Most of my initial familiarity with this psalm has to do with the overused, I just learned to play the guitar, let's sing "As The Deer" text. My apologies if that is your favorite song. So after reading, or more likely "skimming" through the first few verses because of what I perceived as over-familiarity, I was struck by the following verses.
Psa. 42:2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?
Psa. 42:3 My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
Psa. 42:4 These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng.
As I read some background on this text, I learned that the Psalmist (not David in this case) is away from Jerusalem. Away from the city of God. Away from all that is familiar. Away from their "home church" so to speak. Up until this point I was confused as to why the writer would pen the words..."When can I go and meet with God?" I'm thinking anytime you want, you confused freak. But to the Jew of that day they couldn't. Jerusalem was everything. The temple was everything. If you couldn't be in that specific place, you felt separated from God. That is why the Psalmist looks back nostalgically for the days of yesteryear when he used to go with the multitude, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving.
How good I have it. To be able to worship God anywhere, at any time. God no longer dwells in a specific place. I have access to Him, through the Son. The veil has been torn. I can come into his presence. The sad thing for me I guess is that the Psalmist longed desperately to be with God, in God's town, and yet I have continual access...but I don't utiilize this gift as often as I should. I hope that changes. I feel that changing.
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