Jacob 3
Rx for Depression
Jacob is speaking to the supposedly “good guys” in a
gathering and chastising them for poor examples to their wives and
children. That would have been a
difficult meeting to attend. Can you
imagine the poor wives and children who were listening to the prophet call out
their husbands’/fathers’ sins?
Ouch!
Then Jacob goes on and tells the “pure in heart” [v1] how to
overcome their afflictions. Since
applying the scriptures to our own lives has been the commandment from our
latter-day prophets, we can apply this formula to ourselves. I’ve written in my margin: Prescription for
depression. Well, wouldn’t it be
depressing to know your husband/father was in a bad place? It would be to me. Anyway, the prescription is rather simple:
- Look unto God (look up)
- Pray
- Have faith
- Receive the pleasing word of God
- Feast upon his love
If we do these things, verse 1 says “. . .he will console
you in your afflictions, and he will plead your cause, and send down justice
upon those who seek your destruction.”
The key word is “pure in heart”. He
is speaking to the pure in heart. Is my
heart pure?
What is the definition of a pure heart? Psalm 24:4 says “He that hath clean hands,
and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn
deceitfully,. ..”
- Not prone to vain things
- Is truthful
- Trust the Lord
- Does not lust
- Merry heart
- Meek and lowly
- Love God
- Singleness of heart
- Obey truth
- Love one another
- Stripped of pride
- Understanding
- Drawn out in prayer
- Ponder the words of Christ
- Believe
- Softened
- United with the brethren
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