Text:

"1 As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” 4 These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival. 5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation 6 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. 7 Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me. 8 By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. 9 I say to God, my rock: “Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?” 10 As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” 11 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God."

 

Lexicon:

vs. 1 - pants ('arag) - "to long for, to cry, to desire and be intent upon anything, to be untamed"

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vs. 2 - thirsts (tsame') - "to desire eagerly, to be thirsty"

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vs. 2 - living (chay) - "alive, refreshment, sustenance, welfare, revival, renewal, fresh, lively"

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vs. 4 - remember (zakar) - "to call to mind, to recall, to keep in remembrance, to think on, to mark so as to recognize"

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vs. 5 - cast down (shachach) - "to be reduced, to be humbled, to be weakened, to lay prostrate, to be despairing, to sink down, to be brought low"

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vs. 5 - turmoil (hamah) - "a disquieted mind arising from cares, to murmur, to cry aloud, to mourn, to rage, to be troubled, to be moved, to be in an uproar"

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vs. 5 - hope (yachal) - "to wait, to expect, to tarry, to be patient, to pained, to trust"

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vs. 5 - praise (yadah) - "to confess, to give thanks, to revere or worship with extended hands, to profess, to celebrate"

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vs. 8 - commands (tsavah) - "to lay charge, to give orders, to appoint"

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vs. 8 - steadfast love (checed) - "goodness, kindness, faithfulness, mercy, favor, desire, zeal for anyone"

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vs. 8 - song (shiyr) - "religious song, lyric song, song of Levitical choirs"

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vs. 8 - prayer (tephillah) - "intercession, supplication, entreaty, sacred song or hymn"

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vs. 9 - forgotten (shakach) - "to ignore, to cease to care, to be unmindful, to be forgotten"

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vs. 9 - mourning (qadar) - "to be darkened, to be confused or disturbed"

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vs. 11 - my salvation (yeshuw'ah) - "deliverance, victory, welfare, safety, health"

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What does this reveal about God's character?

God is alive and living.  He revives, refreshes, renews and sustains His creation.  God is trustworthy.  We can place our hope in Him because He will not fail.  God is loving, good, faithful, merciful and kind.  God is our salvation and deliverer.  He has won the victory through Christ.

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Questions:

1) Am I intent upon my relationship with God?  We are so intent upon things in life we deem a priority (i.e., our career, our children, our families, our service, our schedule, etc.); but, oftentimes we don't place the same intention and priority on the only thing that ultimately matters - our relationship with God.

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2) Do I call to mind the Lord's past faithfulness in my life?  What are a few ways He has proven His trustworthiness and goodness to me?

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3) Is my mind disquieted and in turmoil because it is weighed down by many cares?  1 Peter 5:7 says we can cast ALL of our cares upon God because He cares for us.  Take a few moments in prayer and give God your worries, cares, fears and anxieties.  When you find yourself picking them back up throughout the day, stop and give them back to God.  Allow Him to work on your behalf and you will experience the peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7).

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4) Am I patient in the waiting? Do I endure with a cheerful attitude even when things look grim?  If not, start now.

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Prayer:

Father God, I thank you that you are a living God!  You are life, you created my life and you sustain my life.  Lord, I ask forgiveness for the times I do not place you as a priority in my life.  I get so focused on what I see in front of me and what I can control around me, and I forget that you are in control and that although I can't physically see you, you are more real than anything I can see.  Help me to put you first everyday, in everything, all the time. Pull me back to you when I stray.  Father, thank you for caring for me and even caring about the little things I care about.  You are such a loving and great God!  I give my cares to you today (name your cares, fears, anxieties aloud and give them to God).  I ask that you work on my behalf for your glory in each of these situations and issues I present before you.  I ask that you take away my fears and worry and keep my eyes steadfastly fixed upon you.  Remind me of your goodness, kindness and faithfulness that comforts my heart and strengthens my faith and resolve in you.  I choose to trust you and be patient in the waiting.  Keep my mouth from grumbling and complaining or cursing my situation.  I know that you work all things together for GOOD for those who love you and are called according to your purpose (Romans 8:28).  I trust that great promise today, and I thank you for being trustworthy.  In Jesus' name, Amen.