Introduction

It is a great blessing that God has given us some examples of women who suffered depression and anxiety in Hannah and Naomi. However, I think it is interesting that we have so many examples in God's word of men who suffered deep depression. There are those who consider depression, anxiety, and such like as a great weakness in a man. However, three of the most graphic examples we have were godly men - Job, David, and Elijah.

It is also interesting that Job is probably the oldest book in the Bible. Chronologically then, it appears that the oldest written record God has given us is that of human suffering, of the timeless question of "why do the righteous suffer?", of that horrible thing called depression. It is impossible to deny that Job was depressed. It is also evident that he suffered tremendous loss beyond what most people experience in their lifetime. Just about the only thing he did not lose was his wife, and she was more useful to the devil alive than dead.

Perhaps the most interesting thing we find in Job are the solutions. They are not what we think. They are not what man's psychology and philosophy demand. As usual man's thoughts do not attain unto God's. Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Psalm 40:5 Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

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Since Job is a long book and there is much there, we will go through this study chapter by chapter.

 

Chapter 1

 

 

 

Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. Job 38:1-3