Deep Calls Unto Deep

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 and appear before God?  My tears have been my food day and night while they continually say to me, ‘Where is your God’’” (Psalm 42:1-3)?

Here the Psalmist continues, reflecting on better days, when the presence of God was so real in his life; then asks himself rhetorically, “Why are you cast down, O my soul?  And why are you disquieted within me” (Psalm 43:5)?  When one is going through a “purging fire” with onlookers questioning our testimony and we remember those better days—it’s not difficult to become a little “down in the mouth”.  Accordingly we tell the Lord, “O my God, my soul is cast down within me; therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan, and from the heights of Hermon, from the Hill Mizar (Psalm 42:6).

Dear reader there come to all of us those “dark nights of the soul” when nothing but the comforting presence of the Lord will suffice.  The succorance of family, friends and well-wishers is to be appreciated, but then you are still left with the loneliness of your soul.  Then it comes, “Deep calls unto deep” (Psalm 42:7a).  Here the psalmist knows he has touched the heart of God.

After once more recounting his difficulties, he concludes with this masterful conversation with his soul:  “Why are you cast down, O my soul?  And why are you disquieted within me?  Hope in God: for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God” (Psalm 42:11).  With the praise faith rises up and victory follows.