Weathering the Blues SESSION 6 SESSION Ion

Resources Christian LifeWay 2020 © The Setting The superscription or heading of this psalm of David designates its usage by the music director in worship. The psalm’s tone fluctuates between lament and have may He unclear. remains troubles David’s of thanksgiving. nature The Although emotionally forsaken. and alone felt He wrongly accused. or ill been distressed and physically drained, the psalmist chose not let to his situation get him down. In Psalm 31 David conveyed unwavering trust in the Lord. The Bible Meets Life depression—that’s a clinical to referring not I’m down. just get we Sometimes whole different matter. Some call it the blues, the blahs, or the doldrums, but whatever it’s called, not at our we’re best. January 18, 2021, has been identified as Blue Monday, the most depressing day of For the fifteen year. years the now, third Monday of January has been identified as a depressing day because the excitement of Christmas is well past; many have failed in their resolutions New Year’s by this time; they’re now bleak. remains weather the Christmas; and at accrued debt and bills the facing Well-meaning family or friends will try “talk to us out of” our feelings. “What have you got be to sad about?!” just “You need turn to that frown upside Indown.” my experience, those clichés don’t help. But the issue remains: what do we do when we have a bout of the blues? King David wrote some amazing psalms of praise, but he also wrote psalms that reflected his troubled soul. Through his words in Psalm 31, we find the best answer the to blues. The Point God lifts us up when we feel down. The Passage Psalm 31:1-8 Weathering the Blues SESSION 6 SESSION ion

Ses 6 Bible Studies for Life

66 THE POINT God lifts us up when we feel down.

GET INTO THE STUDY

ACTIVITY (OPTIONAL): If the weather 5 MINUTES is nice, take the group on a short walk outside . If the weather is not so great, ask members to look out a window (even if you have to walk to a hall) . Encourage people not to talk, but to observe elements of nature . Take in the sounds and sights of creation . Back in the room, ask members to share how breathing fresh air and experiencing God’s creation made them feel—good, better, or worse . Discuss how experiencing God’s creation is one way God lifts us up when we feel down . Then ask Question #1 .

DISCUSS: Question #1 on page 53 of the PSG: “What are some things that lift your spirits when you’re feeling down?” Allow time for each person to respond .

GUIDE: Direct group members to “The Bible Meets Life” on page 54 of the PSG . Introduce the importance of turning to God when we feel down by reading or summarizing the text or by encouraging group members to read it on their own .

GUIDE: Call attention to “The Point” on page 54 of the PSG: “God lifts us up when we feel down.”

PRAY: Transition into the study by asking God to help the group understand the importance of turning to God when we are feeling down . Thank Him for lifting us up and putting us on solid ground, often through help from one another .

Psalm 31:1-2 10 MINUTES 1 Lord, I seek refuge in you; let me never be disgraced. Save me by your righteousness. 2 Listen closely to me; rescue me quickly. Be a rock of refuge for me, a mountain fortress to save me.

READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Psalm 31:1-2 on page 55 of the PSG .

GUIDE: Use the commentary for the verses on the next page of this Leader Guide to help explain what it means for God to save us in this context .

RECAP: We’re not lacking for suggestions on how to beat the blues . Some advice focuses on connecting with others; for example, talk to a friend or play with a dog for an hour . Other suggestions center on the physical: engage in vigorous exercise, drink coffee, eat more seafood, and take vitamin and mineral supplements . (Let me stress again that clinical depression is very different from the moments of depression or the blues we can all experience . Medical supervision or the use of prescribed medications is necessary for many people dealing with clinical depression ). Many of these suggestions are sound ideas whether we’re feeling down or not . (I’m all for playing with a dog for an hour every day ). While many of these ideas may benefit some people but not others, I am confident that we can all practice and benefit from one task: trust in God . ALTERNATE QUESTION: What are some DISCUSS: Question #2 on page 55 of the PSG: “What are some circumstances barriers to that tend to bring you down?” confronting ACTIVITY (OPTIONAL): Use the Weights and Scale option on page 65 of this depression? Leader Guide to illustrate how things can weigh us down .

RECAP: When we find ourselves in the pit of misery, sometimes we can’t lift ourselves out . We have no righteousness of our own we can call on . But we can look to God . God brings His righteousness to all who choose to trust their lives to Jesus Christ .

David’s problems and concerns may have weighed heavily on him, but he looked to the God he knew and trusted . Whatever weighed him down was no match for a righteous God . Just as David cried to God for His help and righteous intervention, we can too .

TRANSITION: Problems and concerns can weigh us down emotionally . In the next verses, we see that we should take our concerns to God .

Psalm 31:1-2 Commentary

[VERSE 1] David began this psalm with an appeal of the verb’s usages occur, the poet often addressed to the Lord, the personal name for God, Yahweh. the verb to God, usually as a testimony of praise for This covenant title conveys God’s nearness, His deliverance or as an imperative seeking deliverance. concern for human beings, and the revelation of How did David expect the Lord to save him? Not His redemptive purpose. When problems and on the basis of any merits of David but rather on concerns weighed David down, he turned to the the grounds of the Lord’s righteousness. The word Lord with whom he had a personal relationship. Like refers to an ethical, moral standard. In Scripture that David, we all experience moments of depression standard is the Lord’s nature and will. or the blues. Such depression differs from clinical The psalmist continued his plea for depression. Medical supervision or prescribed [VERSE 2] deliverance. First David implored the Lord to medication can benefit many individuals dealing listen to his cry for help. This Hebrew literally with clinical depression. We can be grateful for closely means “incline Your ear.” It conveys the desire that these medical breakthroughs. Their use does not the Lord pay attention and grant the petitioner’s reflect lack of faith in God. Whatever the nature of his request. David not only wanted the Lord to problems, David sought refuge in the Lord. The verb rescue him but also requested that the Lord act quickly. The translated seek refuge also can be rendered “flee basic sense of rescue is that of pulling out, drawing for protection” or “put trust.” Thus David emphaticly out, or snatching away. The personal deliverance declared trust in the Lord. The idea of taking refuge desired is often physical but not without spiritual may derive from the experiences of fugitives or overtones or implications. Employing two images of soldiers who often found protection in the hills or safety or defense in the ancient world, the psalmist mountains. David’s need to seek refuge stresses the entreated Yahweh to be his and insecurity and self-helplessness of those we may rock of refuge The use of rocky locations as perceive as the strongest men. The fact the psalmist mountain fortress. havens of security led to the imagery of God as a did not identify his specific difficulties makes the rock of protection. The specific word translated poem applicable to various adversities we may face. refuge can designate natural or humanly constructed David continued his plea to Yahweh by asking that places of safety, but it is most often used to specify he might never be disgraced. The verb also could be God as His people’s refuge. The word rendered rendered “be ashamed.” This word primarily means fortress can also be translated “stronghold.” “fall into disgrace,” usually through one’s own failure The Hebrew verb translated in Psalm 31:2 or through the failure of someone who has been save differs from the one translated “save” in verse 1. The trusted. The Hebrew stands somewhat in contrast to term here is related to the names “Joshua” and later what we usually mean by being ashamed. Whereas “Jesus” (see Matt. 1:21). The kinds of distress from the English typically stresses the inner attitude, the which God’s people needed deliverance in the Old Hebrew emphasizes the external or public disgrace. Testament included enemies, illnesses, plagues, or The word can convey the nuances of confusion, famines. Generally, however, the term had strong humiliation, brokenness, and disillusionment. Closely theological or religious meaning because the Lord associated is the question of trust. David believed was the One who brought deliverance or salvation. a person who humbly submitted to the Lord would And only He can save people from their sins. David’s receive glory rather than shame and disgrace. Verse earnest appeal to the Lord in Psalm 31:1-2 reflects a 1 concludes with David’s plea for the Lord to save feeling of being overwhelmed by his circumstances. him. This specific Hebrew word means “cause to He felt weighted down by life’s difficulties. Yet he escape.” In the Book of Psalms, where the majority also knew where to take his burdens.

Psalm 31:3-4 10 MINUTES 3 For you are my rock and my fortress; you lead and guide me for your name’s sake. 4 You will free me from the net that is secretly set for me, for you are my refuge.

READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Psalm 31:3-4 on page 56 of the PSG .

GUIDE: Use the commentary for the verses on the next page of this Leader Guide to help explain the significance of a name in Hebrew thought .

RECAP: David’s request in verse 2 for God to “be a rock of refuge for me, a mountain fortress to save me,” also reminded him that God had already been his refuge . He declared in verse 4: “For you are my rock and my fortress ”. Looking to God for refuge was something David had experienced repeatedly .

From the moment we are introduced to David in 1 Samuel 16, we see a young man who trusted God . In fact, even before David entered the picture, God announced through Samuel, “The Lord has found a man after his own heart” (1 Sam . 13:14) . When this young man with a heart for God stood before King Saul and offered to face Goliath, he said, “The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine” (17:37) .

DO: Direct group members to Engage with “My Refuge” on page 57 of the PSG (page 75 in this Leader Guide) to help them reflect on ways God has set them free from things that caused them to feel down .

SUMMARIZE: Now as David faced a new challenge, he turned again to God as his rock and fortress . He said with confidence, “You will free me from the net that is secretly set for me” (v . 4) . Sometimes it’s easy to be “prayed up” and trust God with the problems we see in advance coming down the road . But sometimes, we’re struck unaware . In those moments, it’s wise to remember that the God ALTERNATE QUESTION: who loves us and has been our rock and fortress in the past is still the same What are some ways refuge now . that God sends help DISCUSS: Question #3 on page 58 of the PSG: “What are some unhealthy ways when we turn to Him you see people respond to depression?” with our problems? TRANSITION: In the next verses, we see that we can trust God to carry us through .

Psalm 31:3-4 Commentary

[VERSE 3] David wisely recognized the Lord’s When we feel overpowered by financial strains, sufficiency to help him deal with his concerns. We, health issues, family crises, or other devastating too, can find help and comfort by taking our concerns situations, like David we can cast our cares and to God. David moved from entreaty to affirmation. concerns on the Lord (1 Pet. 5:6-7). Jesus’ invitation From petitioning the Lord to be a “rock” and a remains as relevant today as it did in the first “fortress” in verse 2, David declared He was such a century: “Come to me, all of you who are weary source of security and protection in verse 3. Fortress and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my is the same term as in verse 2, but David employed a yoke. . . . For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” different word for rock. The word in verse 3 is related (Matt. 11:28-30). to a word meaning “fissure,” referring to a cleft in a rock, thus a rock or cliff. Although the word in verse 2 emphasizes a more massive rock, the two terms often appear as interchangeable. Both symbolize the Lord as a place of security for those who fear Him.

The latter part of Psalm 31:3 calls to mind Psalm 23:3 where David acknowledged the Lord’s leadership for His name’s sake. In Hebrew thought a name represented the person’s reputation and character. Thus the Lord chooses pathways for us consistent with His character and purpose for our lives. The verb translated lead represents the conducting of someone along the right path. David also used the verb rendered guide in Psalm 23:2, where it is translated “leads.” This term specifically designates loving, protective leading, often of those who are weak and helpless.

[VERSE 4] David took his concerns to God. In this verse the psalmist continued to attest to the Lord’s protection in the midst of overwhelming circumstances. Here he employed imagery from the world of hunting. Hunters or trappers used nets to snare birds or other prey. David may have been comparing his enemies with hunters who secretly tried to trap game. The primary meaning of the verb translated secretly set is that of hiding an object so it cannot be uncovered. In the Psalms the word typically conveys the idea of a person being trapped either figuratively or literally by the devices of wicked people or enemies. The emphasis falls on the unknown secrecy of these snares and the petitions and expectations of righteous individuals that the all- knowing God would deliver them.

Psalm 31:5-8 15 MINUTES 5 Into your hand I entrust my spirit; you have redeemed me, Lord, God of truth. 6 I hate those who are devoted to worthless idols, but I trust in the Lord. 7 I will rejoice and be glad in your faithful love because you have seen my affliction. You know the troubles of my soul8 and have not handed me over to the enemy. You have set my feet in a spacious place.

READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Psalm 31:5-8 on page 58 of the PSG .

GUIDE: Use the commentary for the verses on the next page of this Leader Guide to help explain the idols mentioned in this passage .

RECAP: Listen to the absolute and total trust in David’s words: “Into your hand I entrust my spirit!” David had chosen, quite literally, to place his life in God’s hands . Whatever came and whatever happened, David’s life was in God’s hands—and there was no better place to be .

DISCUSS: Question #4 on page 58 of the PSG: “How do truth and love work together to keep us out or pull us out of depression?”

SUMMARIZE: Highlight the main points from page 59 of the PSG . We know we’re truly trusting God—not simply giving lip service to the idea of trusting—when our trust leads us to praise God . When David penned these words, he had not yet experienced the rescue he sought, but he trusted and knew God would deliver . David could “rejoice and be glad in your faithful love” for four reasons: > “You have seen my affliction ”. > “You know the troubles of my soul ”. ALTERNATE QUESTION: > You “have not handed me over to the enemy ”. Where does our > “You have set my feet in a spacious place ”. culture encourage In our moments of despair and depression, we may feel no one sees or cares, us to put our trust but God sees and knows—and He cares . In those moments when we’re when we need in a tight spot surrounded only by depressing thoughts and feelings, let’s protection? remember that God will always deliver those who choose to look to Him in spite of circumstances . God will set us free from the tight space of depressing thoughts and bring us to a spacious place .

DISCUSS: Question #5 on page 59 of the PSG: “What steps can we take as a group to lift up one another during difficult times?”

GUIDE: Refer back to “The Point” for this session: “God lifts us up when we feel down.”

Psalm 31:5-8 Commentary

[VERSE 5] In the midst of great external and internal David trusted the Lord. Trust expresses the sense turmoil, David chose to deposit his life into the Lord’s of security and well-being that comes from having hands. Jesus quoted this verse as He hung on the someone in whom to place confidence. cross (Luke 23:46). In Hebrew thought the hand David vowed to represented “power,” “strength,” and “authority.” [VERSE 7] rejoice and be glad because of the Lord’s love. Rejoice is “to circle To entrust or commit one’s spirit into God’s hands around” from which derives the idea of spinning meant to rely on Him. Spirit encompasses a range of in joy. Be glad specifically denotes being glad meanings. It can designate “wind” or “breath” as well with one’s whole being. Both verbs stress David’s as “mind” or “spirit.” The term can denote the entire determination to rejoice. What prompted David’s immaterial human consciousness as well as the Holy determination to be joyful? The Lord’s Spirit. In this context, spirit could represent the whole faithful love demonstrated by His concern for the psalmist’s person or the life-giving force the Lord gives each difficulties. Faithful love conveys the concepts of individual. Even during great need, David had not lost both love and fidelity and identifies the Lord’s loyal heart because he possessed a personal relationship love for those in covenant relationship with Him. with the Lord. Redeemed is sometimes seen as David further testified that the Lord had seen his an assertion of what the Lord had done for David and knew his The specific word and sometimes as a continuing plea for deliverance affliction troubles. for affliction emphasizes the state of pain that results (“deliver,” NIV). In light of verses 6-8, understanding from being distressed. The parallel term troubles can it as a testimony of what God had already done also be translated “straits” or “distress.” It identifies appropriately interprets the verb. It was a commercial inner turmoil. here depicts intimate knowledge. term and basically means to transfer ownership by Know also can refer to the whole person or self. paying a price or an appropriate substitute. David Soul declared the Lord the God of truth. The basic idea is [VERSE 8] David celebrated. The Lord had not that of firmness or dependability. The Lord abounds permitted his enemies or depression to triumph. in truth. Truth is a characteristic of His nature. Instead God had granted escape from his difficulties. The Hebrew translated handed . . . over basically [VERSE 6] David’s trust in the Lord contrasted those means “shut in the hand of.” It conveys the concept who worshiped idols. Hate expresses rejection. of abandonment. The Lord had not abandoned Therefore the word communicates the opposite David. The particular word for focuses on of love. While the Lord expected His people to enemy hostility. When the Israelites abandoned the Lord, reject the ways of wicked individuals (Ps. 1:1), in Old they could expect their enemies to defeat them Testament times they lacked the fuller revelation of (Lev. 26:14-17). The defeat of David’s enemies love for enemies that came in Christ (Matt. 5:43-48). signified the Lord’s blessing on him (2 Sam. 7:8-9). The Lord still requires His people to hate or reject The Lord not only prevented David’s enemies from worthless idols. The term literally means “vapor,” being victorious, but He also set the poet’s “breath,” or “vanity,” but typically is rendered idols feet in Set means “caused to stand” or when used of false gods. Worthless also means a spacious place. “established.” Spacious place can describe either “emptiness,” “vanity,” or “falsehood.” It designates the width of an object or the breadth or expanse anything unreal, unsubstantial, or worthless, either of land. The Lord’s deliverance resulted in new materially or morally. The two terms together freedom, surrounded by peace and security. As we emphasize the total pointlessness or worthlessness acknowledge our need and dependence on the Lord, of idolatry. Devoted has the basic idea, “to exercise like David, we too can experience the Lord’s lifting us great care over something or someone.” In contrast, up when we feel down.

GUIDE: Direct group members to page 60 of the PSG . Encourage them to choose one 5 MINUTES of the following applications:

> Worship. Trust is expressed as you worship because it keeps you focused on Christ . Make the decision to actively engage in worship both with your church and in your private devotional life . > Study. Identify Bible verses that teach what God says about the issue of depression and sadness in our lives so you can share them with others . > Seek help. Do a serious personal evaluation about what causes depression in your life . Admit that it is real and it is serious . It might be time to talk with a close friend, pastor, or counselor about it .

Wrap It Up

TRANSITION: Read or restate the final paragraph from page 60 of the PSG .

There are lots of clichés that sound good and that people want to share for all the right reasons . But the Lord is the One who can truly lift us up when we are feeling down .

ACTIVITY (OPTIONAL): Use the Footsteps option on page 75 of this Leader Guide to allow group members an opportunity to reflect on how God is always with us when we need Him .

PRAY: Ask God for strength to turn to Him even in times where we don’t feel like doing so . Thank Him for rescuing us and carrying us in our darkest days .

Grow with other group leaders at the Groups Ministry blog. LifeWay c. om/GroupMinistry

ENGAGE

My Refuge. Using the acrostic below, list some ways God has set you free from things that caused you to feel down.

R - etirement fears

E -

F -

U -

G -

E -

BONUS CONTENT

ACTIVITY (OPTIONAL): In advance, bring a set of weights and scale and some familiar objects to weigh. Ask group members to guess how much each object weighs and then check it with the weights and scale to see who gets closest. Make the point that even the most common of circumstances can often weigh us down.

ACTIVITY (OPTIONAL): In advance, familiarize yourself with the famous “Footsteps” poem. Read the poem to the class and ask group members to think of a time when they know God was carrying them. Then close in prayer, thanking God for His help in such times.

NOTE: A copy of the poem can be found at BibleStudiesForLife.com/ AdultExtra.

SHH EP ERDS: A BIBLICAL IMAGE OF GOD & HIS CHOSEN LEADERS

by Thomas H. Goodman

How did one of the lowliest jobs of men become one of the dearest Young shepherd tending images of God and His chosen leaders? sheep at Hormah. This region served as the southern border Many consider shepherding to be the lowest rung of migrant labor in of Canaan during the time of America,1 and it was no different 2,000 years ago . An angel announced the conquest. Christ’s birth to shepherds, men in a despised occupation . Buying “wool, milk, or a kid from a shepherd was forbidden on the assumption that it would be stolen property ”. 2 Yet the image of the shepherd was a favorite biblical metaphor to describe God and the leaders of His people .

76 BLIB E STUDIES FOR LIFE © 2020 LifeWay Christian Resources ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/ BRENT BRUCE BRENT PHOTO/ ILLUSTRATOR The image first appeared in the earliest days of for the lost . You have ruled them harshly and Israel’s history, when the economy was based brutally . . . . I am against the shepherds and will hold on a nomadic life and on moving flocks of sheep them accountable for my flock” (34:2,4,10) . and goats in order to find sufficient pasture in the Through the prophets, God castigated the rainless summers . The patriarchs lived as herders, shepherds for letting wild animals get to the 3 as did Moses, David, and Amos . Against the sheep, for leading the flock in the wrong direction, backdrop of these early experiences, people began and for leaving them altogether (Zech . 11:17) . to compare divine and human leadership to the He also declared, “My anger burns against the work of shepherding . shepherds, and I will punish the leaders” (10:3) . The Old Testament contains several references to The Lord echoed this thought when He promised God as “Shepherd,” plus many other references that incompetent leaders would be punished and that compare His work to that of a shepherd 4. When removed . “I myself will search for my sheep and look the biblical writers said God “tends his flock like after them,” He said, adding, “I will place over them a shepherd”5 they had the idea of God feeding, one shepherd, my servant David, . . . he will tend leading, protecting, and restoring His people . While them and be their shepherd” (Ezek . 34:11,23; see most references are to God’s care of the flock as a also vv 1. 2-22; Jer . 23:3-5) . whole, in Psalm 23 David applies this imagery to his This messianic figure like David is what God 6 personal experience with God . promised through Micah . This messianic figure, The Bible often refers to God calling on leaders to who would come from Bethlehem, would shepherd shepherd His people . He reminded Nathan that all God’s people: “out of you will come for me one who ruled His people in the past were those “whom who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from I commanded to shepherd my people Israel” (2 Sam . of old, from ancient times . . . . He will stand and 7:7) . These rulers included Moses and Aaron, and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the David, whom God chose “from tending the sheep majesty of the name of the Lord his God . And they . . . to be the shepherd of his people” (78:71) . Second will live securely, for then his greatness will reach Samuel makes clear that shepherding God’s people to the ends of the earth . And he will be their peace” and serving as their ruler meant the same thing: (5:2,4-5) . “You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will Matthew said this prophecy was fulfilled in the birth become their ruler” (5:2) . of Jesus (2:6) . Jesus referred to Himself as the Good To be without an earthly ruler was to be “like sheep Shepherd (John 10) who came to do what other without a shepherd,” a condition Moses did not caretakers were unwilling to do . He had compassion want for his people (Num . 27:17) 7. God even called on the crowds, whom He saw as “sheep without a the pagan leader, Cyrus, “my shepherd” who “will shepherd” (Matt . 9:36) . His mission was to reach accomplish all that I please” in the return of the “the lost sheep of Israel” (15:24) .9 This lostness was exiles to Jerusalem (Isa . 44: 28) . due to the carelessness of their earthly leaders, but Because of his position, a leader’s failure left the Jesus said He knew His sheep by name and would people vulnerable . Speaking through prophets, lead them (see John 10:3) . God complained against shepherd-leaders who Of course, Jesus prophesied that the Good imperiled His flock . Through Jeremiah, God said Shepherd would lay down His life for the sheep (vv . that His people had become “lost sheep” because 11,15,17-18) . “Strike the shepherd,” Zechariah had “their shepherds have led them astray” and “have prophesied, “and the sheep will be scattered” (Zech . not bestowed care on them” (50:6; 23:1-2) .8 God 13:7) 10. Matthew cited this prophesy as being fulfilled also commanded Ezekiel to “prophesy against the upon Christ’s arrest (26:31) . shepherds of Israel”: “Should not shepherds take The Shepherd laid down His life, sacrificing Himself care of the flock? . . . You have not strengthened the like a Lamb (John 1:29; Rev . 7:10-17) . Yet He was weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured . raised to life by the Father who “brought back from You have not brought back the strays or searched the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the

BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 77 © 2020 LifeWay Christian Resources sheep” (Heb . 13:20) . His work, still not complete—in heaven “the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd” (Rev . 7:17) . As did the Father in the Old Testament, the Son also commissioned under-shepherds through whom He guides His flock . Before His departure, Jesus commanded Simon Peter to “take care of my sheep” (John 21:15- 17) . Later in life, Peter himself wrote that elders who serve well as “shepherds of God’s flock” will be rewarded “when the Chief Shepherd appears” (1 Peter 5:1-4) . This was consistent with Paul’s command to the Ephesian elders to “be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood” because the Holy Spirit had made them “overseers” for “the flock” (Acts 20:28) . Church leaders are called “pastors” in Ephesians 4:11, using the word poimen, the Greek work most often translated “shepherd ”. “ He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth” (Micah 5:4).

Even before the New Testament period was over, though, Peter had to caution church leaders against “lording it over” others or seeking financial gain in their position of authority (1 Peter 5:1-4) . Just as the prophets warned of derelict shepherds in the Old Testament, Jude warned the church of “shepherds who feed only themselves” (v . 12) . Through earthly shepherds, and in spite of incompetent ones, Christ still leads His people as “the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls” (1 Peter 2:25) .

1. Dan Frosch, “In Loneliness, Immigrants Tend the Flock,” The New York Times [online] 22 February 2009 [accessed 25 February 2009]. Available from the Internet: www.nytimes.com. 2. Joachim Jeremias, “poimhvn, ajrcipoivmhn, poimaivnw, poivmnh, poivmnoin“ (poimen, shepherd) in Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, ed. Gerhard Friedrick, trans. and ed. Geoffrey W. Bromiley, vol. 6 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1968), 489. 3. See Ex. 2:15–3:3; 1 Sam. 16:11-13,19; 17:14-20; Amos 7:14. 4. See Ps. 74:1; 77:20; 78:52; 79:13; 95:7; 100:3; Jer. 31:10; Ezek. 34:15-16,31. 5. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the New International Version (NIV). 6. Psalm 23:1, emphasis added. 7. See also 1 Kings 22:17 where the prophet Micaiah used the same phrase in prophesying what would happen if Ahab went to war against God’s will. 8. See also 10:21, where God says the foundation of this poor leadership is that they “do not inquire of the Lord.” Jeremiah often referred to THOMAS H. GOODMAN is the leaders of God’s people as failed shepherds: 10:21; 12:10; 13:20; 22:22; 23:1-2; 25:34-36; 49:19; 50:6, 44. He even referred to himself as a shepherd in 17:16, reminding God, “I have not run away from being your shepherd.” pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church, 9. See 10:6; though He also spoke of “other sheep that are not of this fold” in John 10:16 (HCSB). Austin, Texas . 10. “Thus at the end of the OT shepherd sayings there stands an intimation of the shepherd who suffers death according to God’s will and who thereby brings about the decisive turn” (Jeremias, 488).

Joy to the world! The voices of the praise team, with a huge Christmas tree behind them and red poinsettias on every side, filled the crowded auditorium . But Beth, who sat toward the back, felt no joy . She felt hardly anything at all, other than numb and sad . Beth was sad in part because she remembered Christmas in the past as such a happy time, filled with friends and family . But this Christmas was different . It was her first year out of college, living in a new city with an exciting but challenging job with a ministry for at-risk youth . It had been harder than she had expected to find friends, and to plug into a church . She hadn’t remembered a December that was so cold, dark, and gray . Nothing, including work, brought her joy . Her friends, family, and even God seemed far away . Thinking that she might be sick, she had seen Dr . Poole, a family physician who had heard Beth’s story, asked some questions, and ordered tests . The next day, Dr . Poole phoned Beth . “All your lab work looks okay,” she said . “Your thyroid and vitamin levels are normal . But you’re depressed . Let’s talk about some help ”.

BLIB E STUDIES FOR LIFE 79 © 2020 LifeWay Christian Resources WHAT IS DEPRESSION? have a hard time getting out of bed . For others, Depressed wasn’t a word that Beth, as a committed depression happens when people go through major Christian, wanted to hear . No one in her family life changes or a loss . For others, depression is living had ever been depressed . No one talked about under stress . For most, it’s a mix of a lot of things ”. depression in her college Christian fellowship . Most of the songs she heard at church were about how CHALLENGES Christians should be joyful . But a doctor had told her Beth felt confused . “But what about me?” she asked . that she was depressed . What did that mean? “Isn’t this something that’s happening in my body? Dr . Poole told me that depression was a medical A week later, Beth sat in the office of Elaine, condition, and that I might need medication for it ”. a Christian psychologist whom Dr . Poole had recommended . Beth had been nervous, but Elaine’s “Well, sure,” Elaine responded . “Your depression warm style immediately put her at ease . It felt good is happening in your body because your life is to be able to talk with someone who listened and happening in your body . And in your case, it may cared . After they had spoken for a while, Beth asked be that you’ve inherited some genes that make you her what it meant that she was “depressed ”. more vulnerable . But depression doesn’t have to do with your body only . It also has to do with patterns “Depression is a curious word,” Elaine responded . of thinking that you’ve developed over years . You’ve “People sometimes use words like depression as told me, for example, of how all through college you if it’s something that you get like influenza . But worked hard and fed off the praise of others, and major depression is actually defined broadly . If now that you’re working, that’s a lot harder to do ”. you feel sad or joyless for at least two weeks, and also experience appetite changes, exhaustion, Beth smiled a little . “Yeah—maybe so ”. guilt, difficulty concentrating, difficulty sleeping or “And depression also has to do with your sleeping too much, or thoughts that you might be relationships with others . It can be triggered by better off not alive, there’s a good chance you’d meet tensions in relationships—or the lack of them—and it the criteria for depression . But not all depression is can also make close relationships harder to sustain . the same . For some people, depression can come And depression also has to do with your relationship out of the blue and be so debilitating that people with God ”.

80 BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE © 2020 LifeWay Christian Resources Beth looked down . Her voice was tighter . “I know,” she said . “This is all my fault . I haven’t been praying enough . I haven’t been reading the Bible enough . I should’ve been working harder ”. Beth felt judged and wondered whether coming to a Christian counselor was a good idea, after all .

GREAT IS HIS FAITHFULNESS “Wow,” Elaine said . “That’s a heavy load you’re trying to carry . You speak as if anyone who feels like you do right now must be doing something seriously wrong in God’s eyes ”. Beth looked up, a little surprised . It sounded silly, but she did believe that, if she were honest . “Do you know the hymn ‘Great is Thy Faithfulness?’” Elaine asked . “Well, sure,” Beth answered . “We sang it all the time when I was younger . ‘Morning by morning new mercies I see . . . ’. ” “It’s a great hymn,” Elaine said, “taken from the Book of Lamentations 3: ‘He filled me with bitterness, satiated me with wormwood . He ground my teeth on gravel and made me cower in the dust . My soul has been deprived of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is ’. and then the verses that you’re familiar with ”. Beth sat quietly before speaking . “That’s it,” she said . “That’s how I feel ”. His mercies will come new every day.

NEW MERCIES EVERY MORNING Beth continued to see Elaine weekly for talk therapy, focusing on her patterns of thought and action, and came to trust her deeply . She also met several times with a pastor who prayed with her, and for her, and talked with her about her life with God . She realized that even people who love God, and are loved by God, can feel low, and God understands that . She learned that being depressed wasn’t her fault . She learned that living with and overcoming depression was hard work—but not the sort of work that she could do alone . It required the hard work of being vulnerable before others and before God, of taking the risk to join a small group at her church, of paying more attention to her sleeping, exercising, and eating habits, and of setting limits with co-workers at her job . Warren Kinghorn, MD, ThD is a psychiatrist and theologian at Duke In the midst of all of this, as the gray winter gave way to the warm University . He is co-director of the spring, Beth’s sadness gradually lifted, and she was grateful . But Beth Theology, Medicine, and Culture didn’t consider herself “cured ”. She still felt sad and bleak from time to Initiative at Duke Divinity School . time, and knew that the dark pit of depression could come again . But Growing up at Edwards Road she knew that even if her depression returned, she wouldn’t be alone . Baptist Church in Greenville, S C. ., Warren now lives in Durham, N C. . with his wife, Susan, and their two young children .