October 19, 2014
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

The Darkness of Depression

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Creating, re-creating Spirit, I ask for transforming work in my life. Make me more like Jesus.

Read Psalm 88:1-18

[1] A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah. For the director of music. According to mahalath leannoth. A maskil of Heman the Ezrahite. LORD, you are the God who saves me; day and night I cry out to you. [2] May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry. [3] I am overwhelmed with troubles and my life draws near to death. [4] I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am like one without strength. [5] I am set apart with the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more, who are cut off from your care. [6] You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths. [7] Your wrath lies heavily on me; you have overwhelmed me with all your waves. [8] You have taken from me my closest friends and have made me repulsive to them. I am confined and cannot escape; [9] my eyes are dim with grief. I call to you, LORD, every day; I spread out my hands to you. [10] Do you show your wonders to the dead? Do their spirits rise up and praise you? [11] Is your love declared in the grave, your faithfulness in Destruction? [12] Are your wonders known in the place of darkness, or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion? [13] But I cry to you for help, LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before you. [14] Why, LORD, do you reject me and hide your face from me? [15] From my youth I have suffered and been close to death; I have borne your terrors and am in despair. [16] Your wrath has swept over me; your terrors have destroyed me. [17] All day long they surround me like a flood; they have completely engulfed me. [18] You have taken from me friend and neighbor- darkness is my closest friend.

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

Almost everyone, at one time or another, experiences a period of sadness. Most people get over it with a little time. But for some people, the sadness continues.

I have been very fortunate in that depression has not been a major problem for me, but I have known times when, for various reasons, I have made this psalm my own prayer with deep feeling. For some people terrible things do happen, and for others it feels as if everything has gone wrong and everyone has deserted them. Whether this psalmist really did suffer as many things as the psalm implies or depression made it seem that way is irrelevant. This is what it felt like, and the sense of desertion was real. Long-term illness, desertion, complete aloneness–the psalmist felt so bad that “darkness,” which of course was no friend at all, was seen as the closest friend available (18).

We may think that this psalm might add to someone’s depression rather than relieve it, and we may want to point them to another psalm that is much more positive and hopeful. But I have found it hugely beneficial, and I know others have too, to know that someone else has felt how we felt and given us the words to express it. The fact that God has chosen to include the psalm and others like it as part of his Word reassures us that it is OK to feel like this and to speak like this!

This psalmist feels deserted by God as well as by everyone else, but he also points us to the way out. God is blamed, but nevertheless it is God who is turned to in the hour of despair. We are reminded that God is the One who saves us and hears us–even at the point when we can see or sense no answer. It is good to express exactly how we feel–but express it to God himself.

Apply

Why do you think this psalm is included in the Psalter? Are there any answers here to sadness and depression? How and where can you find comfort in the midst of sadness and depression?

Closing prayer

Father, I ask for sensitivity towards those who may be struggling with depression. Give me insight into any areas of my life that might be contributing to my own struggles.

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