Psalm 42:2

2 Comme un cerf brame après les eaux courantes, ainsi mon âme soupire après toi, ô Dieu!

Psalm 42:2 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 42:2

My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God
Who is so called, in opposition to the idols of the Gentiles, which were lifeless statues; and who is the author, giver, and maintainer of natural life; and who has promised and provided eternal life in his Son; and is himself the fountain of life, and the fountain of living waters, and a place of broad rivers and streams: particularly his lovingkindness, which is better than life, is a pure river of water of life, the streams where make glad the saints; and hence it is that the psalmist thirsted after God, and the discoveries of his love: saying,

when shall I come and appear before God?
meaning, not in heaven, as desiring the beatific vision; but in the tabernacle, where were the worship of God, and the ark, the symbol of the divine Presence, and where the Israelites appeared before him, even in Zion; see ( Psalms 84:7 ) .

Psalm 42:2 In-Context

1 Au maître-chantre. Cantique des enfants de Coré.

2 Comme un cerf brame après les eaux courantes, ainsi mon âme soupire après toi, ô Dieu!

3 Mon âme a soif de Dieu, du Dieu vivant; quand entrerai-je et me présenterai-je devant la face de Dieu?

4 Les larmes sont devenues mon pain jour et nuit, pendant qu'on me dit sans cesse: Où est ton Dieu?

5 Voici ce que je me rappelle, et j'en repasse le souvenir dans mon cœur: c'est que je marchais entouré de la foule, je m'avançais à sa tête jusqu'à la maison de Dieu, avec des cris de joie et de louange, en cortège de fête.