Articles
Yearning For God
“As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” (Psalms 42:1, 2)
This is one of the most touching and beautiful of all of the Psalms. A favorite hymn has been written with the first verse of the Psalm.
The imagery is of a young stag crying for water in a hot country in time of drought. The Psalmist compares himself to this deer. He is in a dry and thirsty land panting for God. “My soul thirsts for God, the living God” (vs. 2). Jehovah God is the only living God, and the sole source of spiritual life. All other gods are imposters.
The Psalmist acknowledges that only the living God can satisfy the cravings of the human spirit. Worldly men thirst for riches, honor and power. Yet, these never satisfy. Some may suppress such cravings until they are no longer felt. But, such numbness is not to be confused with satisfaction. If I go on a hunger strike, I am told the time comes when I will no longer desire the food. Yet, for all of that I will still be a starving man. Thus, man may absolve himself from God, but deep down his need for God remains.
The longer I live in this old world the more I appreciate the value of fellowship with God. Only Jehovah satisfies, only God is the source of genuine joy!
So sing it, my brother! “I want you more than gold or silver. Only you can satisfy. You alone are the real joy giver and apple of my eye”.
