Darkness, Despair, and the Story of Elijah

Elijah has them pour water over the alter and really make it impossible, but after he prays God sends fire down and destroys the alter and drys the water.

Elijah has won a huge and decisive victory and runs to the city of Jezreel to claim his victory over Jezabel.

1 Kings 19:1–18 ESV

1 Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” 3 Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs 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 broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” 5 And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6 And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. 7 And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” 8 And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God. 9 There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 11 And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke 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 the sound of a low whisper. 13 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 15 And the Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. 16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. 17 And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death. 18 Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

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Elijah is ready to celebrate his final and largest victory, he thinks the death blow has been made to Ahab and Jezabel,

but (like my mom’s cat) she doesn’t give up

1 Kings 19:2 ESV

Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.”

1 kings 19:

The Words of Darkness and Despair

Her death threat hit Elijah hard

“He was afraid and ran”

“It is enough now” - Elijah feels the weight of all he has had to deal with and now all that potentially lies in front of him and it is just too much.

“take away my life” - At this point his despair has led to hopelessness and he see life as to hard to continue.

This is a hard and scary place to get.

“I am no better than my fathers.” - Despair also leads to self-loathing. We are often our own biggest critics.

Elijah has fell into a darkness/depression

Many of us can relate to these feelings and may have even said some of these words.

We learn some key lessons about depression, despair, and darkness in these verses.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

I do not intends for this to be an exhaustive study of depression.

Potentially you will be left with questions that I would love to answer. My email is on the front of your bulletin PLEASE EMAIL ME!!

Three Dimensions of Depression/Darkness

There is quite a lot of information and theories on depression

Some people view humanity as if we were exclusively or primarily physical. So, any time you are depressed, you should simply take some time off; get rid of anything causing you stress; take a pill.

Some people view humanity as if we were exclusively or primarily physical. So, any time you are depressed, you should simply take some time off; get rid of anything causing you stress; take a pill. • Others view humanity as if we were exclusively spiritual. These are the people who say, “Oh, are you depressed? Show some faith. Quit sinning. Get over it.” They think the idea of taking a pill or identifying physical causes to depression is essentially to betray the faith. • The third group views depression as primarily psychological. Just talk it out.

Others view humanity as if we were exclusively spiritual. These are the people who say, “Oh, are you depressed? Show some faith. Quit sinning. Get over it.” They think the idea of taking a pill or identifying physical causes to depression is essentially to betray the faith.

The third group views depression as primarily psychological. Just talk it out.

But we are complex, image-bearers of God made up of bodies and souls that are fused together.

God deals with all three for Elijah and we must consider all three as we work through overcoming our darkness.

1) Physical

Science shows there is a physical dimension to depression

Chemicals, stress on the body, and other factors

NOTE ABOUT MEDICATION: There are unhealthy views of medication in our culture on both sides:

some believe it should never be taken and is wrong, or potentially sinful

Others believe medication is the only answer for what ails us mentally.

BOTH OF THESE VIEWS I BELIEVE ARE MISGUIDED

There are circumstances where medications is both necessary or, at very least, helpful for a season.

It is not my desire to make anyone feel guilty for taken medication for a mental illness they are battling.

On the same token I would love to talk to you if you are struggling with the decision to take it or not.

God sends and Angel to touch him, feed him, and give him rest.

2) Emotional

Psychological - Emotions have a tendency to throw us way off track.

Whether it is dealing with pain, mourning, or change.

Or loneliness sends you into despair, our emotions have a huge part to play in our mental health.

God lets Elijah vent and cry out.

3) Spiritual

Perhaps the most often neglected of the three.

Our connectedness to God play a huge role in our level of gloom or despair.

A healthy and disciplined walk with God leads us through struggles, gives us perspective in confusing or difficult times, and gives us hope in hopeless situations.

God reminds and speaks His plan and wisdom to Elijah.

A Path out of the Darkness

1) Take care of your body.

Rest, diet, exercise, and getting away are all ways for us to heal, get healthy, and regain clarity.

Sometimes the godliest thing you can do in the universe is get a good night’s sleep—not pray all night, but sleep. I’m certainly not denying that there may be a place for praying all night; I’m merely insisting that in the normal course of things, spiritual discipline obligates you get the sleep your body need. D.A. Carson

2) Talk to God and others.

Prayer, like real, raw prayer is medication for the soul.

We sometimes feel like God isn’t concerned with our problems or questions

That is EXACTLY where Satan wants you; seeped in your darkness, thinking God doesn’t care.

Read:

Psalm 22:1–3 ESV

1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? 2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. 3 Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.

Psalm 35:17–18 ESV

17 How long, O Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their destruction, my precious life from the lions! 18 I will thank you in the great congregation; in the mighty throng I will praise you.

ps 35

Prayer to God is vitally important, but talking to others is a close second.

There is a damaging stigma in our culture toward counseling that is rooted in PRIDE

You may consider counseling something for weak or unstable people who can’t handle things themselves.

You may think counseling is for when things get really bad. (most marriages we counsel are in crisis mode by the time they come to us)

We were designed to bear one another’s burdens

Galatians 6:2 ESV

2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Sometimes the most effect and powerful way to overcome depression or darkness is to talk and just be listened to.

It also helps us with #3

3) Discern and confront the lies.

Elijah, as he is talking things out, speaks 3 truths and a lie:

“I have been zealous for you.”

“The Israelites have rejected you.”

They have killed your prophets.”

I’m the only one left.”

God has 7000 people in Israel He is going to tell Elijah about.

We believe the lies spoken to us by Satan, others, and especially ourselves.

Paul Tripp has noted: “No one is more influential in your life than you are because no one talks to you more than you do. You are in an unending conversation with yourself. You are talking to yourself all of the time.”

Negative Self-talk is a counseling term that is very much a spiritual condition.

“It’s all lost.” “My family will never change. My friends will never listen. My workplace will never change.” “It’s never going to get any better.” “There’s no one who cares about me.” “I’ll never be happy.”

Speak against the lies by speak the truth of the Gospel

Call out the lies (Counseling a young girl struggling with what others thought of her)

Quote scripture (look it up of you don’t know it)

LISTEN TO OTHERS WHO SPEAK THE TRUTH IN LOVE!!

4) Find rest in the wisdom of God

Find rest in the wisdom of God

God speaks to Elijah in a “low whisper” and he is able to hear because the distractions are gone.

He then goes on to lay out for Elijah His plans.

You can see Elijah here as a weak, whiny guy who God is smacking around, but he is a hurt and tired warrior who God is ministering to.

He has led Elijah to the point where he is ready to hear His Word.

God’s Word is a light for our path, David spoke about God’s Word in a healing way

ps 119:

Psalm 119:50 ESV

50 This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.

Psalm 119:105 ESV

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Rest in the promises of God and the wisdom of God that is unsearchable.

5) Embrace the love and grace of God

God calls Elijah out of the cave in vs 11 but Elijah doesn’t leave until vs 13.

1 Kings 19:12 ESV

12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.

vs 11 and 12 God sends a wind, an earthquake, and fire.

All three would have destroyed Elijah, they were displays of God’s judgement.

But Elijah was protected in the cave God had provided. The mountain absorbs the intensity of the storms.

This part of the story points to the Gospel

Jesus on the cross got the tornado, the earthquake, and the fire of God’s wrath, what we ultimately deserved.

We instead get the gentle, gracious voice of God that calls us to follow Him.

The Gospel speaks truth into the lies

The Gospel speak hope into hopelessness (Jesus has won the victory)

The Gospel brings peace to the storms of life (- He will wipe away the tears from our eyes.

Closing

1 Peter 5:6–8 ESV

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

1 Peter 5:7 ESV

casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Humbling ourselves before the Lord is a step toward healing and victory

Not just depression, but anxiousness, sin, and many other struggles we face.

Casting our burdens on Him rather than carrying them.

And finally praying against the lies and the schemes of Satan.

LET’s Commit today to doing this together as we respond.

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