New: 30 April 2025
Thirsting for the
Presence of God
Psalms 42, 43
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;
When shall I come and appear before God?
Psalm 42:1-2
Desiring the Right Things in Life
We all have desires and dreams. We all long for certain things, be it relationships, a career or making a positive difference in the world. Hungry children desire food; people in war-torn regions long for peace; those who suffer from rejection or abandonment want comfort. Different people desire different things, depending on their circumstances and wishes. The psalmist's greatest desire was for the presence of God. Desiring the right things in life is important. Some chase dreams that never come to pass. Others desire wealth as their main priority in life, but then either change for the negative when they succeed or suffer greatly when things go wrong. We should have a sense of what truly matters in life and have clarity on how to make dreams a reality. We should desire the right things in life, and for the right reasons.
The psalmist longed for God; his thirst was for the presence of God (Psalm 42:2). The image of a deer panting (longing) for water is a beautiful picture of a soul desiring true satisfaction from God, the living God (v 1), the true Foundation of life (Jeremiah 2:13; Psalm 36:9; E13). Jesus offers 'living water' that truly satisfies (John 4:10-14; see D6). Nothing satisfies like God and His presence (cf., Isaiah 55:1-2). Yet the psalmist had suffered abandonment. He was cast out and cast down. Endless crying and tears was like nourishment as a constant reality (Psalm 42:3-4). Being rejected and cut off from your family you love or the community you belong to are tough realities. It drives people into despair, even into dark places. We need God to enlighten our darkness (Psalm 18:28; E20). We need to desire the presence of God to restore us. Only He truly satisfies and heals. When we are cast down, we need to call on Him to revive us. He is the living God who gives life.
When the psalmist's soul was in despair, he encouraged his soul to hope in God and called for help from His presence (Psalm 42:5). This is a noble desire and positive self-talk. We need to make sure what is going on in our minds is focused on God, not our problems and pain. We can confess to God how we feel, whatever it might be (v 6a). We can pour out our hearts before Him who knows our hearts (Psalm 62:8; E11). God knows the depth of our hearts (Psalm 44:21). The psalmist poured out his heart before God and fixed his focus firmly on the God who will help in His faithfulness. He remembered the beautiful things in his past (Psalm 42:6b). Many of us often remember only the negatives and it adds insult to injury; it makes things worse, not better. We get into a place of despair that feels like we are stuck in and can't get out. This is a dangerously dark place. Depression can be a heavy weight we can't shake off. Unless, as the psalmist did, we call on God to help us.
'Deep calls to deep' (v 7a) speaks poetically of the depth of our thoughts and feelings. Water is a life-giving source, yet it can overwhelm us in its power. Sometimes life feels like we are drowning, yet God promised to be with us to prevent it (Isaiah 43:2; see E19). The psalmist knew that God would command His lovingkindness and give him a song to rejoice his soul (Psalm 42:8). From the unending tears 'day and night' (v 3a), there was God's lovingkindness in the daytime and a song at night (v 8). Yes, calling on God and experiencing His presence is a total 'game changer.' Hoping in God made him to praise Him and it lifted his soul out of despair (vv 5, 11).
The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime;
and His song will be with me
in the night,
A prayer to the God of my life.
Psalm 42:8
Hoping in God
When the enemy oppressed him and his adversaries reviled him, the psalmist still hoped in God. When they mocked him and he went about mourning because of all the injustice, the psalmist still hoped in God (Psalm 42:9-11). Hoping in God in the midst of pain and suffering revives our soul! They ridiculed him and rejoiced that it appeared that God had abandoned him ('Where is your God?'), but the psalmist knew God was faithful and that God was with him. God would vindicate him (Psalm 43:1). His prayer was not for vengeance but vindication. The difference is important. Asking for revenge and wishing bad things to happen to those who hurt us, exposes a false motive driven by bitterness and resentment. Asking God for vindication is a plea for God to set things right while we keep a pure heart. We overcome evil by doing good, and are not overcome by evil as we participate in the works of darkness (Romans 12:21). It is scary to realise to what extent of evil bitter people are willing to go. It is better to keep our hearts clean from resentment. Or else, we'd be drinking poison hoping the other person would die!
The psalmist was oppressed by enemies and surrounded by the deceit of ungodly people (Psalm 43:1-2). His prayer for vindication was such that God's light, truth and strength would guide him and bring him into the presence of God (v 3). He did not ask for revenge; He asked for divine guidance on how to behave in these challenging circumstances. He did not blame the wicked people causing harm, neither did he feel sorry for himself. There was no self-pity, but a prayer to God for to be able to do the right thing in a wrong situation. This is taking responsibility for his life while remaining faithful to God in his actions. A pure prayer for vindication is free from the desire of vengeance. God was his 'exceeding joy' and he had to find a way into the presence of God to praise Him (v 4). Hoping in God is what got his soul out of despair. He would yet again praise God from whom came help (v 5).
Therefore, hope in God and desire His presence! His peace and strength will see you through any challenge. Thirsting for the presence of God will truly satisfy and thoroughly strengthen you to overcome trials and see God's vindication. Hope in God.