April 30, 2011 (Numbers 7; Psalms 42-43; Song of Songs 5; Hebrews 5)

Make no mistake about it; sometimes God feels very far away. This is how the author of Psalm 42 and 43 feels. We often sing the words of the first verse of this Psalm, “As the deer pants for the water, so my soul pants for you, O God.” Unfortunately many of us have in our minds when we sing this song a ‘Thomas Kincade like’ image of a deer drinking from a glistening brook. That is not the image at all. The image is one of a deer being hunted, and desperately panting for a trickle of water! The question we must ask ourselves is what do we do when we find our souls panting like the deer. What do we do when our souls long for God (in these Psalms expressed in the idea of worshipping Him corporately with other believers in the temple), but do not seem to be getting filled with His presence? In those times we need to remind ourselves to continue to hope in God! (42:5,11; 43:5) We might never know why God allows us to go through those times of drought, but we do know that it is for our good. Those times of drought might be a tender mercy from God sent to keep us truly grateful for the intimacy we share with Him. So continue to hope in Him and remember that the time of drought is only “a time”. It will not last forever. “I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God.”