During the early years of my Christian walk, I learned and sang many songs whose lyrics were taken directly from Scripture, particularly the Psalms. Each one is embedded in my heart, and I’m incredibly grateful for a rich foundation that emphasized praise and worship as a means of entering into the courts of our King.

Many of us are familiar with Psalm 42. The first two verses express the author’s intense desire to seek and know God.

(Is the tune playing in your head?)

You may be very familiar with these verses and the hymn that accompanies them. The danger with familiarity is that we can be tempted to speed-read our way through well-known passages and completely miss the treasure hidden within.

Personally, I’ve discovered two things within Psalm 42 that have refreshed my weary heart.

1. Taking note of repeated words and phrases is an important tool to use as we attempt to interpret any passage in Scripture. Have you ever noticed that the word “soul” is repeated six times in this chapter? This is not only significant, but it’s worth digging into in order to understand what the author wants to communicate.

Unfortunately, our Western view of “soul” originates from Ancient Greek philosophy, which communicates that our soul is the immortal essence of our being—something trapped within our bodies until it is released at the time of death.

However, the original Hebrew word for soul does not communicate that. It literally means “throat,” and it can have several applications.

According to one Hebrew scholar, “In the Hebrew mind, we are composed of multiple parts. The body is the flesh and bones, the vessel. The organs are viewed as the seats of thought (the heart), emotion (the kidneys), intuition (gut), etc. The breath is one’s character, what makes a person who they are. The soul is the whole of the person, the unity of the body, organs and breath. It is not some immaterial spiritual entity, it is you, all of you, your whole being or self.” (Jeff Benner)

So, when the author says that his soul is thirsty for the one and only “living God,” I read that, physically, his throat (soul) is dry from the weariness of being “cast down,” but his whole being is in need of the kind of refreshing that only a living God (not a dead one) can provide.

2. The psalmist uses a panting deer as his metaphor to express his intense desire to know God. One of the first things we learn about reading Scripture is that there is nothing haphazard about any of the words. The author didn’t just randomly pick a deer panting for water as his best option to describe his own thirst. Every word in every verse of Scripture is intentional and carries with it deep meaning. The Hebrew word for “pant” implies a desperate need for water. It’s a dire situation for this deer.

The famous American poet Emily Dickinson wrote that a “wounded deer leaps the highest” (which is also the poem’s title). One writer analyzed her work by noting that the deer jumps in such a way that one might think it is full of life, but in reality, it has sustained a fatal blow. The animal is attempting to gather one last burst of energy, leaping its highest before succumbing to the inevitable sentence of death.

Is it plausible that the deer in Psalm 42 has something in common with Dickinson’s animal? Perhaps his soul is “cast down” and “disquieted” because he has encountered some kind of life-altering event that has forced him into a desperate situation.

Deer are very aware of their surroundings. God created them with characteristics that enable them to sense and escape predators. They have the stamina to run long distances and powerful legs that enable them to leap and jump with ease. The Bible describes them as surefooted, which enables them to traverse rough terrain and climb steep mountainsides.

But what happens to the deer that has been wounded? How does it respond to a life-threatening event?

While deer are herbivores they will, on occasion, as needed, eat meat. Like snakes! (Not kidding.)

I read one Jewish medieval interpretation of Psalm 42 that suggests the reason the deer is desperately seeking strong-flowing, deep, cool, refreshing water is because snake venom will heat up its body and the water will neutralize the effects of the poison.

Another commentator points out that deer were overhunted for their tasty meat in that region during that time. Many times, hunting dogs chased deer to exhaustion, causing them to seek the shelter and refreshment of deep waters in their attempt to escape from their predators.

The psalmist is in such anguish that verse 3 says that his tears have been his food, day and night. He’s desperately crying out to God for help.

Did you know that deer can become so desperate for water that, in their suffering, they will make a strange braying noise and walk openly among the wadis in their search for water? This exposes them to great danger, but they are willing to risk it for the only thing that will save them from certain death.

The first part of verse 7 grabs my attention. It reads, “Deep calls unto deep.” While being deeply poetic, this phrase is also incredibly relatable. How many times have I desperately cried out for God to provide what only He can! He is the only source of Living Water. The exciting part of this verse is the hope that is imbibed in the next part, “At the noise of Your waterfalls; all your waves and billows have gone over me.” The deer found what he was looking for. He could hear it before he could see or feel it, which likely strengthened him for one last energetic burst.

Put your hope in God, and run like a deer who has nothing to lose but what he’s already lost, and everything to gain by the God who hears the desperate braying of your soul. He is the God who has promised to not only rescue all those who call upon His name but also provides a way of escape while at the same time refreshing your soul with His Living Water.

Drink your fill, and frolic in the healing waters of His presence. He will enable you to finish your race.