Saturday, June 14, 2025  

Today's Scripture
Psalm 42

As a deer longs for flowing streams,
so my soul longs for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.
When shall I come and behold
the face of God?
My tears have been my food day and night,
while people say to me continually, “Where is your God?”

These things I remember,
as I pour out my soul:
how I went with the throng,
and led them in procession to the house of God,
with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving,
a multitude keeping festival.
Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my help and my God.

My soul is cast down within me;
therefore I remember you
from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,
from Mount Mizar.
Deep calls to deep
at the thunder of your cataracts;
all your waves and your billows
have gone over me.
By day the Lord commands his steadfast love,
and at night his song is with me,
a prayer to the God of my life.

I say to God, my rock,
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I walk about mournfully
because the enemy oppresses me?”
As with a deadly wound in my body,
my adversaries taunt me,
while they say to me continually,
“Where is your God?”

Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my help and my God. (NRSV)

Reflection

When I was growing up I was aware of a book of devotions called Streams in the Desert. I think that title was a reference to this psalm. The devotions in the book were streams of knowledge about God’s grace for those in this earthly pilgrimage.

Here the psalmist talks about God’s love for and protection of us. If we are really honest with ourselves, that is exactly what we are seeking when we seek God’s presence in our lives — that feeling of being satiated by God and protected by God’s watchfulness over us.

Over the centuries since this psalm was written, the desire we have for a sense of a being who is greater than we are, who transcends our human capabilities, has not ebbed. If anything, it has grown greater. Like the psalmist, our souls seek the safe harbor that is God’s love for us.

This psalm carries the promise that God is with us, even when we are suffering, when we doubt God’s existence, when we think God has abandoned us. It is then that God’s presence will be made known to us. If we praise God, and acknowledge God’s sovereignty over us, God will be with us no matter what. This is indeed a great promise that God has given us and that remains true after all of the generations that have lived since the psalmist wrote these words.

Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you for your faithfulness. Lead us to rely on your love and grace throughout our lives. Help us to remember that you are with us always. Amen.  

Written by Juli Crabtree, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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