PSALM 131 | HOPE

HOPE

PSALM 131

JANUARY 21, 2018

AS MANY OF YOU KNOW BY NOW, I DECIDED TO USE ONE WORD SERMON TITLES FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY.  I’LL NOT REPEAT MY REASONING IN DOING SO THIS MORNING, BUT SIMPLY SAY, THAT FOR THIS MORNING, I DECIDED TO CHANGE MY TITLE FROM ONE WORD TO ANOTHER.

BASED UPON THE 131^ST PSALM, AND GIVEN HOW THE PSALM BEGINS, I ORIGINALLY CHOSE THE WORD “DEPRESSION” FOR THIS MORNING’S SERMON.

IN ONE OF THE BEST, YET LEAST KNOWN PSALMS, AND ONE OF THE SHORTEST, THE AUTHOR DESCRIBES EXACTLY WHAT ITS LIKE TO BE IN A DEPRESSIVE STATE.

“O LORD, MY HEART IS NOT LIFTED UP, MY EYES ARE NOT RAISED TOO HIGH; I DO NOT OCCUPY MYSELF WITH THINGS TOO GREAT AND TOO MARVELOUS FOR ME.”

TO BE IN A STATE OF DEPRESSION IS LIKE THAT.  IT IS TO BE UNABLE TO OCCUPY YOURSELF WITH MUCH OTHER THAN YOUR DEPRESSION.

IT’S HARD TO LIFT YOUR HEAD, YOUR HEART, YOUR EYES UP TO ANYTHING.  EVEN THE MOST MARVELOUS THINGS HAVE LITTLE AFFECT UPON YOU.

AND AS BAD THAT IS; WHAT’S GOING ON WITH YOU, INSIDE OF YOU, WHAT CAN BE EVEN WORSE, IS WHAT THE WORLD THINKS OF YOU AND YOUR DEPRESSION.

I’VE ALWAYS BEEN A FAN OF THE CHRISTMAS MOVIE, IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE;

A LITTLE TOO SCHMALTZY FOR SOME, I KNOW, BUT HOW CAN YOU NOT LIKE JIMMY STEWART AND DONNA REED; AND THE MESSAGE IS CERTAINLY WORTH REMEMBERING; EVEN THE THEOLOGY, ISN’T HALF BAD.

BUT NOW, I LIKE THE MOVIE EVEN MORE, AFTER READING AN ARTICLE JUST BEFORE CHRISTMAS ABOUT HOW AN FBI AGENT ONCE FEARED THIS 1946 CHRISTMAS CLASSIC, CLAIMING, THAT IT WAS COMMUNIST PROPAGANDA.

THE FBI REPORTEDLY SUBMITTED THE COMPLAINTS BY THE AGENT TO THE HOUSE UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE – YOU REMEMBER THOSE GUYS FROM HISTORY, RIGHT?

JOE MCCARTHY AND HIS LOT, BUT THE COMMITTEE NEVER CARRIED IT ANY FURTHER.

IF YOU’RE WONDERING WHAT THE AGENT FELT WAS A COMMUNIST CONSPIRACY – IT HAD TO DO WITH TWO ELEMENTS OF THE FILM.

THE FIRST WAS HIS BELIEF THAT THE NEGATIVE PORTRAYAL OF THE ANTI-SOCIAL, CAPITALIST BANKER, MR. POTTER, WAS A SHOT AT AMERICAN VALUES.

THE OTHER REASON REVOLVED AROUND THE MOVIE HIGHLIGHTING THE TURMOIL AND DEPRESSION OF GEORGE BAILEY AS A “SUBTLE ATTEMPT TO MAGNIFY THE PROBLEMS OF THE SO-CALLED ‘COMMON MAN’ IN SOCIETY.”

EVIDENTLY, IF LIFE’S TOUGH AT TIMES, AND YOU ARE DEPRESSED, NOT ONLY IS IT “UNAMERICAN,” IT’S A COMMUNIST CONSPIRACY MEANT TO UNDERMINE OUR SOCIAL ORDER.

THE STIGMA THAT GOES WITH DEPRESSION, UNFORTUNATELY, HASN’T GOTTEN MUCH BETTER;

AND WHETHER WE ARE TALKING ABOUT EPISODIC DEPRESSION BROUGHT ON BY TOUGH TIMES, HARDSHIP, LOSS, OR SORROW;

OR CLINICAL DEPRESSION, AND ALL THAT ILLNESS MEANS;

WE STILL AREN’T VERY UNDERSTANDING, CARING, OR SYMPATHETIC TO OTHERS, OR EVEN TO OURSELVES, WHEN WE FIND OURSELVES IN SUCH A STATE.

“GET OVER IT,” WE SAY.  “DON’T WORRY, BE HAPPY,” SO SAID THE SONG.

“OKAY, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, TIME TO QUIT MOPING AROUND.”  “WHY ARE YOU SUCH A DEBBIE-DOWNER ALL THE TIME?”

AND SO, MY ONE WORD SERMON TITLE FOR THIS MORNING STARTED OUT AS “DEPRESSION.”

THEN I REALIZED I PROBABLY WASN’T WELL-SCHOOLED ENOUGH TO TALK ABOUT THE VARIOUS FORMS OF DEPRESSION WITH ANYTHING APPROACHING AUTHORITY, DESPITE 37 YEARS AS A PASTORAL COUNSELOR.

GIVEN THAT, AND MY DESIRE FOR US TO FOCUS WHAT LITTLE TIME WE HAVE TOGETHER ON SUNDAY MORNINGS ON SOMETHING MORE HELPFUL; MORE UPLIFTING; MORE HOPEFUL;

I DECIDED TO CHANGE MY ONE WORD SERMON TITLE TO: “HOPE.”

THIS, IN NO WAY, IS MEANT TO MINIMIZE THE SERIOUSNESS OF OUR DEPRESSION; EPISODIC OR CHRONIC;

RATHER, IT’S MEANT TO OWN IT; TO AFFIRM TOGETHER, THAT WE NEED HELP WHEN WE ARE FEELING DEPRESSED.

OUR BEST HELP IS HOPE.

THE 131^ST PSALM, LIKE MANY OF THE PSALMS – BEGINS IN ONE PLACE, AND ENDS IN ANOTHER.

PSALM 22, FOR INSTANCE, THE PSALM JESUS RECITES IN THE PAIN AND AGONY OF THE CROSS – BEGINS – “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME…?”

BUT THE PSALM DOESN’T END THAT WAY.

BY THE END OF THE PSALM, THE AUTHOR IS PRAISING GOD AND AFFIRMING THAT GOD IS WITH US NOT ONLY AMIDST OUR SUFFERING, BUT AWAITING US ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT AS WELL.

LIKEWISE, THE 131^ST PSALM ONLY BEGINS IN A STATE OF DEPRESSION;

IT ENDS WITH THE PSALMIST PICTURING HIMSELF, AND HIS SOUL, WITH GOD, AS A MOTHER, CHILD AT HER BREAST, SUCKLING HER INFANT INTO A PLACE OF QUIETNESS, SERENITY, AND ULTIMATELY, HOPE.

“BUT I HAVE CALMED AND QUIETED MY SOUL, LIKE A WEANED CHILD WITH ITS MOTHER; MY SOUL IS LIKE A WEANED CHILD THAT IS WITH ME.”

AND THEN THIS CALL TO ALL OF ISRAEL, WHO, BY THE WAY, IS IN EXILE IN A FOREIGN LAND AT THE TIME THIS PSALM IS WRITTEN.

“O ISRAEL, HOPE IN THE LORD FROM THIS TIME ON AND FOREVERMORE.”

GIVEN THE HISTORY OF ISRAEL, FROM THEIR CAPTIVITY IN EGYPT, TO THEIR EXILE IN BABYLON, TO THEIR HOLOCAUST AT DACHAU AND AUSCHWITZ;

HOPE IS THE ONLY THING THEY’VE HAD LEFT AT TIMES; HOPE AND FAITH IN GOD.

THE KIND OF HOPE THE APOSTLE PAUL SAYS IN ROMANS 4:18 ABRAHAM HAD: “HOPING AGAINST HOPE, HE BELIEVED…”

AND THE SORT OF HOPE OF WHICH ALEXANDER POPE WRITES, WHEN HE SAYS THOSE WORDS SO FAMILIAR TO MANY OF US: “HOPE” SPRINGS ETERNAL IN THE HUMAN BREAST: MAN, NEVER IS, BUT ALWAYS TO BE, BLEST.”

“HOPING AGAINST HOPE…” A HOPE THAT “SPRINGS ETERNAL,” A HOPE THAT IS BEYOND THE BOUNDS OF THE CAPTIVITY WE FEEL, WHICH IS WHAT OUR DEPRESSION IS…

THAT’S THE SORT OF HOPE FOR WHICH WE ARE TO HOPE; AND PRAY; AND BELIEVE;

AND AS THOSE FROM THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN, LOOKING IN ON THE DEPRESSION OF ANOTHER, IT IS THIS SORT OF HOPE WE ARE TO AFFORD THEM; OFFER THEM; PLEDGE TO THEM;

AND CONVINCE THEM OF, IF ONLY TO GET THEM THROUGH THEIR CURRENT MOMENT OF DARKNESS.

DEPRESSION IS THAT DARK TUNNEL, WHERE WE FEEL THAT FEW, IF ANY, CHOICES ARE AVAILABLE TO US; TO THEM; IN THE MOMENT.

HOPE IS THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THAT DARK TUNNEL.

THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IN A LARGE CITY HAD A PROGRAM TO HELP CHILDREN KEEP UP WITH THEIR SCHOOL WORK DURING STAYS IN THE CITY’S HOSPITALS.

ONE DAY A TEACHER WHO WAS ASSIGNED TO THE PROGRAM RECEIVED A ROUTINE CALL ASKING HER TO VISIT A CHILD.  SHE TOOK THE CHILD’S NAME AND ROOM NUMBER AND TALKED BRIEFLY WITH THE CHILD’S REGULAR CLASS TEACHER.

“WE’RE STUDYING NOUNS AND ADVERBS IN HIS CLASS NOW,” THE REGULAR TEACHER SAID, “AND I’D BE GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD HELP HIM UNDERSTAND THEM, SO HE DOESN’T FALL TOO FAR BEHIND.”

THE HOSPITAL PROGRAM TEACHER WENT TO SEE THE BOY THAT AFTERNOON.

NO ONE HAD MENTIONED TO HER THAT THE BOY HAD BEEN BADLY BURNED AND WAS IN GREAT PAIN.

UPSET AT THE SIGHT OF THE BOY, SHE STAMMERED AS SHE TOLD HIM, “I’VE BEEN SENT BY YOUR SCHOOL TO HELP YOU WITH NOUNS AND ADVERBS.”

WHEN SHE LEFT SHE FELT SHE HADN’T ACCOMPLISHED MUCH.

BUT THE NEXT DAY, A NURSE ASKED HER, “WHAT DID YOU DO TO THAT BOY?”

THE TEACHER FELT SHE MUST HAVE DONE SOMETHING WRONG AND BEGAN TO APOLOGIZE. “NO, NO,” SAID THE NURSE.  “YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT I MEAN.

WE’VE BEEN WORRIED ABOUT THAT LITTLE BOY, BUT EVER SINCE YESTERDAY, HIS WHOLE ATTITUDE HAS CHANGED.  HE’S FIGHTING BACK, RESPONDING TO TREATMENT.  IT’S AS THOUGH HE’S DECIDED TO LIVE.”

TWO WEEKS LATER THE BOY EXPLAINED THAT HE HAD COMPLETELY GIVEN UP HOPE UNTIL THE TEACHER ARRIVED.

EVERYTHING CHANGED WHEN HE CAME TO A SIMPLE REALIZATION.

HE EXPRESSED IT THIS WAY: “THEY WOULDN’T SEND A TEACHER TO WORK ON NOUNS AND ADVERBS WITH A DYING BOY, WOULD THEY?”

WE CAN BE THAT SORT OF HOPE TO OTHERS WHEN THEY ARE DEPRESSED;

AND WITH PRAYER, AND FAITH, AND BELIEVING; WITH CARE, AND COUNSELING, AND THE HELP OF OTHERS, PERHAPS WE CAN FIND SAID HOPE FOR OURSELVES WHEN IT IS WE WHO ARE DEPRESSED.

“I HAVE CALMED AND QUIETED MY SOUL, LIKE A WEANED CHILD WITH ITS MOTHER…”

DURING THE THIRTY YEARS’ WAR IN THE 17TH CENTURY, GERMAN PASTOR PAUL GERHARDT AND HIS FAMILY WERE FORCED TO FLEE FROM THEIR HOME.

ONE NIGHT AS THEY STAYED IN A SMALL VILLAGE INN, HOMELESS AND AFRAID, HIS WIFE BROKE DOWN AND CRIED OPENLY IN DESPAIR.

TO COMFORT HER, GERHARDT REMINDED HER OF SCRIPTURE’S PROMISES ABOUT GOD’S PROVISION AND KEEPING.

THEN, GOING OUT TO THE GARDEN TO BE ALONE, HE TOO BROKE DOWN AND WEPT.  HE FELT HE HAD COME TO HIS DARKEST HOUR.

SOON AFTERWARD, GERHARDT FELT THE BURDEN LIFTED AND SENSED ANEW THE LORD’S PRESENCE.

TAKING HIS PEN, HE WROTE A HYMN, THE HYMN THAT WE WILL SING FOLLOWING THE SERMON, THAT HAS BROUGHT COMFORT TO MANY.

“GIVE TO THE WINDS THY FEARS; HOPE, AND BE UNDISMAYED; GOD HEARS THY SIGHS AND COUNTS THY TEARS; GOD SHALL LIFT UP THY HEAD. THROUGH WAVES AND CLOUDS AND STORMS HE GENTLY CLEARS THE WAY. WAIT THOU HIS TIME, SO SHALL THE NIGHT SOON END IN JOYOUS DAY.”

IT IS OFTEN IN OUR DARKEST TIMES THAT GOD MAKES HIS PRESENCE KNOWN MOST CLEARLY.

OR AS SOME OF US READ IN OUR ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON LAST SUNDAY:

“THOUGH GOD IS NOT THE AUTHOR OF OUR HARDSHIP AND TRIALS, GOD WILL REMAIN WITH US IN THE DEEP PLACES OF THE SEA, SMOOTHING OUR HURTS AND POLISHING OUR FRAILTIES…”

A MAN APPROACHED A LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL GAME ONE AFTERNOON.

HE ASKED A BOY IN THE DUGOUT WHAT THE SCORE WAS. THE BOY RESPONDED, “EIGHTEEN TO NOTHING–WE’RE BEHIND.”

“WOW,” SAID THE SPECTATOR, “I’LL BET YOU’RE DISCOURAGED.”

“WHY SHOULD I BE DISCOURAGED?” REPLIED THE LITTLE BOY. “WE HAVEN’T EVEN GOTTEN UP TO BAT YET!”

THE 131^ST PSALM ONLY BEGINS IN A STATE OF DEPRESSION, IT DOES NOT END THERE.  IT ENDS IN HOPE.

THE SAME CAN BE TRUE FOR OUR LIVES.  WHEN WE ARE DEPRESSED, FEELING DOWN, WHEN WE CAN BARELY LIFT OUR HEADS, OUR HEARTS, OUR EYES;

IT MAY HELP TO REMEMBER, THAT MANY TIMES, “WE HAVEN’T EVEN GOTTEN UP TO BAT YET!”

IF YOU SUFFER FROM CHRONIC DEPRESSION, I IMPLORE YOU TO GET THE HELP YOU NEED; THE HELP WE ALL NEED.

IF YOU ARE GIVEN TO EPISODES OF DEPRESSION RATHER EASILY, AGAIN, MY HOPE IS THAT YOU WILL AVAIL YOURSELF OF THE HELP THAT IS AVAILABLE.

TO ALL OF US, I’D ASK, THAT WE HELP REMOVE THE STIGMAS THAT STILL EXIST AROUND DEPRESSION – CHRONIC AND EPISODIC – AND THAT WE DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER…

INCLUDING EVERYTHING OUR FAITH IN GOD PROVIDES US, TO HELP OTHERS; TO HELP OURSELVES;

AND TO REMIND BOTH, THAT GOD IS WITH US IN THE DEEPEST, DARKEST, LONELIEST PLACES OF LIFE.

“… I HAVE CALMED AND QUIETED MY SOUL, LIKE A WEANED CHILD WITH ITS MOTHER; MY SOUL IS LIKE THE WEANED CHILD THAT IS WITH ME.”

“HOPE IN THE LORD FROM THIS TIME ON AND FOREVERMORE.”