DIVINE INTIMACY FOR IMPACT (6)

“As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God” – Palm 42:1

Deep passion for God’s Presence is another key Ingredient of DIVINE INTIMACY for IMPACT: “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. When shall I come an appear before God?” (Psa.42: 1-2). In one sense, this was an expression of passion for God, zeal to know God, and intense longing to be close to God, and of fervent worship. In another, and even more profound sense, this was the desperate sob of a brokenhearted man crying out from a place of weakness, not merely the words of a zealous youth ready to go out and change the world!

The context of the psalm depicts a desperate cry: “My tears have been my food day and night, while they continually say to me, “Where is your God?” (v.3). The psalmist was somehow being mocked about God’s seeming inaccessibility. He recalled: “For I used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God” (v.4b). He used to have regular access to public worship in a way he didn’t anymore. He was struggling with despair and frequent weeping: “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me?” (v.5a). He however decided to turn his pains toward God in prayer rather than sink in despair. He decided to trust in God no matter what humiliation he might face, believing that God is faithful and trustworthy: “Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance” (v.5b).

Juxtaposed against the deep emotions of despair, was a commitment to pray, trust, and lean on the Character of God, a deep desire and longing for God, akin to a deer panting for flowing streams. Out of his desolation and anguish of heart, the desperation arose toward the God he had known to be full of loving-kindness-anguish (v.8), his Rock (v.9), and his Help (vv.5,11), crying again to know His manifest Presence! One of the few praise choruses from the 1980s that still occasionally finds its way into contemporary worship services, has these lyrics: 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 (Martin J. Nystrom, 1984).

Beloved, rather than cave in to mocking, wallow in weakness, lament in loneliness, or sink into despair or depression, these should stir a holy desperation, a thirst, craving, longing and panting for more intimate knowledge of and communion with God. As our hearts pant after God and connects to Him, we will be empowered to breakthrough and break forth to realms of limitless possibilities, opportunities and Impact.