Do you ever get “down” or depressed? Ever felt that you were “put down” — that someone treated you in demeaning manner? Maybe they lied about you, or taunted you with an arrogant rant. Or you were depressed by the painful results of your rotten choices. It might even be that you’ve been dejected over your finances. Maybe you think others are getting richer while you are poorer still. When these things happen to you, how will you keep going with a positive approach to life? This short passage (Psalm 119:65-72) guides you into the grace that brings good out of grief.
Grief and Depression
Within these 8 verses, the word “afflicted” occurs twice. This Hebrew word [anah] paints the picture of browbeaten person in an oppressed or humbled state. In verse 67, the psalmist confessed the reason behind that affliction: “I went astray.” Here is a testimonial to the principle of sowing and reaping. In loyal love, our Lord has placed us in a reality where there is a consequence for sin. David was remembering situations where his disobedience had brought him into a depressing state of affairs.
But the second occurrence of the word portrays a different situation. There does not seem to be a connection to his disobedience, referred to in verse 67. In verses 69-71, the calloused hearts of the proud had forged a lie against David. These lies had pummeled him into despair.
So whether you get depressed over your own sins, or the sins of others against you, this passage is for you. If you have been lied about, put down, or been the object of arrogant smirks and sneers, these verses guide you into the good.
In these verses, God’s good ways caused David to long for God’s good Word. There is a reference to the Scriptures in each of these 8 verses. David wove God’s Word into his worries. In his depressed state, he saturated his heart in the Scriptures. With the appeal “teach me,” (vs. 66, 68) this depressed man took delight in the declarations of God’s Word.
Have you ever made this comment about a Biblical message: “That was a good one!?” Well, that comment would be especially appropriate for this text of Scripture. A variation of a Hebrew word for “good” is used 5 times in just 8 verses. Let’s think of it as “good” hunting (hunting for good).
- In verse 65, the psalmist remembered that the Lord had done good things for him.
- In verse 66, this king of Israel prayed that God would teach him good judgment.
- In verse 68, he acknowledged God’s good character and God’s good deeds.
- Perhaps most surprising, in verse 71, David declared, “It was good for me that I have been afflicted!” Why would anyone say such a thing? His response is enlightening: “that I might learn Thy statutes.” What will it take for you and me to grasp the meaning of God’s message? Verses 69-71 teach that sometimes the painful lies of others help you to perceive God’s Truth more clearly! That’s transforming grace!
David mixed the message of God’s Word into his miseries. You can do the same. And this will give you the grace that brings good out of grief.
How Can It Be Good?
This raises the question: “How can depression be ‘good’ thing?” Under what conditions could it be beneficial for me to endure affliction? Is it a good thing for my disobedience to lead me to despair? Verse 67 would answer that with a “yes.”
Picture Adam and Eve, excluded from the Garden, tilling the ground and pulling out thorns. Yes, God’s design is that disobedience will lead us to despair. But even at the beginning of those miseries, God promised to send the Messiah (Genesis 3:15). His death, burial and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) teach us how to triumph over depression on its own turf. But how can it be a good thing to be smeared with the lies of unfeeling people (vs. 69-71)? Several passages in Scripture help to answer this question. For instance, Genesis 50:19-20, Romans 5:20, and Isaiah 61:3 testify about God’s transforming grace when you are groveling in grief. According to Genesis 50:20, even when others purposefully sin against you, God means it for good. That’s transforming grace!
How to Turn from Despair to Delight
Discovering good in grief and depression sounds like an unrealistic dream, right? Yet this transforming truth runs throughout the Scriptures.
Consider for instance the two kinds of men described in Jeremiah 17:5-8. The first man is like a scrub bush in the desert; the second is like a tree planted by the water. The first cannot see when any good comes; the second cannot see when “heat” (or drought) comes. This is an interesting picture, but what is it illustrating? The “scrub bush man” puts his trust in man and in that cursed state, departs from the Lord. The “river tree man” trusts in the Lord and makes the Lord his hope. “Mr. River Tree” will continue to prosper and produce fruit year after year. This illustration helps us to see how to discover good in the midst of grief and depression. Trust in the Lord will transform your life; it teaches you how to approach adversity.
Even in his despair, the psalmist could declare, “The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.” The woven wealth of God’s Word is better than thousands of gold and silver coins. Remember that the next time you feel as if others are growing richer while you are getting poorer.
David’s trust in the Lord caused him to declare of the Lord “Thou art good and doest good” (Psalm
119:68). David’s example shows us what to mix into our misery. He shows us how to weave the Word into our weariness and worry. Despair can be turned to delight if you saturate your soul in the Scriptures. Let’s read those verses again with new understanding. Underline the good; be bold with the Bible, and learn how to transform your trials.
65 Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word. 66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.
68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.
69 The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart. 70 Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law.
71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.
Pastor Gordon Dickson, Calvary Baptist Church, Findlay, Ohio
Here are some additional resources to consider:
Facing Difficult Times (audio)