Catch Me at the Brook (Psalm 42:1)

Devos.HipHop

Sho Baraka || Turn My Life Up

As I read the Bible, there are always passages that tug at my spirit just right, and they become all my own. The opening to Psalm 42 is one of those verses. It’s a familiar passage for many Christians, but I don’t think many live it out. I want us to see how we can apply the words of the Psalmist to our lives. So, let’s jump right into the text.

As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. (Psalm 42:1 ESV)

Such simple words are found in this verse, and they should ring true for every Christian. If you’ve ever watched wild animals, one thing you’ll notice is they like to be near water. They know they cannot survive without it. Like the Psalmist notes, the deer knows it needs a constant supply of fresh water if it’s going to have a long life. The Discovery channel and Animal Planet often show documentaries with animals in the plains of Africa risking their lives for a sip of water. They’re willing to risk death to survive. While deer don’t face these same perils, their need for water is just as vital.

Our desire for God needs to be on the same level. Sho explains why this is so vital when he states: “If I go days without seeking his face its starts showing/a week outside his presence and the world starts knowing/ sometime my earnest prayer is to erase my brain/ cuz 20 years as a pagan got my mind trained…” That’s the picture of someone who hasn’t been to the waters in a while. Life gets hectic and we forget to read our Bibles, we forget to pray, we start skipping church, and the list goes on. When this happens, we’re on edge and no longer connected to the source that keeps us spiritually alive. Instead of getting to that point, we must stay connected to the living water, Jesus Christ. We accomplish this by taking advantage of the means of grace: the Word, fellowship, and prayer. We have to stay connected, no matter the cost. Just like we need food and water everyday to survive, we need spiritual sustenance. Again, Sho Baraka sums it up nicely in the hook:

Your face I gotta constantly seek (I need more)
Never feel I’m reaching my peak (I need more)
My soul thirst for you o’ Lord
I need more (2x) I’m thirsting after GOD
Find peace in your mercy and grace (I need more)
Find shelter in no other place (I need more)
My soul thirst for you o’ Lord
I need more (2x) You can catch me at the brook

Let that be your meditation today. Be someone who longs after God on a daily basis. Find yourself at the brook resting in God, allowing Him to keep you rejuvenated. When you do, you’ll be sustained for when you need to venture out into the world.

Dig Deeper

1. Read all of Psalm 42. During times when you are away from your local church, what steps can you take to maintain fellowship with God?
2. Read Ephesians 2:13-22. What kind of access to God does our salvation offer us?
3. Read Psalm 143:6-7. How should we react when times of difficulty come and God seems distant?

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Background music: Shai Linne “Active Obedience (Instrumental)” from album Lyrical Theology Part One: Theology – courtesy of Lamp Mode Recordings