Psalm 42:3
"My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?"
Palestine was a country where aqueducts had to be built so each town could get water. Oftentimes, they would use big rocks that were bored into the ground to build these aqueducts so that water could get to these towns. At rare instances, they would have to cut through mountains or boulders just to get water so people could drink.
The hart, or male deer, after running from its enemy or walking in a hot day, would begin to pant because of a need for water. The water for the hart was not just to quench the thirst of the dry tongue, but it was also to quench the thirst of its body so that it could cool down from the heat.
The Psalmist uses this analogy as he says in verse 2, "My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?" The Psalmist's desire for God was like the thirst of the hart for water. It was not just a mere thirst that the Psalmist had, but a thirst of his soul that desired to be in the presence of God. This thirst for God led him to weep with tears "day and night." He did not long for just the presence of the temple, but he longed for God to show up in that temple. He didn't just long to hear the preaching and teaching of the prophets, but he longed for God to show up when the prophets and priests taught. The thirst led to the question above, "Where is thy God?"
How much do you long for God? Do you ask the question today, "Where is thy God?" Does your desire for God cause you to pour out your soul unto God as the Psalmist did in verse 4? Do you desire God so much that it would cause you to cast down your soul, or bend over in anguish for the desire of God's presence? Does your soul, the innermost part of your being, truly thirst for the presence of God?
It is this desire that changes a place. It is this desire that moves the Christian to prayer. It is this desire that causes the Christian to set aside the possessions of the world just to be sure to get God's presence on their life. This thirst for God from the soul is truly what moves the Christian to do anything possible to make sure they have God's presence.
Friend, it is wonderful to hear great music in our churches, but did God show up? It is great to have the teaching and preaching of the Word of God, but did God show up? It is excellent to have busses running and bringing people to church, but did God show up? It was wonderful to see a church auditorium filled with people, but did God show up? It is excellent to see the Christian open the Scriptures in personal study, but did God show up?
"Where is thy God?" Have you lost that desire for God to show up? Christian, when your soul desires God, it will move you to lay aside hobbies, turn off your electronics and empty your schedule to give yourself time to pour out your soul so that God will show up.
My simple question to you today is this, does your soul thirst for God? You may be busy serving God on a daily basis, but did God show up? Don't be satisfied just with the service of God, but only be satisfied once God shows up.