Psalm 42 – Like a Deer
In Psalm 42 – like a deer, the deer longs for streams of water. Finding water in the desert is essential for life. What is essential for your being? What are you longing for?
For me, right now I’m longing for a continuation of the beautiful summery weather we have been experiencing in Michigan, even as the calendar reminds me it is fall. Is this essential for my being? I guess not, but it sure helps.
What are the writers of this psalm longing for?
Psalm 42
Psalm 42 and 43 are generally considered part of one psalm because of common construction and phrases. The superscription for Psalm 42 states that it is a maskil by the sons of Korah. A maskil is a literary or musical term generally thought to denote wisdom and/or teaching. The sons of Korah were temple singers who had been blocked from the temple. Thus, the scene is set.
The psalm begins with the image of a deer, longing for water in the desert. Just as a deer longs for water, the writer’s soul thirst for God.
“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” (1-2)
In Psalm 42 – like a deer, the writers are longing for God. Not just God, they are also longing for the temple. Former singers in temple prayers, they long to get their job back.
“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.” (4)
Those were good times of praise and worship with others.
Three times the writer repeats that his soul is downcast:
“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?” (5a, 11b)
“My soul is downcast within me.” (6a)
His response is to put his hope in God:
“Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” (5b, 11b)
“Therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.” (6b)
Imagery in Psalm 42
The imagery in Psalm 42 is amazing. Besides the image of the deer in the desert looking for water, we hear of waterfalls, waves and breakers.
“Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.” (7)
Where were the writers finding all of this water in the desert? Perhaps it was the river Jordan or the Lake of Galilee that they are referring to.
Despite his words of sadness and despair, he is aware of God’s love during the day and hears God’s song at night.
“By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me—a prayer to the God of my life.” (8)
His pain is such that he feels it in his bones.
“My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, “Where is your God?” (10)
Not only does he feel it in his bones, in one translation the pain is like a sword in his bones: “As with a sword in my bones” (KJV) or a terrible wound, “As with a deadly wound in my bones.” (ESV) What is causing this pain? The taunts of his enemies: “Their taunts break my bones.” (NLT)
Not only do they miss their time in the Temple, but their former friends have also been maligning them, taunting them.
What an image of pain caused by unkind words and loneliness.
Psalm 42 – Like a Deer
There are deer in abundance where I live in Michigan, as well as many sources of water. The deer have no natural predators, except for us humans and our cars, so they thrive. Unlike the deer described in this psalm, they never lack for a source of water.
Besides the five great lakes, we have multiple rivers, lakes, and streams. I’ve lived in Michigan all of my life. During that time, I don’t know that I have ever lived more than a mile from a source of water. And yet I have known thirst, especially spiritual thirst, a dryness that can only be quenched by God.
Sometimes a word from Scripture or a spiritual reading slakes this thirst, sometimes quiet time alone with God in contemplation or in nature. Other times only the companionship of other believers can bring me out of despondency.
Longing for Community
I know from my own experience of leaving parish ministry, how hard it can be to adjust. There are days when I long to be back in active service in a church community, like the sons of Korah. But even more, I long for community.
One commentary states the writer of Psalm 42 – like a deer, expresses both his deep desire for God and his loneliness. Being banned from the Temple means losing community. A very painful state.
Another states that: “Psalm 42 is a lament psalm written by men who formerly were able to freely worship God with the Lord’s people. But something has changed. And now they find themselves removed from the religious life that they formerly enjoyed. And they miss it greatly.” (Psalm 42 The Message – Explaining The Book)
In his loneliness the psalmist talks to himself, as mentioned above in verses 5a and 11b. He has no one to talk to but himself, and God. That’s not enough.
Recent statistics say that the number of people experiencing loneliness is increasing in the United States. Some say 1 in 3 report being lonely. You might say it has reached an epidemic level. (Psychiatry.org – New APA Poll: One in Three Americans Feels Lonely Every Week)
What are we to make out of these numbers? What is the cure?
Longing for God/Longing for Community
As I sat with this psalm over the span of two weeks what came clearer to me was the link between the longing for God and the longing for community. It’s nice to encounter God in alone time and time in nature. I know I love my quiet time outdoors. But sometimes you need to find God through communal prayer.
For most of my adult life I have been part of smaller prayer groups, other people involved in ministry with whom I would spend time in silent prayer. There is a power in shared silent prayer. I currently don’t have that, and I’m missing it. I also recently went through a time of searching for a new church community. Oh, the joy when I found one. I had found a stream of water for parched lips.
It isn’t enough to sit alone contemplating our God. We need others and they need us. It isn’t just about combatting loneliness. It’s about growing in faith, knowledge, and experience of God. We do this through others, those who have gone before us in faith, those who are living examples of faith.
To long for God is also to long for community. Psalm 42 – like a deer tells us this.
What has been your experience of community? Where do you find God?
(For another take on this psalm, see Psalm 42: What Is Your Deepest Desire? – Patricia M Robertson)
This post is part of a series of blog posts on the Psalms. Sign up to follow this blog and and receive a free copy of Still Dancing, the second book in my Dancing through Life Series. click here to sign up
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