Digging Deeper ~ Psalm 84:2

·      Step 1: Write out the verse:

 My soul yearns, even faints,

 for the courts of the Lord;

 my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

• Step 2: Look up the verse in other translations and make note of the differences.

 My soul yearns (longeth – ASV), even faints (pines and is homesick – AMP),

 For the courts of the Lord (Jehovah – ASV); (I desperately want to be in the courts of the Lord’s temple – NET)

 My heart and my flesh cry out (and sing for joy – AMP) (my entire being shout for joy – NET) (with my whole being, body and soul – NLT) for the living God.

• Step 3: Cross Reference the verse or specific words in the passage.

• Step 4: Look key words up in the concordance or dictionary to gain a better understanding of the word.

 Yearns – (v) to have an earnest or strong desire; long; to feel tenderness; be moved or attracted; synonym – crave, pine, thirst

 Pine – (v) long for, yearn deeply; synonym – crave, desire, thirst for, yearn

 Desperately – (adj) having an urgent need, desire, giving all (adj) severely; synonym – fiercely, greatly

 Jehovah – (n) a name of God in the Old Testament

 Courts – (n) stately dwelling; special or devoted attention in order to win favor; affection (v) to try to win the favor, preference, or goodwill

• Step 5: Rewrite the verse in your own words and ask questions God brings to mind or write notes on what He has revealed during the study.

 My soul yearns, craves, pines, thirsts, and desperately wants to be with the Lord. How much do I crave, long for time with God? Do I thirst for His Living Water the way I thirst for earthly food and drink? Do I desire God’s attention, favor and preference over that of people?

 My heart and flesh cry out, sing for joy for the living God. Do I worship God with my whole being, body and soul? How often do I praise God and thank Him for the work of His hands? Do my actions show the joy of my heart for the Lord?

 Lord help us to crave you more than the things of this world. Give us the strength to overcome the obstacles that we face. May others see you as we sing for joy to you. In Your Name I Pray, Amen.

I would love for you to share in the comments section how God spoke to you through Psalm 84:2.

In His Calm,