THIRSTY DEER

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." Matthew 5:6 (CSB)

Hungering for an intimate relationship with God. Again, Jesus is teaching us and expanding our understanding of lessons from the Old Testament.

We find this in a couple of OT teachings.

·      Psalm 42

·      Job 23:12

·      Jeremiah 15:16

·      And, in Psalm 119

Let us consider this truth in Psalm 42: 1-2.

“As a deer longs for flowing streams, so I long for you, God.

² I thirst for God, the living God. When can I come and appear before God?”

What do you picture? A nice deer skipping up to a clear bubbling flowing spring and gently lapping up the refreshing water?

Me I see a dehydrated creature, emancipated dragging itself across a desert desperately in search of a muddy wetness desperate for water, clinging to life and nothing seems to quench the thirst, nothing.

When a deer is thirsty, he will run full speed until he finds some water. When he finally finds it, he will stick his face into the cool stream, forgetting everything else around him. This is unusual for deer because they are normally very alert and cautious.

But, when they’re panting, they’ll do almost anything to quench their thirst. During drought conditions, deer will alter their daily routine to make sure they can find water.

Whenever a deer senses danger, it will run to a stream. Most hunters think the deer is trying to avoid leaving a scent. The deer, however, seeks water for a different reason.

When a deer is retreating from an enemy, it develops a tremendous thirst. Fear and the physical strain of running create a strong desire for water. David is picturing himself like a deer that is on the run in desperate search of refreshment.

“My soul pants for you, O God” these words just leap out and grab my heart, for me if I cannot know God then I would not want to live, I mean it, God is the All in All. This is not just a desperate plea here is relationship thirsting for God knowing and acknowledging that God is alive, is real is here, but where is God.

Verse 2 tells us that just as a deer can’t wait to quench its thirst, his soul is thirsting “for the living God.” He wants to know God. He’s seeking Him with everything he has.

It’s hard for us to get really thirsty today because there are soda machines and water fountains everywhere. But thirst is powerful. It must be satisfied or we’ll die.

Have you ever been that thirsty spiritually? Does your soul pant for God? Only the living God can quench the thirst of the human heart. Just as a deer knows instinctively where to find water when it’s thirsty, so too, we must seek Him with everything we’ve got.