Psalms Streak: A Daily Devotional in the PsalmsSample

As the Deer

Many of us all around the world are living in places where we haven't been able to meet in groups face to face for a while. Our churches have been closed, our camps and TeenStreet events have been online, and it has been months since we have worshipped with other believers in a large group. Welcome to Psalm 42. Verses 5 and 6 tell us that the psalmist was far from the sanctuary in Jerusalem where he could worship God. He isn't saying that God is absent, instead, he is expressing his longing to worship God in His sanctuary with other believers. There is something special about being surrounded by other believers in the presence of God. We long for it like a deer longs for a drink of water after a sprint through a meadow.

The beginning of this Psalm was actually made into a song that was written in the 1980s by a man named Marty Nystrom. After breaking up with his girlfriend, Marty was brokenhearted and he was encouraged to fast to get his eyes focused on God again. After 19 days of only drinking water, he realised that the only thing he was thirsting for was more water. He realised he needed to shift his focus and ask for help in thirsting for God alone. He sat down at a piano and wrote these words:

As the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after Thee
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship Thee
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 Thee
You're my friend And You are my brother Even though You are a King I love You more than any other So much more than anything 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 Thee

GO DEEP: Does your soul long to worship God in the presence of other believers again? Are you in a place where you can worship with others but you don't find yourself longing for it? Maybe you are in a great place with your worship. Could you spend time praying for those who are longing?
If possible, find this song online. There are two popular covers of this song, one by Shane and Shane and one by Steffany Gretzinger. Choose one, find a place where you can focus on the words, and spend time worshipping the Lord.

BE BOLD: Who needs to hear this? Who could you share it with?