As The Deer Panteth For The Water...

White tailed deer long for water, especially during the hot, dry summer months or after they have escaped such predators as wolves, coyotes, or bears that chase them.

People involved in front line ministry, such as missionaries, pastors and worship leaders often feel chased, as well. And they are not immune to an extended drought either. They long for their spiritual thirst to be quenched.

Psalms 42 and 43 (which in many Hebrew manuscripts constitute one psalm) are the words of a worship leader who feels distant from God, spiritually parched, pursued by predators, and wants to reconnect with the fountain of life once again. His longing lament speaks for itself. Read it slowly and let the words soak into your soul, too:

Psalm 42 The Message (MSG)

A psalm of the sons of Korah

42 1-3 A white-tailed deer drinks
    from the creek;
I want to drink God,
    deep draughts of God.
I’m thirsty for God-alive.
I wonder, “Will I ever make it--
    arrive and drink in God’s presence?”
I’m on a diet of tears--
    tears for breakfast, tears for supper.
All day long
    people knock at my door,
Pestering,
    “Where is this God of yours?”

4 These are the things I go over and over,
    emptying out the pockets of my life.
I was always at the head of the worshiping crowd,
    right out in front,
Leading them all,
    eager to arrive and worship,
Shouting praises, singing thanksgiving--
    celebrating, all of us, God’s feast!

5 Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul?
    Why are you crying the blues?
Fix my eyes on God--
    soon I’ll be praising again.
He puts a smile on my face.
    He’s my God.

6-8 When my soul is in the dumps, I rehearse
    everything I know of you,
From Jordan depths to Hermon heights,
    including Mount Mizar.
Chaos calls to chaos,
    to the tune of whitewater rapids.
Your breaking surf, your thundering breakers
    crash and crush me.
Then God promises to love me all day,
    sing songs all through the night!
    My life is God’s prayer.

9-10 Sometimes I ask God, my rock-solid God,
    “Why did you let me down?
Why am I walking around in tears,
    harassed by enemies?”
They’re out for the kill, these
    tormentors with their obscenities,
Taunting day after day,
    “Where is this God of yours?”

11 Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul?
    Why are you crying the blues?
Fix my eyes on God--
    soon I’ll be praising again.
He puts a smile on my face.
    He’s my God.

 

Psalm 43 The Message (MSG)

43 1-2 Clear my name, God; stick up for me
    against these loveless, immoral people.
Get me out of here, away
    from these lying degenerates.
I counted on you, God.
    Why did you walk out on me?
Why am I pacing the floor, wringing my hands
    over these outrageous people?

3-4 Give me your lantern and compass,
    give me a map,
So I can find my way to the sacred mountain,
    to the place of your presence,
To enter the place of worship,
    meet my exuberant God,
Sing my thanks with a harp,
    magnificent God, my God.

5 Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul?
    Why are you crying the blues?
Fix my eyes on God--
    soon I’ll be praising again.
He puts a smile on my face.
    He’s my God.

This last verse is the chorus of these two psalms that has now been repeated several times (in Ps.42:5,11 & 43:5). It’s the best way the psalmist knows how to encourage his own soul by exhorting himself three times to fix his eyes on God. In a sense that’s what the writer of Hebrews encourages his readers to do, as well, in Heb.12:1-3 (MSG): 

“Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!”

– So go over that story again!