Psalm 42 — As Pants the Hart for Water Brooks
Theological Analysis
A metrical versification of Psalm 42, the psalm of spiritual longing. The vivid image of a deer panting for water brooks captures the soul's deep thirst for God. Remarkable for its honesty about spiritual depression and its refrain of self-counsel: "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? Hope thou in God."
✓ Theological Strengths
- Direct versification of inspired Scripture — Psalm 42
- Iconic imagery of spiritual thirst for God
- Honest about spiritual depression and doubt
- Models self-counsel and preaching to one's own soul
- Ends with hope in God despite present sorrow
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Full Lyrics
As pants the hart for water brooks,
So pants my soul for thee,
O God: My soul doth thirst for God,
The living God to see.
When shall I come and appear
Before the face of God?
My tears have unto me been meat,
Both in the night and day,
While unto me continually
They say, Where is thy God?
My soul is poured out in me,
When this I think upon:
Because that with the multitude
I heretofore had gone;
With them into God's house I went
With voice of joy and praise;
Yea, with the multitude that kept
The solemn holy days.
O why art thou cast down, my soul?
Why in me so dismayed?
Trust God, for I shall praise him yet,
His count'nance is mine aid.
My God, my soul's cast down in me;
Thee therefore mind I will
From Jordan's land, the Hermonites,
And ev'n from Mizar hill.
Why art thou then cast down, my soul?
What should discourage thee?
And why with vexing thoughts art thou
Disquieted in me?
Still trust in God; for him to praise
Good cause I yet shall have:
He of my count'nance is the health,
My God that doth me save.
This hymn is in the public domain.
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