“I open my mouth and pant, longing for Your commands.” -Psalm 119:131

I love how God uses physical elements to point to deeper truths. Bread, light, water, and air are all things we as humans understand. They are basic needs for our survival. The Lord uses physical objects to lead His people to a knowledge of Jesus. God’s message is not muddled. He loves us too much to make the Gospel confusing or irrelevant. This verse demonstrates a connection between bodily panting and spiritual thirst. We know what it is to pant, to be out of breath from a long run or because the scorching heat of the day brings about thirst. Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well that He had living water to give her. Rightly He did. Those who trust in Jesus as Savior will never thirst again. He alone quenches our spiritual thirst. Yet every saint knows as he grows that the well goes even deeper. Cool, sweet water.

In C.S. Lewis’ The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Reepicheep the valiant mouse seeks the end of the world with those aboard the ship. He remembers his nurse from when he was young telling stories of “where sky and water meet, where the waves grow sweet, doubt not Reepicheep, to find all you seek, there is the utter East.” So the saint will pant for more of what he has tasted of God’s goodness.

The psalmist Asaph wrote of God’s promises to those who worship Him alone. The Lord has said, “Open wide your mouth and I will fill it” (Psalm 81:10). Later in the same psalm God contrasts His actions toward those who hate Him with people who serve Him. He again promises to His children, “But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you” (Psalm 81:16). Who alone can satisfy the God shaped vacuum in each of us but the Lord Himself? And He promises to do so. God’s commands continually revive the withered spirit from His wellspring of Life. His mercies are new each day. Our Lord is faithful to feed and water His sheep.

Grace upon grace,

April

Growing deeper: John 4:4-30; 6:35-40; 7:37-39; 8:12; 10:1-21