My Soul Thirsts for God

1 As the deer longs for streams of water,
so I long for you, O God.
2 I thirst for God, the living God.
When can I go and stand before him?
3 Day and night I have only tears for food,
while my enemies continually taunt me, saying,
“Where is this God of yours?”

4 My heart is breaking
as I remember how it used to be:
I walked among the crowds of worshipers,
leading a great procession to the house of God,
singing for joy and giving thanks
amid the sound of a great celebration!

5 Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—
my Savior and 6 my God!

Now I am deeply discouraged,
but I will remember you—
even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan,
from the land of Mount Mizar.
7 I hear the tumult of the raging seas
as your waves and surging tides sweep over me.
8 But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me,
and through each night I sing his songs,
praying to God who gives me life.

9 “O God my rock,” I cry,
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I wander around in grief,
oppressed by my enemies?”
10 Their taunts break my bones.
They scoff, “Where is this God of yours?”

11 Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—
my Savior and my God!

The author of Psalm 42 is in deep distress. He is longing for God, and people around him have been taunting him, saying, “Where is your God?”

People in this world also taunt and judge us sometimes. But we should not let that bother us, because people judge others by their own standards. God’s standards are more important.

The psalmist also didn’t see any sign of help and could not go to worship God in the sanctuary—and that caused him to feel forgotten by God. It made the psalmist ache inside. If we are not able to worship God with his people, we too can feel lonely and hurt inside.

The poet longed to be with God and to meet with God. “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.”

This psalm helps us to see that we can keep faith despite the stresses of feeling distant from God. In God’s strength, the psalmist keeps talking to his soul, saying, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (42:5, 10; see also Psalm 43:5).

It may take awhile to feel close to God again, especially if we cannot worship God with his people. But God is always with us, watching over us. Our souls are in his hands. Our destiny is safe in his care. Like the psalmist, we can keep reminding ourselves of these good truths in faith. We can praise the Lord, for he is our Savior and God.

Loving God, you know our suffering. Bring us near to you. Be with us always, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.