Thirsty! As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? Psalm 42:1-2 There are many places in the world where water is impossible to get causing many to die of thirst. Water is one thing that we need to live. Without it we can only live a few days. When Israel left Egypt and traveled to the Promised Land a lack of water was a real trial to them. After leaving the Red Sea they traveled for three days without water, coming to a place called Marah. Seeing a body of water must have been a beautiful sight, but God’s word says, that they could not drink it because it was bitter! What a disappointment, cattle and children were crying loudly. God worked a miracle and healed the waters so they could drink it. Have you ever been truly thirsty? What are you thirsting for? We need water to live for our physical bodies and need it time and time again. Does that satisfy you? Jesus says in John 4:13, “Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again.” Our text is speaking about a different thirst. What kind of thirst is it speaking of? What is this thirsting after God? The first thirst we wrote about is earthly, and the other thirst is spiritual. Psalm 14:1-3 says, “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” In another place God says, “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts” (Psalm10: 4). This is man by nature. He has no need or even desire to know this living God. To thirst after God, our thoughts would be focused on God. Man in a unregenerate state is not spiritual, but earthy. Our heart, will, mind, and being must be changed by this God before we will ever seek this life giving God. Have you been made thirsty for God, the living God? To need this God, we need to see our dire situation of being without this God and not being able to go on without Him. The Holy Spirit works this need in our hearts, and shows us we are without God and without hope in this life. This becomes like a burning thirst in our soul. Is there help for such a one as me? Where can my thirst be quenched? God’s word condemns me as in Psalm 143:4,7-11 “Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate. Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk, for I lift up my soul unto thee. Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me. Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness. Quicken me, O Lord, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.” This prayer comes from our need for Him who is the Water of Life, and the promise is that He (God) will surely hear the cry of the needy. Jesus said in, John 4:14, “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” And Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Can you still make ends meet with earthly water or do you long after this God as a thirsty hart (deer) and cry, give me Jesus or I die? As Psalm 42 continues 4-6, “My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I went with the multitude, I had gone with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.” Have you come to realize that our own water is too short for eternity? Flee to the Living Water as we read in Revelation 22:17, “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Is this your life? Then our song shall be as in Psalter 116 verse 4. “Why restless, why cast down my soul! Hope still, and thou shalt sing the praise of Him Who is thy God. Thy health’s eternal spring.” Written by Cornelius VanKempen July 28, 2011 Read my meditations and devotions at: Http://Casey4949.posthaven Or Http://Casey4949.wordpress
Posted on: Fri, 25 Oct 2013 02:22:48 +0000
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