The Book of Psalms: Lifting up the Downcast: Dealing with Depression – Remembering Past Mercies

Peter Barnes | Psalm 77:1-20

SERMON  NOTES
REMEMBERING  PAST  MERCIES
Psalm  77:1-20;  Romans 8:28-39

– in  1555  Bishop  John  Hooper,  while  in  prison  and  awaiting  trial  and  execution,  recommended  that  his  wife  read  this  Psalm.

1. Keep  praying  in  times  of  struggle.

– 77:1-9;  Christ  too  cried  out  to  the  Father  (Heb.5:7-8)

– he  looks  at  the  past  and  is  depressed;  he  forgets  that  God  does  not  change  (Malachi 3:6)

– Isa.49:14-16;  Martin  Luther:  ‘When  God  seems  to  be  my  enemy  and  to  stand  with  a  drawn  sword  against  me,  then  do  I  cast  and  throw  myself  into  His  arms.’

2. Light  comes  from  remembering  God’s  mercies.

– 77:10-20;  the  turning  point  in  the  Psalm  is  found  in  verses  10-12

– now  he  looks  at  the  past  and  is  encouraged  (cf.  Exodus 14-15)

– after  the  terrible  Surrey  Gardens  Music  Hall  fire  of  19  October  1856,  Spurgeon  was  lifted  out  of  the  doldrums  by  hearing  Phil.2:9-11

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