Down in the Dumps
Psalm 42:1-11
Summary
In Psalm 42, the writer asks himself, "why is my soul downcast?" As you read the psalm, it is clear to us! He is under attack from enemies; he is unable to eat; he is overwhelmed with life. He feels discouraged and depressed, but his circumstances and feelings are not the focus of this Psalm. The focus is what he does amid the trials. He speaks to his soul, confronts his misplaced hope, and puts his trust in the Lord. As followers of Christ, what is our disposition in trials? Do we look any different than those who don’t have Christ? If we don’t, why? Let’s learn from David to surrender to God, allow ourselves to be lifted out of the dumps, and give praise and glory to our gracious God, no matter what! Do you know the Lord’s goodness even when you feel down in the dumps?
Discussion Questions
Quotes
The main art in the matter of spiritual living is to know how to handle yourself. You have to take yourself in hand, you have to address yourself, preach to yourself, question yourself. You must say to your soul: ‘Why art thou cast down’—what business have you to be disquieted? You must turn on yourself, upbraid yourself, condemn yourself, exhort yourself, and say to yourself: ‘Hope thou in God’—instead of muttering in this depressed, unhappy way. And then you must go on to remind yourself of God, Who God is, and what God is and what God has done, and what God has pledged Himself to do. Then having done that, end on this great note: defy yourself, and defy other people, and defy the devil and the whole world, and say with this man: ‘I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance, who is also the health of my countenance and my God’. - Dr. Martin Lloyd Jones
Summary
In Psalm 42, the writer asks himself, "why is my soul downcast?" As you read the psalm, it is clear to us! He is under attack from enemies; he is unable to eat; he is overwhelmed with life. He feels discouraged and depressed, but his circumstances and feelings are not the focus of this Psalm. The focus is what he does amid the trials. He speaks to his soul, confronts his misplaced hope, and puts his trust in the Lord. As followers of Christ, what is our disposition in trials? Do we look any different than those who don’t have Christ? If we don’t, why? Let’s learn from David to surrender to God, allow ourselves to be lifted out of the dumps, and give praise and glory to our gracious God, no matter what! Do you know the Lord’s goodness even when you feel down in the dumps?
Discussion Questions
- Are you struggling with feeling down in the dumps? Who can you share your struggles with to help you turn to the Lord?
- Do you agree that Christians are called to respond to afflictions and sorrows differently than those who do not know Jesus? Why or why not?
- Think of a recent struggle in your life. How did you respond? Did you rely on yourself or God? How did it work out for you?
- Do you talk to yourself more than listening to yourself? What can you do to handle yourself better?
- How does the gospel equip you to take action in the battle against depression? What truth helps you?
Quotes
The main art in the matter of spiritual living is to know how to handle yourself. You have to take yourself in hand, you have to address yourself, preach to yourself, question yourself. You must say to your soul: ‘Why art thou cast down’—what business have you to be disquieted? You must turn on yourself, upbraid yourself, condemn yourself, exhort yourself, and say to yourself: ‘Hope thou in God’—instead of muttering in this depressed, unhappy way. And then you must go on to remind yourself of God, Who God is, and what God is and what God has done, and what God has pledged Himself to do. Then having done that, end on this great note: defy yourself, and defy other people, and defy the devil and the whole world, and say with this man: ‘I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance, who is also the health of my countenance and my God’. - Dr. Martin Lloyd Jones
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