As the Deer Pants for the Water Brooks

The opening of this psalm has been made into a popular worship song. It describes the longing of the soul for God. From the bottom of the soul there is a longing for God that cannot be filled by anything else apart from God Himself.

The psalmist appears to be taunted by his enemies who ask where is his God. The psalmist soul is cast down and yet there is hope which cries out to God and desire to praise Him.

Psalm 42

To the Chief Musician. A Contemplation[a] of the sons of Korah.

 1 As the deer pants for the water brooks,
         So pants my soul for You, O God.
 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
         When shall I come and appear before God?[b]
 3 My tears have been my food day and night,
         While they continually say to me,
         “Where is your God?”
       
 4 When I remember these things,
         I pour out my soul within me.
         For I used to go with the multitude;
         I went with them to the house of God,
         With the voice of joy and praise,
         With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast.
       
 5 Why are you cast down, O my soul?
         And why are you disquieted within me?
         Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him
         For the help of His countenance.[c]
       
 6 O my God,[d] my soul is cast down within me;
         Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan,
         And from the heights of Hermon,
         From the Hill Mizar.
 7 Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls;
         All Your waves and billows have gone over me.
 8 The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime,
         And in the night His song shall be with me—
         A prayer to the God of my life.
       
 9 I will say to God my Rock,
         “Why have You forgotten me?
         Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
 10 As with a breaking of my bones,
         My enemies reproach me,
         While they say to me all day long,
         “Where is your God?”
       
 11 Why are you cast down, O my soul?
         And why are you disquieted within me?
         Hope in God;
         For I shall yet praise Him,
         The help of my countenance and my God.