Let me begin by first addressing the attribution and history of this Psalm. The books beginnings can be directly linked to the following:

THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY

1. Written for the chief musician giving instruction to the sons of Korah (sacred musicians among the Levites).

2. Believed to be composed during the Babylonish captivity.

3. Used by the Israelites during their long captivity, as means of consolation.

4. The Syriac says, “It is a Psalm which David sung when he was an exile, and desired to return to Jerusalem.”

5. The Arabic says: “A Psalm for the backsliding Jews.”

6. Religious and moral songs of a general character; containing the poetical expression of emotions and feelings, and therefore subjective: as for example, longing for the worship of the temple

” As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, oh God”. – Psalms 42:1

When David was in exile, in Jordan, he faced personal grief and torment over the absence of a place to worship. Often God uses our personal comforts and the abundance of opportunity to teach us to value what we have, when we have it. We never know just how precious these things are until we experience the scarcity of them.

Consider the following current affairs and tour brother’s struggle for simple worship:

KAZAKHSTAN – Veteran Soviet-era Baptist prisoner Yakov Skornyakovm again faces prosecution for leading an unregistered religious community. Kazakhstan’s laws categorically lay down the requirement for a religious community to register and prevent a religious community from operating without registration. Congregations of the Baptist Council of Churches refuse to register on principle. They believe such registration leads to unacceptable government interference in their internal affairs.

AFGHANISTAN – Abdul Rahman, a 41-year-old former medical aid worker, faces the death penalty under Afghanistan’s Islamic laws for becoming a Christian. Clerics in Kabul condemned him as an apostate who deserved to die.

SAUDI ARABIA – A Catholic Indian priest was arrested and detained for four days and then deported to India for trying to organize a pre-Easter prayer meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

CHINA – Pastor Gong Shengliang’s, an evangelical Christian pastor, is serving life in prison for his religious beliefs and leadership at the South China Church. According to watch groups, Pastor Gong and other members of the South China Church regularly face torture including: sexual abuse, use of electrical rods to administer shocks, burning of skin, pulling of hair, torture with handcuffs and shackles, denial of basic necessities, physical beatings, invasive medical procedures, and death threats.

” As the deer pants for streams of water…

Now consider these 3 reasons a deer would pant for water:

1. Natural thirst – At one time or another each of us have experienced thirst. Remember as a child, gulping water before bed.

2. Summer heat – We are all no stranger to the effects of summer heat. Nothing is better than an iced down beverage to cool the burn.

3. Hunted by dogs – Why would a deer desire water during a hunt. Simply put it provides safety. A refuge to escape danger and extinguish the thirst brought on by fear.

In Psalm 42, David found comfort in the hope of one day returning home and finding relief. My prayer is that modern Christians can find the same comfort. Moreover, I pray they find the same conviction to worship.

“As the life of a deer depends upon water, our lives depend upon God. Those who seek him and long to understand him find never-ending life. Feeling separated from God, this psalmist wouldn’t rest until his relationship with God had been restored because he knew that his life depended on it.”

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, forgive me for being more often concerned with my life than I am with you and your gifts. Lord help me to experience the desire of my soul to worship and praise you. Create a thirst in me to do the things you would have me do. Not because of my selfish wants but because of your grace and because of who you are. In Jesus’ name.

Amen.

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Lance Cherry, a native of New Mexico, has worked several years in the outdoor industry, with New Mexico Department of Game and Fish and the New Mexico State Parks Division. Lance is a founder of Crosshairs for Christ, a Christian ministry with a desire to connect and change lives by spreading Christ’s message to sportsmen and outdoor enthusiasts through activity-based fellowship. For more information contact Lance Cherry, lance@crosshairsforchrist.org.

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