One that never forsakes you. 00:24:43.519 --> 00:24:45.500 Even if you feel forsaken. 00:24:46.439 --> 00:24:49.240 It allows you to say, hope in God. 00:24:49.679 --> 00:24:51.439 Say to your soul, hope in God. 00:24:51.939 --> 00:24:53.240 For I shall again praise him. 00:24:53.579 --> 00:24:55.619 My salvation and my God. 00:24:56.059 --> 00:24:58.199 Amidst the suffering, you can say that boldly. 00:24:58.919 --> 00:24:59.539 Let us pray. 00:25:02.179 --> 00:25:06.439 Heavenly Father, thank you for the psalms. 00:25:06.439 --> 00:25:10.479 Thank you for inspiring the people who wrote them to write them. 00:25:10.480 --> 00:25:15.860 They are such a rich treasure. 00:25:15.860 --> 00:25:18.720 A treasure to have, as Spurgeon puts it. 00:25:20.579 --> 00:25:22.500 Father, I pray for this psalm. 00:25:22.960 --> 00:25:24.220 It would resonate in our hearts. 00:25:24.460 --> 00:25:27.980 That we would remember it through all the good times and through all the bad times. 00:25:28.400 --> 00:25:32.620 That regardless of what we go through, we can hope in you. 00:25:32.619 --> 00:25:36.459 And that is truly a balm to our souls. 00:25:37.000 --> 00:25:38.500 And I pray this in Jesus' name. 00:25:38.839 --> 00:25:39.119 Amen.