READ Psalm 42
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God (Psalm 42:1).
We were hiking in Sabino Canyon outside Tucson, Arizona along Sabino Creek. Most of the year the creek bed is dry with no water flowing in it. Southern Arizona is a desert with little water. However, during the winter months, the snowmelt off Mount Lemmon in the Santa Catalina Mountains creates streams of flowing water. Today, the water seemed to be in a hurry as it raced down Sabino Creek.
Israel’s climate is similar to the desert of Southern Arizona with little rainfall. Snow-capped Mount Hermon is the source of the water for the Jordan River that flows through a dry and arid land. David had a deep thirst for God. He said, “You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water” (Psalm 63:1). David compared his thirst for God to the deer seeking water to quench its thirst. David poured out his soul to God in times of trouble. Even when he was downcast and oppressed by his enemies, he put his hope in God.
The invitation is open to all who have a thirst for God to be fully satisfied. God said through the prophet Isaiah, “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost” (Isaiah 55: 1). At the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus promised fulfillment to those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. In Sychar, Jesus offered living water to the Samaritan woman at the well. He promised that whoever drinks this water would never thirst again. On the last day of the Festival of Tabernacles, Jesus proclaimed in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them” (John7:37‑38). The living water is the Holy Spirit, who indwells all believers.
Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit, fall afresh on me.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth (Psalm 145:18).
