Are You Thirsty, Deer?
By Pastor Mitch
December 20, 2017
I took this picture of a fawn approaching a brook at the Yosemite Park, seeking to drink from it. Its mother was no more than a few metres from it, looking out for it. The fawn did look thirsty as it carefully manoeuvred itself towards the brook for a drink. It cautiously hid behind some tree branches as it made its way down. According to undiscovered – yosemites.com, the mule deer fawn is born with a natural camouflage pattern of white spotted browns. The coloration allows it to lie hidden, curled up and motionless in the shadows of the forest. At this early age, the fawn is completely defenceless except for this ability to hide. It relies completely on protection by its mother and other deer in the herd from all threatening predators. The fawn needs about 3.5 litres of water per day. As I took this picture, this scene reminded me of how we all need the Lord at times when we go through challenging situations. There is the soul’s thirst for the living God.
AS THE DEER PANTS…
As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” Psalm 42:1-2
The Psalmist wrote this psalm as a result of the challenging and stressful difficulties of life. He was going through a time of depression as his tears were his food all the day and night (Psalm 42:3). People kept mocking him concerning the very presence of God in the midst of his oppression from enemies (Psalm 42:9). He was also cut off from worshipping in the house of the Lord. His soul became spiritually dry and cast down (Psalm 42:5,6). In the midst of struggling with such feelings, there came a deep sense of longing for God who was truly alive. As a deer would greatly long to quench its thirst by the water brooks, the Psalmist also longed to quench his spiritual dryness by seeking the Lord, the source of living waters. There was a sense of urgency in wanting to be with God. His soul longed to be in communion with the living God and to remain in His presence. Meeting with God and sensing His presence brings about the quenching of our spiritual thirst. He brings life to our dry souls. The Psalmist chided himself for feeling cast down. There came a personal challenge to hope in God (Psalm 42:5). He is the one who can help us and lift up our countenance. The Lord would grant us a song in the night (Psalm 42:8). Let’s strongly determine to seek the Lord and to find hope in Him as we take time to sing of His greatness. Let’s determine to praise Him because He indeed will be there for us.
