16th October 2024

Meditation Verse: Psalm 42 “My soul thirsts for God.”

As a child in church, I always thought the song taken from this psalm seemed a bit odd – “why are we singing about out of breath deers?”  But this is the Psalmist’s way of expressing how thirsty he is to spend time with God.  Thirsty as if having just been running and needing to quench the thirst by glugging down a drink of water.

“As the deer pants for the water, So my soul longs after You.

You alone are my heart’s desire And I long to worship You.

You alone are my strength, my shield,

To You alone may my spirit yield.

You alone are my heart’s desire And I long to worship You.”

The rest of the verse and chorus then answer this longing.  It reminds me a bit of our Renew morning prayer, “Bless the Lord oh my soul! And all that is within me bless His holy name.” With everything I have, all that is within me bless His name, not just a whimper but the best that we can give!  Let’s be thirsty to spend time with God this week and if you’ve already quenched your thirst, praise Him with all you have!