Psalm 42 - As the Deer
Psalm 42:1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks,
so panteth my soul after thee, O God. KJV
Picking a song to go with this psalm was pretty easy. My friend Marty Nystrom wrote this song about 1984. It was not long after that, that he was living in Mobile, and taught a class in song writing to a few of us at Covenant Church of Mobile. That was quite an experience as Marty is a very talented song writer and has a real heart to worship. I learned a lot during that time and really appreciate the things he taught me about worship.
This song really expresses the attitude toward worship that can be found throughout the Psalms. Longing for the Lord, thirsting for Him like a deer that has been running a long way to find the stream, is a great image to show what it means to seek the Lord. Have you ever been in such a place, where you were so dry and thirsty that you just had to have a touch from the Lord to continue? Have you been as desperate as the psalmist in verse 3, "I cannot eat, I weep day and night"? I am not personally that much of a weeper, but I know some Christians who really know how to cry out and travail until the Lord shows up. When you need an answer to prayer, when you are desperate for healing or deliverance, that is the kind of brother or sister that you need to pray through with you!
5 "Why art thou cast down, O my soul?
and why art thou disquieted in me?
hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him
for the help of his countenance.
Why art thou cast down, O my soul?
and why art thou disquieted in me?
hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him
for the help of his countenance." KJV
Verse 5 is another great encouragement when you are feeling down. The psalmists talks to himself, "why so downcast, O my soul?", and answers his own question, "Hope in God!" and "I shall yet praise him". Some may think you are crazy if you talk to yourself, but sometimes you really need to encourage yourself and telling yourself the good things the Lord has promised you can be a big help. If you set it to music, like Marty does below, then people don't know you're talking to yourself, they just think you are singing with your iPod!
So keep encouraging yourself and singing to the Lord, and listen to older tunes that came out of Integrity Music in Mobile, part of my personal history...
The Best of Marty Nystrom- As The Deer
Marty Nystrom- Why So Downcast (Live)
Psalm 42
For the music director; a well-written song by the Korahites.
1 As a deer longs for streams of water,
so I long for you, O God!
2 I thirst for God,
for the living God.
I say, “When will I be able to go and appear in Godʼs presence?”
3 I cannot eat, I weep day and night;
all day long they say to me, “Where is your God?”
4 I will remember and weep!
For I was once walking along with the great throng to the temple of God,
shouting and giving thanks along with the crowd as we celebrated the holy festival.
5 Why are you depressed, O my soul?
Why are you upset?
Wait for God!
For I will again give thanks
to my God for his saving intervention.
6 I am depressed,
so I will pray to you while I am trapped here in the region of the upper Jordan,
from Hermon, from Mount Mizar.
7 One deep stream calls out to another at the sound of your waterfalls;
all your billows and waves overwhelm me.
8 By day the Lord decrees his loyal love,
and by night he gives me a song,
a prayer to the living God.
9 I will pray to God, my high ridge:
“Why do you ignore me?
Why must I walk around mourning
because my enemies oppress me?”
10 My enemiesʼ taunts cut into me to the bone,
as they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
11 Why are you depressed, O my soul?
Why are you upset?
Wait for God!
For I will again give thanks
to my God for his saving intervention.
The NET Bible
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