Psalm 42:1-2

1 As the deer pants for the water brooks,

So my soul pants for You, O God.

2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God;

When shall I come and appear before God?

V.1 is often quoted and even used for a song.

However, a contextual understanding of these two verses is that the Psalmist was literally in a time of “spiritual drought.”

Enemies surrounded him and the everyday grind of persecution and trials had brought him to this place of crying out to God.

We have all experienced this dryness in our soul which means, our heart and soul or our entire being.

The problem is that too often our souls are dry, but we don’t even notice it because we are just going through motions “saying” quick prayers, maybe reading a quick verse or short devotion and hurrying on our way. Little by little the lack of real quality intimacy with Jesus dries our souls and saps the power out of our lives.

Here, the Psalmist was aware of it. He describes his soul panting for that close intimate fellowship with God. The picture of panting is that of a dog on a hot summer day longing for water. Oh how the trials and valleys of life can cause drought in our souls when we allow them to distract us from close fellowship with the Lord.

Now, something very important that the Psalmist understood; Our souls can only be refreshed when we draw back closer to God.

That is what he is talking about out in v.2 when he speaks of coming and appearing before God.

He is longing for a fresh drink of the water or refreshing that comes only from close fellowship with God. So, he does what we all need to do in those times of drought in our souls; he cries out to God!

He expresses his longing for restored close fellowship with the Lord.

Here’s the good news;

(Matthew 5:6)

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

SHALL BE.

It might be immediate, it might be a day, it might be a week or more, but in God‘s time, if we will continue to pray and obey and serve and worship the Lord, in His time, He will satisfy our souls!

Now, one last thing; as long as we live here on earth, we will have a recurring need for our souls to be satisfied because they will become dry from time to time. However, the great news is that there is coming a day when God will call his children home and we will never, ever experience dryness in our souls again. 

(Revelation 7:16-17)

16 They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat;

17 for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.

HALLELUJAH.

Until then, keep loving, keep serving, and keep worshiping Jesus, and in the seasons of soul drought, cry out to God until your soul is satisfied again by close, intimate fellowship with the Lord.