“My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” -Psalm 42: 2-3
One of the classic old school joints for praise and worship comes from Psalm 42. I am sure that most of us have sung “As the deer” for so many years that it has been filed away in the “songs to never ever sing again file.” (Other songs could also included “Lord I Lift Your Name on High,” and “Every Move I Make” – the motions also banned).
There are even some of you that when the song is sung, you shout BANG – after you repeat the first line about a deer. Classic. I love the things we do to Scripture in worship for the sake of our entertainment… but I digress. My point here is that with the familiarity of the song we can fall into the trap of losing the beauty of the message. The familiar fades the truth away, and when it is too familiar it is no longer relevant. The word of God, however, is that which desires to communicate to us the very grace and life of God.
Take a look at the following verses. Are there any songs that talk about eating ones tears or food all day and night? How can one set that in the key of G with an acoustic guitar to rock it out? With the hungering and thirsting for God comes often a physical response. Jesus promised that those who hunger and thirst after righteousness would be filled. The psalmist here is not after that; they are after the living God. Did you know that you can meet with God? For instance – I know that many of you may have a special place in your heart for Delanco Camp. But not just for Delanco Camp… there is probably a place at the camp, a special place where you have met with God. Perhaps it is on the bridge in the quiet of the morning, or in the chapel of the pines, or in the Tabernacle?
Often we hear of the altar stories from camp where the evangelist can point to the place at the altar and say it was HERE that they met God. One night for me, I couldn’t even make it to the altar because of the paralysis that came from my tears. I stayed in the pew eating and drinking my tears because God met with me and I surrendered my life to Him. It seems that even now as I walk by the tears are stained into the dusty floor. During this season of Lent, we are meant to take time to pray, reflect, and sacrifice. This is a time to eat our tears. Would you create some space in your life to meet with God? Do you thirst after the living God? He will meet with you. You do not have to worry or fear, He is not hiding from you. Seek Him out during this time of Lent and you will find Him.
Bon appétit on your tears during this season of Lent.
