Finding Gospel Help for Heavy Hearts: A Study of Psalm 94:16-19

Providence Chapel

Summary:

The sermon addresses the prevalence of heavy hearts in 2020, citing increases in anxiety, depression, suicide rates, domestic violence, and drug overdoses.
It emphasizes that heavy hearts affect both the ungodly and God's children.
The focus shifts to Psalm 94:16-19, particularly verse 19, which discusses the "cares of my heart."
The "cares" are described as threats that can lead to discouragement, despair, and distraction from Christ.
These cares are "many" and "within us," making them particularly challenging to overcome without divine intervention.
The solution lies in "God's consolations," which are described as effective, gospel-rooted comforts that originate from the triune God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).
These consolations bring not only calm but also joy to the soul, helping Christians maintain a balance of "sorrowful yet always rejoicing."
The key message is to run to the Lord with all cares, as only Christ provides lasting ease for heavy hearts, offering boundless mercy and never abandoning His children.

Pastor speaking from the pulpit about the heavy hearts many people are experiencing in 2020. [ 00:02:20 ]

The Context of Heavy Hearts [00:02:02]

The year 2020 has seen an unprecedented rise in heavy hearts, leading to widespread psychological and social issues.
- Symptoms of heavy hearts include:
  - Anxiety [00:02:28]
  - Depression [00:02:30]
  - Loneliness [00:02:31]
  - Hopelessness [00:02:32]
  - Financial burdens [00:02:33]
  - Fear [00:02:35]
- Statistical evidence of this crisis:
  - Japan experienced 2,153 suicides in October alone, surpassing its total COVID-19 deaths for the year [00:02:57].
  - Suicidal thoughts in the US increased by 150% from 2019 to 2020 [00:03:16].
  - Anxiety cases rose by 34% in the US [00:03:26].
  - 75% of individuals aged 18-24 reported struggling with at least one mental health problem [00:03:32].
  - Domestic violence surged, with Australia seeing a 75% increase in searches for abuse support [00:03:41], and France reporting a 32-36% rise in cases [00:03:57].
  - Lockdowns resulted in 20 million job losses, leading to financial stress and health issues [00:04:45].
  - Prescription medication consumption for anxiety increased by 43% [00:05:10].
  - Drug overdose deaths saw an 18% increase in March, 29% in April, and 42% in May 2020 [00:05:36].
- This period has been labeled the "epidemic of loneliness" or marked by "deaths of despair" [00:05:54].
Heavy hearts are not limited to the ungodly but are also prevalent among believers [00:06:32].
The sermon aims to identify and illuminate this problem through Psalm 94:16-19, seeking alleviation through God's power [00:06:58].
The speaker personally attests to finding comfort in Psalm 94:19 during times of need, acknowledging God's faithfulness [00:09:51].

The Psalmist's Transition from External to Internal Threats [00:10:25]

The psalmist initially addresses external trials, like wicked people and evildoers [00:10:40].
- He questions who will stand up for him against these external enemies [00:10:49].
- He acknowledges that no human deliverer came, but God intervened: "If the Lord had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence" [00:11:18].
- The Lord's steadfast love upheld him when his foot slipped [00:11:36].
- Historical examples of God's deliverance from external threats are cited:
  - Daniel in the lion's den [00:12:12]
  - Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace [00:12:42]
  - King Hezekiah and Jerusalem besieged by Assyrian forces [00:13:10]
  - Apostle Paul being deserted by companions, but strengthened by the Lord [00:13:43]
The focus shifts to the internal threat described in Psalm 94:19 [00:14:41].
- The nature of the internal threat: "cares of my heart" [00:15:20]
  - "Cares" are translated as "thoughts" (KJV) or "anxiety" (NIV) [00:15:50].
  - They are not inherently sinful, as seen in Jesus, "a man of sorrows acquainted with grief" [00:17:05].
  - Cares become threats when they lead to discouragement, inordinate responses, or cause one to look away from Jesus Christ [00:17:42].
  - The Hebrew word for "cares" depicts intertwined, twisted branches, symbolizing a disquieted, confusing mind [00:19:02].
  - Examples of daily cares include physical concerns, major decisions, family issues, church family burdens, financial struggles, grief, persecution, and daily duties [00:19:54].
- The number of the threat: "many" or "multitude" [00:26:47]
  - This signifies numerous, tangled thoughts, leading to confusion and chaos [00:27:00].
  - Albert Barnes noted the countless, often disconnected, and sometimes secret thoughts that pass through our minds [00:27:40].
  - The multitude of cares makes it difficult to arrest them all, increasing the danger of discouragement and despair [00:28:49].
  - This can lead to feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, confused, isolated, and overly introspective [00:29:10].
  - The devil exploits this weakness, whispering lies [00:29:48].
  - Denying these internal threats through "name it and claim it" ideology is foolish and dangerous [00:24:45].
- The nearness of the threat: "in my heart" [00:30:11]
  - This internal location emphasizes that one cannot escape these threats; they are within one's innermost being [00:30:32].
  - Human strength or external help cannot resolve a "soul need"; only a "soul cure" can [00:31:37].
  - Some external attempts to help can even cause harm, like singing to a heavy heart on a cold day (Proverbs 25:20) [00:32:37].
Deliverance must come, as these internal threats are very real [00:33:02].

God's Consolation and its Origin [00:33:14]

The help is described as "consolations," which means relief, comfort, solace, or support, perfectly fitted for the occasion [00:33:39].
- These are "gospel consolations," rooted in the truth of Jesus Christ's life, death, resurrection, ascension, and priestly ministry [00:34:06].
- The speaker uses a mathematical symbol to illustrate that the cares of the heart are always less than or equal to the consolation from the gospel [00:34:48].
- These consolations effectively cheer the soul at the right time, altering the heart's state [00:35:32].
The origin of these consolations is the triune God [00:35:50].
- God the Father: He is the "Father of mercies and God of all comfort" (2 Corinthians 1:3-4) [00:37:18].
- God the Son (Jesus Christ): He is the "consolation of Israel" (Luke 2:25) [00:38:14], able to calm storms and comfort souls. He gave His life for us and intercedes as our High Priest [00:38:50].
- God the Holy Spirit: He is the "Helper" or "Comforter" (John 14:26) [00:39:27], who teaches and reminds us of Christ's words.
- The Godhead acts in absolute unity to comfort believers, making it a trinitarian effort [00:40:18].
God's comforts are always effective and perfectly applied; "He never misses the mark" [00:40:49].
- Isaiah 51:3 speaks of the Lord comforting Zion, turning wilderness into Eden, and bringing joy and gladness [00:41:00].
- God is not only powerful but also willing and ready to comfort, demonstrating His great condescension and generosity [00:41:39].
- John Trapp noted that believers have "comforts the world knows nothing about" [00:42:35].

The Outcome of God's Consolation [00:42:50]

The outcome is that God's consolations "cheer my soul" [00:43:03].
- At the right time, gospel consolations bring both calm and joy to the heavy heart [00:43:17].
- Matthew Henry remarked that these consolations cannot be given by a smiling world nor taken away by a frowning one [00:43:56].
- They provide a calming and cheering influence in times of need [00:44:07].
Observations and Applications:
- Christians experience parallel states of sorrow and joy: The Apostle Paul described himself as "sorrowful yet always rejoicing" (2 Corinthians 6:10) [00:45:08].
  - We grapple with cares and sorrows, aiming to bring them into submission to Christ, while also knowing profound joy [00:45:25].
  - This is an ongoing, delicate balance in the Christian life, not a cause for shame or confusion, but a reason to cling to Christ, our perfect forerunner [00:46:31].
- Gospel comforts are diverse and Christ-centered: They vary in form but are always rooted in God and the gospel [00:47:41].
  - They might come as a glimpse of Christ's boundless love, His suffering, His intercession, or doctrines like adoption and justification [00:48:07].
  - God orchestrates these realities to bring recovery and cheer to the heavy heart, delivering "divine cordials" prepared by the Father, mediated through Christ, and applied by the Comforter [00:49:07].
  - Apart from the gospel, there is no true comfort for heavy hearts [00:49:56].
- Christians are never alone: No matter how heavy the heart, God is always with them, just as He was with Paul [00:50:51].
  - His steadfast love holds us up, and His consolations cheer our souls [00:51:29].
  - It is "God himself in Christ" who is the help for heavy hearts, not material things or human effort [00:51:51].
  - Christ, who experienced the most extreme cares (Gethsemane, Calvary), will never abandon us [00:52:11].
  - We are encouraged to run to the Lord with all our cares, casting them upon Him and venturing all our hope on Him, as He will never disappoint or leave us, loving us to the end [00:53:03].