Sheri Van Spronsen Leppink 0:07
Welcome to Elmhurst CRC’s daily dose of the Word of God. This is Sheri Van Spronsen Leppink, Director of Communications at Elmhurst CRC. It’s Thursday, May 24th, and this week, we’re journeying with Jesus from the tomb and preparing for Sunday’s message on Pentecost. Today’s reading is from Psalm 42 and we’ll focus on verses 1 and 2.
Sheri Van Spronsen Leppink 0:29
“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?”
Sheri Van Spronsen Leppink 0:41
The psalmist’s poetic verse uses the imagery of a deer longing for water to describe the intense spiritual longing and desire for God. You hear the yearning and thirst for a close relationship with God, just as a deer eagerly seeks water to quench its thirst. The concluding line of the second verse, "When can I go and meet with God?" expresses the psalmist's eagerness to be in God's presence and engage in worship, prayer, and devotion. It reflects a profound longing and desire for intimacy. In the well-known hymn "As the Deer," (which you may have heard hummed during yesterday’s devotional), we find a beautiful paraphrase of these sentiments: "As the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs after you; you alone are my heart's desire, and I long to worship you." The refrain reiterates this longing for God's presence and the longing to worship him.
Sheri Van Spronsen Leppink 1:39
This week Sunday, is Pentecost Sunday — it falls 50 days after Easter and marks the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles, empowering them to proclaim the Gospel boldly. In the verses of Psalm 42 and the significance of Pentecost, we discover common themes and parallels. First, there is a shared longing for God's presence. As the psalmist thirsts and pants for God, the apostles anticipated and awaited the promised Holy Spirit. Second, both the psalmist and the disciples seek to have their spiritual thirst quenched by God. The psalmist yearns for their soul to be satisfied by the living God, while the disciples received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, satisfying their thirst and granting them a deep sense of fulfillment and purpose. Third, there is a theme of renewed spiritual life. The psalmist expresses a longing to "go and meet God," indicating a desire for this transformative encounter. Similarly, the disciples at Pentecost experienced receiving the Holy Spirit, which would refresh and renew them, empowering them for their ministry.
Sheri Van Spronsen Leppink 2:46
Let’s pray. Dear God, as we reflect on these words, we ask you to increase our longing for your presence, quench our spiritual thirst, and empower us to go forth with your Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.