PSALM 42

1 To the Chief Musician. A Contemplation of the sons of Korah. As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, While they continually say to me, “Where [is] your God?” 4 When I remember these [things], I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God, With the voice of joy and praise, With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast. 5 Why are you cast down, O my soul? And [why] are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him [For] the help of His countenance. 6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me; Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan, And from the heights of Hermon, From the Hill Mizar. 7 Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; All Your waves and billows have gone over me. 8 The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, And in the night His song [shall be] with me–A prayer to the God of my life. 9 I will say to God my Rock, “Why have You forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?” 10 [As] with a breaking of my bones, My enemies reproach me, While they say to me all day long, “Where [is] your God?” 11 Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.

PSALM 42:1-11

CAN THE SONS OF A HERETIC STILL WORSHIP THE LORD?

The answer is yes. You can read the story of Korah and his rebellion in Numbers chapter 16. While Korah along with many others who had stepped out of line were swallowed up by the earth, his sons were spared (See Numbers 26:9-11). The line of Korah still existed and his descendent served in and around the tabernacle. By the time that David came to reign, they were known for their musical ability in worship and many of the Psalms are attributed to them. What great grace this is to see that the sins of the father are not the destiny of the children.

I love how this psalm begins. Talking about a panting deer longing for water. These folks knew what it was like to be thirsty. They could see in nature a picture of a panting deer longing for a cool and refreshing drink and think about how they longed for, craved, needed to worship the Lord.

I can’t help but think of the moment that Jesus stood up and said that if anyone was thirsty they should come to Him for a drink (John 7:37). There is no reason to go thirsty in this sense today! God has given us His Holy Spirit! My Big takeaway today is to make sure that I am satisfied in Christ and not trying to fill my heart from broken cisterns (Jeremiah 2:13).

PRAYER

Father, I am grateful that you meet our deepest needs. I long for you in my soul like a deer pants for water. I want to be satisfied and filled in you, Lord. Please keep me from pursuing the things in my life that do not satisfy. Keep me from chasing the things that won’t fulfill me. Let me trust in you and you alone to provide all that I need. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

I’m reading and blogging the Psalms Through The Summer. I’d love for you to join me. You can find out a little more here.