Psalm 42:1-2

"As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?" Psalm 42:1-2

I don't know a lot about deer, so I will talk about camels. Well, actually I don't know a lot about camels - but I've read quite a few books that talk about camels. Camels can smell water several miles away. . . especially after they have been driven through a desert for several days. We all know that camels have an astounding reservoir inside their bodies. This allows them to spend days in the desert without water. Still, when they are running dry, they will run to a distant water hole. Many a desert traveler has been saved by simply holding on to his camel.

Something I do know about is dogs. Dogs spend a lot of time outdoors in the summer. After spending several hours outside the first thing they rush to is the water bowl! It's just natural for animals of all kinds to find water. It is the most elemental of needs for most living creatures. It seems that man is the only living creature who does not long for water naturally. The average person would rather drink a flavored beverage than plain old water. It would serve us well to "pant for water" in a literal way!

David says his desire for God is as strong as a thirsty animal's desire for water. Nothing will stand between him and his God. So should it be for us (though I suspect that if we had to make a choice on a given non-church night we just might choose our favorite TV show.) How thirsty was David for God? How thirsty should we be for God? David wanted to - no anxiously looked forward to - the time he would meet God face to face! How many of us can say that? We need to - no we must desire God above all else. Why? Our very lives depend upon it. Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.