Psalms 42:1 As The Deer Pants For The Water - Uplifting Hymn

In this post, we will be sharing with you the meaning of the popular hymn, ‘As The Deer Pants For The Water So My Soul Longs After You’. This hymn was penned down by Martin J. Nystrom in 1982 and it is based on Psalm 42:1.

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God - Psalm 42:1-2 (NIV)

As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; - Psalm 42:1-2 (NASB)

Table of Contents

As the deer pants for streams of water

This hymn is a beautiful expression of the human soul’s thirst for God. In the first two lines of the hymn, the psalmist compares his longing for God to a deer’s thirst for water. A deer panting for water is a very strong visual image that speaks of the intensity of the deer’s thirst. Similarly, our souls can also long for God with great intensity. We may not always be aware of it, but there is a part of us that is always searching for something more.

So my soul pants for you

The psalmist goes on to say that as the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs after you. This is a very personal statement that speaks of the deep yearning that we all have for God. It is this yearning that leads us to seek Him in prayer and worship. When we come into contact with God, we find that He is the source of all life and love. We may not always understand why we feel this longing for God, but it is there nonetheless.

This hymn is a reminder to us that even though we may not always be aware of it, our souls constantly thirst for God. He is the source of all life and love, and we will never be truly satisfied until we come into contact with Him.

You alone are my heart’s desire

The psalmist ends the hymn with a declaration of love for God. He says that God is the only one who can satisfy his heart’s desire. This is a beautiful way of saying that we can only find true happiness and fulfilment in God. When we turn to Him, we discover that He is the only one who can truly satisfy our needs.

And I long to worship you

This final line is a perfect summary of the message of the hymn. We were made to worship God and we will never be truly satisfied until we do. When we worship God, we enter into a relationship with Him that is the source of all life and love. We may not always be aware of our need for God, but our souls will always long for Him.

As The Deer Panteth Song Lyric (Credit: Maranatha Music)

Verse 1:

As the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after thee
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship you.

Chorus:

You alone are my strength my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship you.

Verse 2:

You’re my friend and You are my brother,
Even though you are my king!
I love you more than any other,
So much more than anything.

Chorus:

You alone are my strength my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship you.

Verse 3:

I want You more than gold or silver,
Only You can satisfy.
You alone are the real joy Giver,
And the apple of my eye.

Chorus:

You alone are my strength my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship you.

As The Deer Pants For The Water lyrics

Where in the Bible does it say as the deer pants for water?

The verse that this hymn is based on is Psalm 42:1, which says, "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God." This verse speaks of the intense longing that we have for God.

Who wrote the song "As the deer pants for the water?"

The song was written by Martin J. Nystrom in 1982. It is based on Psalm 42:1, which speaks of the intense longing that we have for God.

What is the relationship between the deer and water?

The deer is a symbol of the human soul's thirst for God. In the first two lines of the hymn, the psalmist compares his longing for God to a deer's thirst for water. A deer panting for water represents the intensity of the deer's thirst. Similarly, our souls can also long for God with great intensity.

Where is Marty Nystrom now?

Marty Nystrom is a contemporary Christian music artist who is still active in the industry today. He has released several albums and continues to tour.

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As the deer pants for water, so my soul pants for you

We hope that you have been blessed by the meaning of the popular hymn, ‘As The Deer Pants For The Water So My Soul Longs After You’.

Do you long for God? What are some ways that you have expressed this longing to God who is our real joy giver? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

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Hi, I'm Isaac, a blogger, trivia enthusiast and owner of Trivia Faith Blog, a platform dedicated to providing a unique perspective on faith, spirituality, and engaging trivia quiz.

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