Thirsting For God

Sometimes in the heat of summer there is nothing like a nice cold drink of water when we are thirsty.  I like to drink water because it quenches my thirst and it also keeps me hydrated. 

We need to water to survive.  When I starting thinking about being thirsty a thought came to my mind.  Sometimes we have other thirst deep within us.  We have a thirst to know more about God.  The Lord puts that thirst within us.  Some people listen to that ever slight tug within their hearts to know God and others just turn away from it. 

Those of us who have trusted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior still have a growing desire to know more about God.  We want to know Him better and more closely.  The good news is that we can get to know the Lord better and draw nearer to Him by studying and reading the Bible.  We can also pray to Him and just sit in His presence and allow Him to speak to our very hearts. 

Our should thirst for the Lord.  He is our God.  He is our protector.  He is our provider.  He is worthy of our praise. 

I am reminded of Psalm 42 which says,

"1As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.

References for Psalms 42:1

• Cross References
• Footnotes

• 1 42:1 - S Ps 18:33
• 2 42:1 - S Dt 10:7
• 3 42:1 - S Job 19:27 ; Ps 119:131 ; Joel 1:20

• ¿ 42:1 - In many Hebrew manuscripts Psalms 42 and 43 constitute one psalm.
• À 42:1 - In Hebrew texts 42:1-11 is numbered 42:2-12.
• Á 42:1 - Title: Probably a literary or musical term

2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?

References for Psalms 42:2

• Cross References

• 4 42:2 - Ps 63:1 ; 143:6
• 5 42:2 - S Jos 3:10 ; S 1Sa 14:39 ; S Mt 16:16 ; Ro 9:26 ; Jer 10:10
• 6 42:2 - Ps 43:4 ; 84:7

3 My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”

References for Psalms 42:3

• Cross References

• 7 42:3 - S Job 3:24 ; Ps 80:5
• 8 42:3 - ver 10; Ps 79:10 ; 115:2 ; Joel 2:17 ; Mic 7:10

4 These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng.

References for Psalms 42:4

• Cross References
• Footnotes

• 9 42:4 - S 1Sa 1:15
• 10 42:4 - Ps 55:14 ; 122:1 ; Isa 2:2 ; 30:29
• 11 42:4 - S Ezr 3:13
• 12 42:4 - S Jos 6:5 ; Ps 95:2 ; 100:4 ; 147:7 ; Jnh 2:9
• 13 42:4 - Ps 35:18 ; 109:30

• Â 42:4 - See Septuagint and Syriac; the meaning of the Hebrew for this line is uncertain.

5 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

References for Psalms 42:5

• Cross References

• 14 42:5 - Ps 38:6 ; 77:3 ; La 3:20 ; Mt 26:38
• 15 42:5 - S Job 20:2
• 16 42:5 - S Ps 25:5 ; S 71:14 ; La 3:24
• 17 42:5 - Ps 9:1
• 18 42:5 - Ps 18:46 ; Ps 44:3

6 My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.

References for Psalms 42:6

• Cross References

• 19 42:6 - ver 11; Ps 43:5
• 20 42:6 - Ps 63:6 ; 77:11
• 21 42:6 - Ge 13:10 ; S Nu 13:29
• 22 42:6 - S Dt 3:8 ; S 4:48

7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.

References for Psalms 42:7

• Cross References

• 23 42:7 - S Ge 1:2 ; S 7:11
• 24 42:7 - Ps 69:2 ; Ps 88:7 ; Jnh 2:3

8 By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life.

References for Psalms 42:8

• Cross References

• 25 42:8 - Ps 57:3
• 26 42:8 - S Ps 16:7 ; Job 35:10
• 27 42:8 - Ps 77:6 ; Ps 63:6 ; 149:5
• 28 42:8 - Ps 133:3 ; Ecc 5:18 ; 8:15

9 I say to God my Rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?”

References for Psalms 42:9

• Cross References

• 29 42:9 - Ps 18:31
• 30 42:9 - S Ps 10:11
• 31 42:9 - S Ps 35:14 ; Ps 38:6
• 32 42:9 - Job 20:19 ; Ps 43:2 ; 106:42
• 33 42:9 - Ps 9:13 ; 43:2

10 My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, “Where is your God?”

References for Psalms 42:10

• Cross References

• 34 42:10 - S Ps 6:2
• 35 42:10 - Dt 32:27 ; Ps 44:16 ; 89:51 ; 102:8 ; 119:42
• 36 42:10 - S ver 3

11 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.            

There are times when our souls feel downcast like the Psalm writer.  We must remember all that the Lord has done for us in times past.  We must remind ourselves how He has worked in other people's lives as well.  

The Psalmist asked a question about his own soul saying, "Why are you downcast, O my soul?  Why so disturbed within me?"

Then he reminds himself and us saying,

"Put your hope in God,

for I will yet praise him,

my Savior and my God."

When times get tough, and we know they will, we must remember the hope that we have in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  We can rejoice in Him and praise Him for all that He have done for us.

God loves us and He wants us to come to Him and continue to come to Him.

He will take care of us and He will provide for us.

Lord,

We praise Your name.

Thank You for the hope we have in You.

Draw us near to You O Lord.

In Jesus name,

Amen.