AS THE HART PANTETH AFTER THE WATER BROOKS

This psalm was dedicated to the sons of Korah, who were leaders of the temple praise. Their presence in the sanctuary was a con­tinual reminder to Israel of the grace of God that had been extended to the posterity of those who were judged for their rebellion, Num. 26. 11. The entire psalm is a contemplation of the privilege of a people who can ‘appear before God’, v. 2.

The unnamed writer was in soul distress, as he was living in forced exile from Jerusalem. He remembered precious times in his life when he had gone with the multitude to the house of God to keep holy days, v. 4. But now he lived in ‘the land of Jordan’, v. 6. Therefore, it is possible that this psalm was written at the time of Absalom’s rebellion, when David and his loyal fol­lowers were forced to cross Jordan and leave Zion.

His deep longings after the sanctuary worship were ‘as the hart panteth after the waterbrooks’ in a time of drought, or in a desert place. This was no sentimental remembrance of the past but a very real sense of the loss of access into the divine presence. His faith allowed him to consider his exile as temporary and he looked forward to a restoration to Jerusalem, where he would ‘yet praise him’, v. 11. This will also be the experience of the rem­nant of Israel in a future day.

Centuries later, the Lord Jesus spoke to a woman of Sam­aria, who was by birth an exile to the worship of Jerusalem. He told her of ‘a well of water springing up into everlasting life’ that would satisfy the thirsty soul. In the church age, true wor­ship would not relate to ‘this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem’. It would no longer be possible for men to separate the godly from enjoying the presence of God. ‘God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth’, John 4. 14, 21, 24.

Let us never forget that the privileges of our age were bought at Calvary. ‘Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy water­spouts: all thy waves and billows are gone over me’, v. 8.