BrookElaine

Matt5verse6@yahoo.com
TheologyandPsychology1

GodsWordandMentalIllness
BeingIfocusonpsychology,andlaw,quiteabitatschool,theysometimescrossoverintomy
studyofGodsword.Istherementionofmentalillnessinthescriptures?Luke8:2mentionsMary
Magdaleneandsevendemonsthathadgoneoutofher.Couldthatbeareferencetomentalillness?
Or,ismentalillnesstheanswerwegivenowdaysinreferencetoindividualswhoarepossessedby
demons?Or,arethetwocompletelyunrelated?
2andalsosomewomenwhohadbeenhealedofevilspiritsandinfirmities:Mary,called
Magdalene,fromwhomsevendemonshadgoneout,(Luke8:2.ESV.)
1Samuel21:1315mentionsDavidpretendingtobeinsane.Itsays,
13Sohechangedhisbehaviorbeforethemandpretendedtobeinsaneintheirhandsandmade
marksonthedoorsofthegateandlethisspittlerundownhisbeard.14ThenAchishsaidtohis
servants,"Behold,youseethemanismad.Whythenhaveyoubroughthimtome?15DoI
lackmadmen,thatyouhavebroughtthisfellowtobehaveasamadmaninmypresence?Shall
thisfellowcomeintomyhouse?"
WhenIlookedupmentalillnessinWayneGrudemsS
ystematicTheology,whichIuseas
secondaryauthoritytoGodswordwhichisprimaryauthority,Ifoundthefollowingexplanation,
Yetwemustrememberthatevenfallen,sinfulmanhasthe</i>status<i>ofbeinginGods
image.Everysinglehumanbeing,nomatterhowmuchtheimageofGodismarredbysin,or
illness,orweakness,orage,oranyotherdisability,stillhasthes tatusofbeinginGodsimage
andthereforemustbetreatedwiththedignityandrespectthatisduetoGodsimagebearer.
Thishasprofoundimplicationsforourconducttowardothers.Itmeansthatpeopleofevery
racedeserveequaldignityandrights.Itmeansthatelderlypeople,thoseseriouslyill,the
mentallyretarded,andchildrenyetunborn,deservefullprotectionandhonorashumanbeings.
IfweeverdenyouruniquestatusincreationasGodsonlyimagebearers,wewillsoonbegin
todepreciatethevalueofhumanlife,willtendtoseehumansasmerelyahigherformofanimal,
andwillbegintotreatothersassuch.Wewillalsolosemuchofoursenseofmeaninginlife.
(1994.GrandRapids,MI.p.450.)
Now,accordingtopsychiatricmedicine,thereareallkindsofmentalillnessthatrangein
behavior,treatment,etc.Thereareneurodevelopmentaldisorders,schizophreniaspectrumandother

BrookElaine
Matt5verse6@yahoo.com
TheologyandPsychology2

psychoticdisorders,bipolarandrelateddisorders,depressivedisorders,anxietydisorders,
obsessivecompulsiveandrelateddisorders,trauma andstressor relateddisorders,dissociative
disorders,somaticsymptomandrelateddisorders,feedingandeatingdisorders,eliminationdisorders,
sleepwakedisorders,sexualdysfunctions,genderdysphoria,disruptive,impulsecontrol,andconduct
disorders,substancerelatedandaddictivedisorders,neurocognitivedisorders,personalitydisorders,
paraphilicdisorders,othermentaldisorders,medicationinducedmovementdisordersandotheradverse
effectsofmedication,andotherconditionsthatmaybeafocusofclinicalattention(American
PsychiatricAssociation:DiagnosticandStatisticalManualofMentalDisorders,5thedition.Arlington,
VA.AmericanPsychiatricAssociation.2013.)
Somearenotfansofpsychiatricmedicine,butIpersonallyputsomeweightinit...or,atthevery
least,askquestionsandsearchforanswers.ThebodyandbrainareinsanelycomplexandIbelieve
we,ashumanbeings,needanswerstosomeprettydifficultquestionsthatmaybebestexplainedby
psychiatricmedicine.IfeelGod,andHisSon,gaveusthingstohelpusinourwalk.HegaveusHis
word,theHolySpirit,authority,doctors,etc.HeprovidedthingstoussowecanserveHimthebest,
possible.Humansthinkincategories.Categoriesareessentialforourdailyfunctioningintheworld.
(BondsRaacke,Jennifer.T
hinkingCriticallyAboutSocialPsychology.Dubuque,IA.2016.p.164.)
Now,therearemanyreasonsrangingfromgenetics,todiet,toenvironment,toupbringing/childhood,to
toxins,tobraindamage,etc.toexplainwhysomeonemightstrugglewithcertainbehaviors.Today,
though,IamgoingtotryandstayfocusedonmentalillnessandGodsword.AsIresearchthis,it
looksasthoughthereisquiteabitofdebateaboutit.
Thequestionthatgotmestartedwiththisresearchis,alongthelinesof,Whyaretheremany,if
notmost,behaviorsthatimprovewithimplementingandfollowingGodswordandinstructionsyetthere
areotherbehaviorsthatonlygetworsewhenGodswordisapplied?Anexampleofthisarecertain
personalitydisorders.WhenafollowerofChristinteractswithandservesindividualsafflictedwith
distinctivepersonaldisorders,likesociopathyandpsychopathy,theonestrugglingwiththedisorder
becomesmoreaggressiveandevenviolentwhichplacesthefollowerofChristindanger.S ideNote:
Firstandf oremost,It rulybelieveGodcanhealallt hingswhetheritisaphysicalillnessor
disability,likecancer,oramentalone.

BrookElaine
Matt5verse6@yahoo.com
TheologyandPsychology3

AnexampleinthebiblethatcomestomindwhenIthinkaboutthequestionaboveiswhenKing
SauldecidedtokillDavid(Samuel1826).
10ThenextdayaharmfulspiritfromGodrusheduponSaul,andheravedwithinhishouse
whileDavidwasplayingthelyre,ashediddaybyday.Saulhadhisspearinhishand.11And
Saulhurledthespear,forhethought,"IwillpinDavidtothewall."ButDavidevadedhim
twice.(1Samuel18:1011.ESV.)

1AndSaulspoketoJonathanhissonandtoallhisservants,thattheyshouldkillDavid.But
Jonathan,Saul'sson,delightedmuchinDavid.2AndJonathantoldDavid,Saulmyfather
seekstokillyou.Thereforebeonyourguardinthemorning.Stayinasecretplaceandhide
yourself.(1Samuel19:12.ESV.)

6AndSaullistenedtothevoiceofJonathan.Saulswore,AstheLordlives,heshallnotbeput
todeath.7AndJonathancalledDavid,andJonathanreportedtohimallthesethings.And
JonathanbroughtDavidtoSaul,andhewasinhispresenceasbefore.(1Samuel19:67.
ESV.)

9ThenaharmfulspiritfromtheLordcameuponSaul,ashesatinhishousewithhisspearinhis
hand.AndDavidwasplayingthelyre.10AndSaulsoughttopinDavidtothewallwiththe
spear,butheeludedSaul,sothathestruckthespearintothewall.AndDavidfledandescaped
thatnight.(1Samuel19:910.ESV.)

15DavidsawthatSaulhadcomeouttoseekhislife.DavidwasinthewildernessofZiphat
Horesh.(1Samuel23:15.ESV.)

25AndSaulandhismenwenttoseekhim.AndDavidwastold,sohewentdowntotherock
andlivedinthewildernessofMaon.AndwhenSaulheardthat,hepursuedafterDavidinthe
wildernessofMaon.26Saulwentononesideofthemountain,andDavidandhismenonthe
othersideofthemountain.AndDavidwashurryingtogetawayfromSaul.AsSaulandhismen

BrookElaine
Matt5verse6@yahoo.com
TheologyandPsychology4

wereclosinginonDavidandhismentocapturethem,27amessengercametoSaul,saying,
Hurryandcome,forthePhilistineshavemadearaidagainsttheland.28SoSaulreturned
frompursuingafterDavidandwentagainstthePhilistines.Thereforethatplacewascalledthe
RockofEscape.29AndDavidwentupfromthereandlivedinthestrongholdsofEngedi.(1
Samuel23:2529.ESV.)

2ThenSaultookthreethousandchosenmenoutofallIsraelandwenttoseekDavidandhis
meninfrontoftheWildgoats'Rocks.3Andhecametothesheepfoldsbytheway,wherethere
wasacave,andSaulwentintorelievehimself.NowDavidandhismenweresittinginthe
innermostpartsofthecave.4AndthemenofDavidsaidtohim,Hereisthedayofwhichthe
Lordsaidtoyou,Behold,Iwillgiveyourenemyintoyourhand,andyoushalldotohimasit
shallseemgoodtoyou.ThenDavidaroseandstealthilycutoffacornerofSaul'srobe.(1
Samuel24:24.ESV.)

8AfterwardDavidalsoaroseandwentoutofthecave,andcalledafterSaul,Mylordthe
king!AndwhenSaullookedbehindhim,Davidbowedwithhisfacetotheearthandpaid
homage.(1Samuel24:8.ESV.)

10Behold,thisdayyoureyeshaveseenhowtheLordgaveyoutodayintomyhandinthe
cave.Andsometoldmetokillyou,butIsparedyou.Isaid,'Iwillnotputoutmyhandagainst
mylord,forheistheLord'sanointed.'11See,myfather,seethecornerofyourrobeinmy
hand.ForbythefactthatIcutoffthecornerofyourrobeanddidnotkillyou,youmayknow
andseethatthereisnowrongortreasoninmyhands.Ihavenotsinnedagainstyou,thoughyou
huntmylifetotakeit.(1Samuel24:1011.ESV.)

2SoSaularoseandwentdowntothewildernessofZiphwiththreethousandchosenmenof
IsraeltoseekDavidinthewildernessofZiph.3AndSaulencampedonthehillofHachilah,
whichisbesidetheroadontheeastofJeshimon.ButDavidremainedinthewilderness.When

BrookElaine
Matt5verse6@yahoo.com
TheologyandPsychology5

hesawthatSaulcameafterhimintothewilderness,4DavidsentoutspiesandlearnedthatSaul
hadindeedcome.(1Samuel:26:24.ESV.)

17SaulrecognizedDavid'svoiceandsaid,Isthisyourvoice,mysonDavid?AndDavidsaid,
Itismyvoice,mylord,Oking.18Andhesaid,Whydoesmylordpursueafterhisservant?
ForwhathaveIdone?Whatevilisonmyhands?...(1Samuel26:1718.ESV.)

21ThenSaulsaid,Ihavesinned.Return,mysonDavid,forIwillnomoredoyouharm,
becausemylifewaspreciousinyoureyesthisday.Behold,Ihaveactedfoolishly,andhave
madeagreatmistake.(1Samuel26:21.ESV.)

25ThenSaulsaidtoDavid,Blessedbeyou,mysonDavid!Youwilldomanythingsandwill
succeedinthem.SoDavidwenthisway,andSaulreturnedtohisplace.(1Samuel26:25.
ESV.)</blockquote>
Intheabovedescriptionsofeventsfromthebible,itiscleartoseeKingSaulisstrugglingwith
something.ItisdescribedasaharmfulspiritfromGodbutwhatisit,exactly?Isitjealousy?Pride?
Orisitmuchworsethanthat?Isitamentalillnesslikepsychopathy?AndthoughDavidhasdone
nothingtoprovoketheking,Saulisouttomurderhim.Iwanttotakeamomenthereandfocuson
David.HereisaguywholovesSaul,dearly.Heserveshimwell,isbestfriendswithhisson,and
marrieshisdaughter.HeisfamilyandhasnothingbutthehighestregardforSaul.Yet,Saulsinsagainst
Davidandchaseshimintohiding.So,Ibelieveitisfairtosay,ifyouorsomeoneyouknowisbeing
threatenedorharmedbyalovedone,itisbesttodoasDaviddidandgetasfarawayfromthat
individualaspossible.Saul,whocalledDavidsononacoupledifferentoccasions,waslikeafatherto
David...andinfactbecameDavidsfatherinlaw.Ofthosewhoareattackedand/orhaveacrime
committedagainstthem,<b>MOST</b>ofthemknowtheirattacker/theperpetrator.Getfaraway
fromthatpersonandhide,eveniftheycomeafteryouasSauldidtoDavid.Itisfarbettertobesafe
thansorryandhopefullyyou,ortheoneindanger,willhaveagoodfriendlikeJonathanwholovesyou
dearlyandadvisesyouto,Stayinasecretplaceandhideyourself.