As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. Psalm 42:1 (Psalm 42, 43, 55,)
David, in his later years, organized a group of poetic Levites into a musical guild. This was part of his plan for worship in the temple Solomon would build. Psalm 42 and 43 are associated with this group called the Sons of Korah.
David moved in and out of success. His young years were spent tending his father’s sheep in the great outdoors. While given responsibilities and chores, no doubt this young artist packed a party in his pocket and found amusement in the mundane, and great beauty in the ordinary. When he first penned Psalm 42 and 43 he was hiding among heathen people who were not friendly, or kind, but they did not wish to kill him as King Saul did, they only mocked his faith. Safe in body, he was ill in soul as he gazed upon the carefree life of nature; deer, doves, babbling brooks, and envied their effortless existence.
Back and forth from despair to confidence in God alone David conversed with himself, “When will this end?” “God will take care of me!” “Had it not been for the lessons in the wilderness I would never have become a Godly man.” Sooooo….. I will praise.
We are like David, we rise and fall, multiple times a day in this fast paced life. We observe people and things passing by and wonder, “What if?” David questioned the vanity of a waterfall plunging deep into a canyon, only to bubble up, surviving and continuing on. Why can’t life be that simple? IT IS! Cast your (my) cares on the LORD, and He will sustain you, He will never let the righteous fall. Psalm 55:22
Happy Winter’s Day,
Gretchen