Morning Service – 13 September 2009
The Cry of Despair (1 Kings 19:3-5a)
Last week we saw a side of Elijah which was unexpected, a complete contrast to everything we have seen till then. Here he is a man on the run, running for his life.
There are several ways we can look at this journey from Jezreel to Beersheba in southern edge of Judah, and then another day’s journey into the Wilderness. (1) It was a run that basically covered the length of the country about 140kms or so, and then another day’s journey of 20-30 kms. (2) He ran from high up in the nation of Israel near the Syrian border, to deep into the southern kingdom of Judah. (3) He ran from the apostate nation of the north into the outwardly at least spiritually orthodox nation in the south. (4)Then again he ran from a populated area, by-passing all other population centres deep into a place of physical, social and above all spiritual isolation, even going another day’s journey away from his faithful servant who had been accompanying him.
As we take up the record at v.4 we see Elijah in the ‘slough of despond’, feeling life was no longer worth living. He cannot go on. The choice of location symbolised his mood, a wilderness of despair, as indeed his prayer clearly declared to God. He wanted to be alone, felt he deserved to be alone. Indeed he saw this place of isolation and death as the logical terminus point of his life.
As a result in v.4 we read one of the most frightening prayers ever uttered – and in reading it we tremble in that if such a mighty man of God could pray it how much more would it be possible for us to reach such depths of despair.
As we look at the cry of despondency let us note, firstly,
1. The Setting to the prayer
And I don’t mean so much the geographical or historical setting, but what they reveal of the spiritual setting of this prayer. An important question to ask here is: was Elijah guilty of sin here? Is there any evil?
The answer is clearly ‘Yes’. He was obviously guilty of disobedience as no word of God had come to him to leave Jezreel. He was obviously guilt of unbelief in that because he can’t see what God is doing he begins to doubt that God is doing anything. There is obviously a feeling of wounded pride, and there is obviously discontent with the present state. Such prayers arise from a sinful frame of mind and heart, from a preoccupation with self such that everything and everyone else lose their significance.
Depression is hard to define, and is not properly a description of the mood swings or the ‘downs’ that are normal part of life. Bob Smith defines it this way: ‘Depression is a debilitating mood, feeling or attitude of hopelessness, which becomes a person’s reason for not handling the most important issues of life.’ This feeling orientation can be so strong that it even affects the body, as David describes in Psa 32. Indeed there may be physical causes behind depression such as tumours, illness, hormones, lack of sleep… and this needs to be considered.
But what is also clear is that depression has a spiritual dimension, either as its cause or its complicating factor. Sin may be involved as a direct cause – eg Psa 32:3 where David sees the connection with hiding a specific sin, and that joy was restored when he confessed (v.5). But at other times sin becomes a factor when we fail to respond biblically with trust in the Lord in face of unpleasant or unexpected circumstances – eg in Psa 6 where David speaks of his bout of depression in the face of the overwhelming threat of enemies. When problems are not handled biblically, bad feelings are produced, and when these in turn cause or become the reason for the person to stop functioning in some or all areas of life depression occurs. Yet as Bob Smith helpfully points out depression is different to discouragement. ‘In depression the person ceases handling life or some area of life. In the case of discouragement the person keeps going.’
What was the cause of Elijah’s severe depression? Clearly the trigger was the fear…and this was complicated by the overwhelming realisation of disappointment concerning his ministry and indeed in himself – “I am no better than my fathers!”
2. The Substance of the prayer
Elijah, as he sat under the tree, thought in his despondency that he was unable any longer to bear the burden of life. “It is enough!” I can’t cope any more. I have done enough, endured enough, tried enough – just let me die.
To him there was no sense living anymore. He’s ministry was for nothing. He has no purpose left to live. Apostasy reigns, Jezebel sits entrenched in the palace; the weak wavering unprincipled Ahab is just a servant of her whims; and the nation still seems to be wedded to its idolatry despite all that it has endured and has recently been privileged to see.
Krummacher picks up the obvious mood and thoughts behind Elijah’s prayer: ‘It is enough, O Lord! Why should I remain longer in this land of travail? My existence is useless. If my labours in Israel, in the midst of so many signs and wonders, have missed their aim, where shall they be of any service? It is enough! Why should I remain here and longer to witness the decline of thy kingdom? Therefore, take me now, O Lord, my poor and troubled soul from me; for I am not better than my fathers. Certainly I hoped to see what many kings and prophets have desired to see; but I too have been disappointed. But who am I, that I should venture to desire such great things at Thy hand; who am I that with presumptuous hope could promise myself a preference, for which saints, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear, have longed in vain? It is enough; now, O Lord, take my life!’
Elijah had run out of fear of death and yet now he cries out for death! This tells us that during the run fear had worked its evil fruit in his soul. He had come to view the situation of Israel as hopeless, that his ministry despite all that had been achieved changed nothing and the situation is hopeless. But it was also that he saw that he himself as hopeless too. He was full of shame that he had run, that he was utterly worthless, a failure, unable to do anything good despite his great desires and efforts. As he looked at his work and at himself he saw only hopelessness, that there were no answers. In this we need to be careful not to confuse humility with the self-denunciation of a severely depressed person. True humility is a gift of the Spirit is joined with respect and confidence for God’s gifts – a good example of this companionship is found in 1 Cor 15:10 – “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me”. But that is not what we see herein Elijah. All his thinking was leaving out God and His sovereign grace and distinguishing mercy. It was an expression of pride, not a looking unto God to do what man cannot do. How we need to remember the counsel of Jesus in Mark 10:27 – “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”
True humility looks away from self to God and develops hope; depression looks away from God to self and fills one with hopelessness.
The prayer of Elijah is not marked by a trusting and joyful faith. It was full of confused and feeling-orientated thinking and decision making.
This is not like the prayer of Simeon “Now let your servant die in peace!” or that of Paul “I have a desire to depart and to be with Christ” – such are full of peace and cheerful language. Yet his was not as bad as Jeremiah who cried “Cursed be the day in which I was born” or that of Job: “Let that day perish, let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it.”
Is this prayer of Elijah also known among us? Not just amongst ministers but also those in teaching or working roles in the church; in the work place; in the family (parents with their heavy responsibility for children)… in fact it is possible in any situation. But we need to learn that our labour is not in vain in the Lord – even though we may think it is! None of us is warranted to say “It is enough!” It is only enough when God says it is.
If we feel inclined to cry out this sort of prayer, that you can’t bear the burden of your ministry or especially your life any longer, then do not do as Elijah did but go sit under the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ, the cross of Him who did not cry out “It is enough!” but endured all things for your sake until He could cry “It is finished!” Here is refreshment and new strength. Here you will no longer think of complaining of the greatness of your burden for here you see sufferings in comparison to which yours must be regarded as light indeed. Indeed in the view of the cross you will soon forget your distresses, for the love of God in Christ will absorb all your thoughts and the grace of God to you in Christ will absorb all your doubts.
3. The Sequel to the Prayer
What do we see? We will look at this more fully next time but let us note here
a. with reference to Elijah that he lay down under the tree and slept! But be warned, for as well as much needed rest sleep is often but a ‘retreat from the world of reality’, from that world with which we are discontent. Sleep can be to the Christian what alcoholic drink can be to the non-Christian: a retreat from the world of reality. How like Elijah though, having enough spiritual sense not to attempt to answer that prayer ourselves, we see that the next closest thing is that of the land of ‘Nod’ where we are out of contact from that real world that brings all that pressure upon us. Yet this is only one way of ‘shutting down’ or to stop functioning – hiding in TV, even busy in other things or even visiting people – just so we don’t have to think, feel, face the call to do.
b. with reference to God we see that this prayer is unanswered! It is the only recorded prayer of Elijah God did not answer. James reminds us that a hallmark of Elijah’s faith was that God answered his prayers (“the prayers of a righteous man avails much”). Yet God sometimes, because He knows what’s best for us, says ‘No!’ Do you recognise this truth? Do you submit to it or do you grumble?
Oh the blessing of unanswered prayer! Often we are encouraged to share ‘answered prayers’, maybe we should share ‘unanswered prayers’. I believe Elijah would be the first to such a blessing! Why? Because God still had work for Elijah to do, and He had a better way to take him when it really was enough.
What blessings Elijah would’ve missed out on if God had said ‘Okay.’ What an inglorious ending if someone had just found him dead under that tree. What grace God shows to His own with unanswered prayers – it is as much and perhaps more frequent that the answered prayers which we rejoice in.
Elijah reached the point in his life when he felt it was enough and prayed to die. But God had other plans for Elijah. He knew that some of the prophet’s greatest successes still lay ahead of him: anointing the king of Syria and the king of Israel, training Elisha as his successor, and miraculously crossing the Jordan on a dry river bed. Instead of taking his life, God strengthened him and sent Elijah back to active duty. Though Elijah saw this as the end-point of his ministry and life, God moved him on having another end point in mind, the journey to which the visit to Horeb or Mt Sinai was but the starting point – I refer of course to the miracle of translation from earth to heaven on the other side of the journey in the fiery chariot – but that is in the future and there is much ministry yet to be done. But first God must tenderly support and deal with His servant.
Perhaps you feel like saying, “It is enough!” If not tempted to take your life, you may at least feel like you no longer want to walk with the Lord. God understands, and if you place your life completely in His loving hands, He can give you the grace to start over. Who knows, God may have the most productive years of your life planned for your future. Our quitting point is God’s beginning point.
Beware then of prayers that burst from a fit of carnal passion instead of from the fire of burning love for God. And beware of contributing to ever leading a servant of God to ever pray that prayer. Remember what brought Elijah here. Ultimately it was his sin – yes – but what contributed to it? It was not merely Elijah’s reactions, but also the sin of commission on the part of God’s people. We need to encourage and strengthen, get alongside and support, or gently correct faults when we see it before despair reaches such depths. How can God use you to do this?
4. The Surprise of the prayer – Do you not see it, that spark of faith?
In this prayer there is yet some good. He was addressing it to the Lord by which he was both remembering and laying claim to God’s love and concern for His servants. That is the spark of faith. He had not totally shut God out of his thoughts, but still saw himself as one standing before God. Then also note that there is enough spiritual perception in that he doesn’t seek to take his own life.
God does not have to bring him anew to faith, but merely renew or revitalise that faith, fan the embers into a flame. God is not dealing with an unbeliever here, but a believer gripped by deep despair that all but silences that faith. But the greater note of hope here is that God has not and does not desert His children even in their deepest unbelief and darkest despair. He is there. Elijah had run from all people, from all responsibility, but he could not run from God. Though he was letting go of the Lord, God was still holding on to him! So he rightly, even though weakly so, he turns unto God. How much he would’ve been spared if he had done so earlier, but the Spirit draws him to do so even when he is at his weakest. God does not desert let alone despise His troubled servants – and that is our hope and comfort too!
It is against this dark background that we see the glories of Divine grace. In the hour of despair and need, the Lord did not forsake His poor servant, nor will He us if found in such a state.