Home Group Study Guide for Sunday October 22,2017
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HOME GROUP STUDY GUIDE FOR SUNDAY OCTOBER 22,2017 CHRIST-ST. PAUL'S THE MAJOR PROPHETS IT’S OKAY TO FEEL JEREMIAH 20:7-18 10/22/2017 MAIN POINT Some of the greatest pioneers of the faith give us permission to feel, as they called aloud to God in the midst of distress and depression. INTRODUCTION As your group time begins, use this section to introduce the topic of discussion. What thoughts or images come to mind when you hear the word “depression”? Explain. Do you think Christians can be depressed? Why or why not? How does the church typically address depression and/or people who suffer from depression? It’s the subtle changes in mood. It’s the thoughts that come in like bullets you can’t protect yourself from. It’s the exhaustion that comes no matter the hour. It’s the pain you feel when you look in the mirror. It’s the relationships you can’t let go of. It’s the longing for better days and the lack of hope for future ones. It’s the feeling at the end of the day where you ask yourself, “Is this all there is?” About 20 million people in the United States suffer from depression. Depression is one of the most misdiagnosed and misunderstood struggles in America. Its treatment is hard to tackle. Unlike the flu where a shot is given and you can physically track your recovery, depression is more difficult to treat because its symptoms exist primarily in the mind. Depression is an internal battle between mind, body, and spirit. Its symptoms manifest themselves in a loss of interest in daily activities, decreased overall mood, fluctuating appetite, mood swings, practices of self-harm, or thoughts of suicide. The seriousness of depression begs a call to action on the church. As the body of Christ, we should know what depression is, how to help those who struggle with it, and how to be present for those who have no hope. Because, after all, we’re all one body of believers. UNDERSTANDING Unpack the biblical text to discover what the Scripture says or means about a particular topic. HAVE A VOLUNTEER READ PSALM 55:1-15. What words or phrases stick out to you in this passage? What is David asking of God in this passage? Psalm 55 is a psalm of David entitled, “Cast Your Burden on the Lord.” David calls his psalm a “plea” before God (v. 1). This plea is a cry of the heart, which David says is in anguish within him (v. 4). David’s words express their depth. He feels deeply the “terrors of death” (v. 4). Not only does he feel fear and trembling, but also pure horror (v. 5). 1 of 4 Have you ever experienced some of the emotions David was feeling in this psalm? If you’re comfortable, share that experience. Look at verses 6-8. Why is it significant that David desires escape? The horror of David’s experience was so bad that he desired escape. In verse 6, he laments that he doesn’t have dove’s wings to “fly away and be at rest.” In verse 7, he hopes to “wander far away” and “lodge in the wilderness.” And in verse 8, he longs for “a shelter from the raging wind and tempest.” David was depressed, and he wanted out. The violent means by which David hopes to escape are possibly suicidal thoughts. David’s despair validates those of us who have desired escape. People of faith—even those “after God’s own heart”—are not immune to these feelings, and therefore shouldn’t feel shame when they have them. What we can do is take these feelings to God, just as David did. HAVE A VOLUNTEER READ JEREMIAH 20:7-10. What is Jeremiah saying to God in this passage? Is Jeremiah being blasphemous? Why or why not? At his lowest moment Jeremiah confesses his most intimate thoughts, sometimes called his “Gethsemane” prayer. His cries and complaints serve as a reminder that even a faithful servant of the Lord can become discouraged. Jeremiah accuses God of deceiving him into becoming a prophet. The context of Jeremiah’s frustration is that his audience is hostile to his prophecies, so he feels that God brought him to a bitter end. Ultimately Jeremiah feels like a failure, and that God brought him there (v. 7). He blames God for his sufferings. Have you ever felt like God placed a specific call on your life, but the journey of living out that calling was thwarted, manipulated, or a sham from the beginning? How did you reconcile these conflicting feelings? Jeremiah can’t help his ability to prophesy, despite those who mock him. His calling is so strong that he can’t help but share God’s messages (v. 9). Jeremiah faces a dilemma: if he spoke, his audiences would abuse him; yet if he kept quiet, he had no inner peace. It got so bad for the prophet that Jeremiah’s nickname was “Terror” (v. 10). Jeremiah’s feelings aren’t flattering—they are bitter and ugly. Nevertheless, it is important that we recognize them. Our humanity is wrapped up in our ability to feel. Our humanity entails emotions, and emotions need to be expressed. Note that your feelings are expressions of your identity, not the source of your identity. Your feelings don’t make you who you are. Even at his lowest, Jeremiah was still a great prophet—he was still a man after God, a man whom God specifically appointed to proclaim His words to the Jewish people. Even at his lowest, Jeremiah was loved by God. HAVE A VOLUNTEER READ JEREMIAH 20:11-18. What are some key differences between verses 7-10 and 11-13? Why do you think Jeremiah’s mood changed? Jeremiah’s mood changed because his perspective changed. Jeremiah’s perspective changed because he turned his attention to the character of God. Some question the genuineness of Jeremiah’s discourse because they find it hard to imagine Jeremiah singing for joy in these circumstances. But his heart understandably fluctuated with conflicting emotions. Jeremiah is racketing up his courage; he is reassuring himself by dwelling on the attributes of God. Jeremiah’s previous despair is replaced by a state of euphoria: “Sing to the Lord! Praise the Lord, for He rescues the life of the needy from the hand of evil people” (v. 13). What changes again in verses 14-18? What are Jeremiah’s cries? Have you ever been accused of being insincere for having mood swings? Explain. Is it common for a wave of depression to come over you after a time of rejoicing? Why or why not? 2 of 4 Jeremiah’s experience gives us the permission to have mood swings. Verses 14-18 illustrate that Jeremiah is again at a place of instability. The prophet reaches such a low point that he laments the day he was born (vv. 14-18). It’s not unusual for deep depression to follow on the heels of a mood of exaltation. Anyone who has experienced fluctuating moods in the midst of a difficulties knows it is possible for people to praise God one moment and to despair the next. How does Jeremiah’s experience relate to your own? How do his feelings give you permission to feel? APPLICATION Help your group identify how the truths from the Scripture passage apply directly to their lives. How do both David and Jeremiah’s experiences give you permission to feel deep, sad, bitter, or “wrong” feelings? What have you learned about what it means to be a depressed Christian? Are there some emotions locked up in your heart that you need to get out to God? This week, get alone with Him—journal how you feel, talk to Him out loud, pray through a psalm, or whisper to Him throughout your day. Whatever the method, get honest with Him and ask Him to meet you where you are. PRAY In a time of silent prayer, simply list some words that you’ve been wanting to give to God. Those words could be hard feelings to express like “depressed,” “worried,” “anxious,” “lonely,” or “tired.” Or, they could be words of praise such as “thankful,” “blessed,” “joyful,” “trusting.” Whatever the word, trust that God is big enough to hear you. Trust that He is big enough to handle your emotions, no matter how dark they may be. COMMENTARY PSALM 55:1-15 55:3 Harass is a rare word (Hb stm) that expresses the idea of animosity or hatred, often connected with hostility (Gen 49:23; Job 30:21). This emphasizes malicious intent rather than playful mocking. 55:4-5 Sweep over and overwhelmed portray being overtaken by troubles as if by a flood. 55:6-8 The hope of escape is pictured as a bird flying away to safety. This is the reaction of an animal that has no hope of defending itself any other way. 55:9-11 These verses recall when God judged those who were building the tower of Babylon by confounding their speech (Gen 11:1-9). The terms city and walls and the description of the wickedness associated with them are further connections to Babylon. Since the main issue in this psalm is the “voice” of the enemy (v. 3), this is a most appropriate request. 55:12-14 The shift here is significant in demonstrating that the culprit was not some distant enemy but a close friend, a worship companion.