Read
BOOK II
(Psalms 42–72)
(A special psalm by the clan of Korah and for the music leader.)
Longing for God
1As a deer gets thirsty
for streams of water,
I truly am thirsty
for you, my God.
2In my heart, I am thirsty
for you, the living God.
When will I see your face?
3Day and night my tears
are my only food,
as everyone keeps asking,
“Where is your God?”
4Sorrow floods my heart,
when I remember
leading the worshipers
to your house.
I can still hear them shout
their joyful praises.
5Why am I discouraged?
Why am I restless?
I should trust you, Lord.
I will praise you again
because you help me,
6and you are my God.
I am deeply discouraged,
and so I think about you
here where the Jordan begins
at Mount Hermon
and at Mount Mizar.
7Your vicious waves
have swept over me
like an angry ocean
or a roaring waterfall.
8Every day, you are kind,
and at night
you give me a song
as my prayer to you,
the God of my life.
9You are my mighty rock.
Why have you forgotten me?
Why must enemies mistreat me
and make me sad?
10Even my bones are in pain,
while all day long
my enemies sneer and ask,
“Where is your God?”
11Why am I discouraged?
Why am I restless?
I trust you, Lord!
And I will praise you again
because you help me,
and you are my God.
Reflect
In my experience it is only when I am in a state of desperation, like a deer panting for water, that I am able to break through the ceiling of confinement and the restraint that I impose on myself which prevents me going deep with God. The paradox is that I resist the very things God uses to bring me to this point of desperation so I can go deep with him.
As survivalists of the highest order we work to insulate ourselves from all uncertainty be it relational, financial, personal security or healthy wellbeing. But as we focus on these things we further tighten the grip of control we maintain over our lives thus limiting our ability to welcome God in as a guiding participant. So we end up “… living on a diet of tears…” (v 3, The Message) wondering how we can find the “… living God” (v 2).
Two things the writer brings up: “These things I will remember…” (v 4). He recalls the past faithfulness of God to his people, even though they are far from the Temple where they worshipped him, recounting his provision in the past, and, he “…poured out his soul” (v 4). By this he means that he spoke to God with “raw honesty and detailed thoroughness…” (Introduction: Psalms – The Message). Lamentations 2:19 also says, “…pour out our hearts like water in the presence of the Lord.” He wants that from us.
My experience is that God will take all we throw at him. He desires such brutal honesty from us that we risk shocking even ourselves. When I’ve been downcast and disturbed, I’ve found the way into his presence is through the door of desperation where he welcomes me, as “my Saviour and my God” (v 11).
Respond
God of the streams of living water, I need a drink of you. A thirst-quencher that will refresh my parched life. Also, give me the courage to share this water with the others I will meet today who are also thirsty; I ask this in Jesus’ name.
James Paterson
James works as a visual artist. His current body of work is a series of metal wire sculptures called Prayer Machines which are whimsically ambiguous machine-like objects that give expression to mystery. “I love to share the gospel message, using art as a bridge, to encourage people in their relationship with Jesus.” He and Lynn have four young adult children. Publications Jim’s Grandiose Big Bible Picture Book (Bastian Books ,2007)