As a Deer

Ps. 42:1-2

 As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?

 

Such longing! The psalmist is consumed with his longing for God much like the deer who needs running water is for his very existence. In the image the deer and the psalmist are panting, that is their breathing is no longer normal. Their need is so great that they are expending all the energy they have because without water, life and breath are doubtful. When the psalmist leaves the image, he states  blatantly his condition. He is thirsting for God, a thirst that must be quenched and can only be quenched by God. Nothing else will do! His question is desperate, when Lord, when?

 

What has produced this great longing? The enemy has surrounded him, taunting and accusing him saying his  God has forsaken him. Yet, he remembers times with God and how good they were, leading the people in worship with glad shouts. But where is God now? Even though his soul is in deep despair, he remembers what is true about God. By day the Lord commands His steadfast love and at night His song is with him. But now, all is distant, he can only say to God, Why have you forsaken me? Such despair as this  drives his soul for the water of God. No wonder he is panting!

 

As the psalm resolves itself, the psalmist questions himself. Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? What is his answer? He knows it already, Hope in God for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God. This is a time of despair, perhaps a time of waiting on God which is so very hard when the need is so great and the longing consumes the soul. But no matter how long the wait, the psalmist must wait. His need can be met nowhere else. Similarly, we have times where God seems distant and our needs are overwhelming. We might have the same heart of despair and questioning, but we must wait as well. Why wait? Why doesn't God immediately work? Many times He does, but in the times of waiting, He is growing the soul and increasing our dependency and trust. He also has a sovereign plan and will that are much larger than anything we could conceive. We must always and only trust. He has promised that all He does is for our good.

 

Father,

Thank You for the promises in Your word. Grow me as You would desire and teach me to cling during the hard times. Give me a thirst for You.

In Jesus name,

Amen