The Hart and the Believer
(Psalm 42)

“<<To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah.>> As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.”
Psalm 42;1.

The hart and the believer in Christ have several common attributes which are worthy of our attention, according to King David. The greatest of which is a constant thirst for water. The hart runs hot and dry all the time, is in constant need of the cool refreshing streams of the water brook, and spends most of it's time looking for or drinking from the brook.

The true believer, having been born again, is in such a state of grace in his soul that the rivers of living water have become his all consuming desire.  “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” John 7;37,38.

The water of life is symbolic of the presence and life giving rejuvenating grace of God, of God Himself. “For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.” Jer 2;13. “O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters.” Jeremiah. 17;13.

To hunger and thirst for righteousness, to hunger and thirst as David here describes it, is a post cross experience. It is a state of blessing. “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5;6. As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the word, even so the spiritual desire spiritual things. To pant after God is a grace few know.

But more! The hart is described in the old testament as a clean animal. “Even as the roebuck and the hart is eaten, so thou shalt eat them: the unclean and the clean shall eat of them alike.” Deuteronomy 12;22. This too is a picture of the true believer who has been made clean by the blood of Christ through the preaching of the gospel. “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” John 15;3.  “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water” Hebrews 10;19-22.

And whereas by nature we were unclean, separated from the life of GOD, children of wrath even as others, yet God in His providence of grace has purposed the cleansing of His elect through Christ, and has made us accepted in the beloved. “And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.” Acts 10;15.

But more! Because the hart is a clean animal, it is to be eaten and was a common source of meat for the hunter. The hart is most athirst when being vehemently pursued by the hunter. He pants with great mourning for the waters of life as his refuge and strength.

This also represents the state of the believer in this world. For it is in this context that King David speaks of his longing and want of God. He was being hunted, and pursued by his enemies to destroy him. He was a fugitive and destitute of the privileged graces of God. “My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?” Ps 42;3. “As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?” Ps 42;10.

His own son Absalom conspired his overthrow and murder. David’s soul was troubled.  “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. O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar. Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.” Ps 42;5-8. Even so the child of GOD is hunted spiritually by Satan, the world, and his own fallen nature.

It is in these times that the child of God is most inclined to call upon God. “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” Romans 8;15. And while these troubles may abound and while the soul is in distress, yet because God is a very present help in times of trouble, there is a good hope through grace. “Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.” Ps 42;8. “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” Ps 42;11.

Child of God pant after HIM!