Good morning,
1 Kings 19: 1-10, “2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” 3 And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, … 4 … And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!”
One area I have noticed that cripple believers is the area of depression, of course this is something that plagues mankind. I see many on medication to suppress or treat depression. Depression may be described as feeling sad, blue, unhappy, miserable, or down in the dumps. Most of us feel this way at one time or another for short periods. True clinical depression is a mood disorder in which feelings of sadness, loss, anger, or frustration interfere with everyday life for weeks or longer. For this reason I think it is one major cause for suicide.
In the previous chapter we see Elijah gain huge victory over the prophets of Baal when he called fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice he set before the Lord, demonstrating to the people that there was(is) only one true God. He witnessed the prophets of Baal call on their false God who did not answer them for he did not exist. What he does next have all the false prophets killed. Ahab goes home and tells his mean, nasty wife of what Elijah did. Vs. 2 “Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time”. Hearing such news would sadden you immediately especially from a person you know is capable making it happen. Jezebel declared Elijah a dead man, instead of Elijah being bold representing the God of heaven like he did in mount Carmel, vs. 3 says, “… he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there”. He forgot about God who had given him victory and shifted his attention on what he heard from Jezebel. As he runs for his life, he abandons his servant so as to be by himself and maybe have pity party. Depression will do this to you, isolate you from people causing you to want to be alone.
Listen to his cry Vs. 4”… . And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!”. If this could happen to a prophet of God, you may face or are already facing this thing called depression. He became suicidal, desired death, lost hope, lost strength. He forgot his mission and all he could do is sit under a broom tree and wish for death.
I love what the Lord does with him vs. 5, “Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6 Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again. 7 And the angel of the LORD came back the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.” 8 So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God”. Instead of the Lord giving him his wish, the Lord knew what he needed best and that was rest but not just rest but rest in Him. That rest also needed to be fueled with food and water. This is what we need in our depressing times, rest in the Lord, His Word as our food and His Spirit like water to our soul for the journey is long. The Lord is not done with making much of Himself thorough the vessels He has raised to show Himself strong on behalf of those that trust in Him. Psalm 37:7, “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. 8 cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm”. Have you been dealing with minor depressions because of the Jezebel’s threatening everything in your life causing you to flee? Where are you fleeing to? I hope to the Lord and not from the Lord. When God revived Elijah with rest, food and water, that was enough strength to carry him through 40 days and 40 nights. Blessings Ev
