Psalms 42 - My Soul Longs For You

1 ...As a deer longs for flowing streams,
so my soul longs for you, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When may I come to see God's face?
3 My tears are my food day and night.
People ask me all day long, “Where is your God?”
4 I will remember these things as I pour out my soul:
how I used to walk with the crowd
and lead it in a procession to God's house.
{I sang} songs of joy and thanksgiving
while crowds of people celebrated a festival.

5 Why are you discouraged, my soul?
Why are you so restless?
Put your hope in God,
because I will still praise him.
He is my savior and my God.
Psalms 42:1-5 (GW)

Reflection of B:

The Bible tells us, “At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven” (Matthew 22:30). In another word, there will be no marriage in heaven other than the marriage between the Church and the Lamb (Jesus Christ). For He shall be our 'soulmate', the One we long for. Perhaps, that's the reason Paul said in 1 Cor 7:

1Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry.[a] 2But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.

8Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. 9But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

25Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy. 26Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for you to remain as you are.


It seems that the only reason for marriage on earth is to prevent "immorality" due to the inability to have self-control for most people. For those who can have self-control, it's better not to be married. To do this, the Lord must be our desire and passion.

The above Psalm is also a favorite song for many Christians. In times of discouragement and sadness, like in verses 5 and 11, we always find encouragement and relief when we read this Psalm or sing the song.

I personally find much comfort in reading or singing it, especially when I feel down and lonely. It reminds me that the person I need to long for should be God and not another person. Even my best friend and the closest one failed me, while the Lord Jesus Christ didn't. So why not I turn to Him instead of to another person? I should, and have. I have learned to let go and let God be my heart's desire.


Dear Lord,
I thirst for You, just as the deer thirsts for the water. Without You, my soul will be dry. No one can quench my thirst, except You. For You have made me such that only You can fill the void in my heart and soul.
Amen.