This hymn was written by Martin J Nystrom in 1984 and is based on Psalm 42:1. A link to Hillsong performing the song is at the end of this blog entry.
As the Deer Panteth for the Water, So My Soul
As the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after Thee
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship Thee
You alone are my strength my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship Thee
You’re my friend
And You are my brother
Even though You are a King
I love You more than any other
So much more than anything
Chorus
I want You more than gold
Or silver
Only You can satisfy
You alone are the real joygiver
And the apple of my eye
Chorus
Have you ever been really thirsty or hungry? Perhaps your thirst/hunger is a longing for something you are missing in your life. Whether the emptiness is due to a physical need or an emotional need, we are constantly struggling to feel well and whole again. This song starts out referring to a deer that is actually panting for water, its life is truly in danger; without finding water, it’s life may soon be over.
Some of us may have been starving before or maybe almost dying from thirst; but most of us have probably never come close to physically dying of thirst or starvation. There are times when although our life supporting needs are met, we still have an emptiness that seems to gnaw at us. We know something is missing, but no matter where we turn; we can’t find peace. I believe this is a time where we have wandered away from God and the holy spirit within us is trying to bring us back to that comfort that only God can give us. Our soul is reminding us that our one desire should be our relationship with the father, this is more important than anything this world of Satan can offer us. Matthew 16:26 reminds us of what is most important, And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Just as the song tells us, just as the deer needs the water to survive, we need the relationship with Christ to survive. Though the water will only keep the deer alive for its allotted number of years, our relationship with Christ will give us eternal life. Our time should be spent seeking and worshipping God and making that the mission of our heart.
Though we are not worthy of being in the presence of Christ, he is still our friend, a family member, and a confidant. He is a king who has accepted us as being just like him in that we are all the children of God. He loves us just like we love our families and friends. We should return his love with all of our heart, our soul, and all of our being. He gave his life for us so we could spend eternity with him, the least we could do is give him all of our love and all of our attention and seek his will every day of our lives. What in your life is more important than Christ and what benefit does it give you over and above what Christ has committed to us?
It is true that we want nice things in our lives and most of those things require money. We work hard to not only support our family, but to also have enough money to enjoy life. Sometimes this causes us to get so focused on our jobs and our wants that we forget what is most important. There is nothing more important than having Christ in our lives. We may ask, but how do I provide for my family if I am not working hard at my job? Christ doesn’t tell us that we shouldn’t work, he is simply saying that we should not be focused on how much we make, that he will make sure we have what we need. It is challenging to have that much faith in Christ meeting our every need; but we must seek his guidance on every need we have; including financial.
We see God’s promise of meeting our needs in Matthew 6:25-34, 25 Therefore I say unto you, Be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than the food, and the body than the raiment? 26 Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit unto [a]the measure of his life? 28 And why are ye anxious concerning raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God doth so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Be not therefore anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 For after all these things do the Gentiles seek; for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Be not therefore anxious for the morrow: for the morrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
It is only after we hand everything over to Christ that we can experience true joy and freedom. The song says he should be the apple of our eye, in other words; the person/thing we cherish about all else. He alone is our strength, our shield, our constant source of joy, and the only one who can give us eternal life.
What is your heart’s desire?