As the deer pants for the water
So my soul pants for You
All my tears have been my fodder
Day and night my only food
Oh my soul you feel forgotten
Put your hope in Christ alone
As the deer longs for the water
So my soul longs to be home
Come thou fount of living water
Tune my heart to bless Your name
Streams of trouble never ceasing
Call for songs of loudest praise
As the deep cries out for answers
As Your waves crash over me
Let Your goodness, like a fetter
Bind my broken heart to Thee
In the night Your song is with me
Day by day You hold me fast
Oh my soul hope in Jesus
You shall praise your God at last
Deep calls to deep
Waves of unbelief
Breakers crash and bring me
falling to my knees
It goes on and and on
Where is my God
My salvation is in You and You alone
Psalm 42 (Loudest Praise)
Psalm 42 (Loudest Praise) Song Meaning, Biblical Reference and Inspiration
Shane & Shane released the song "Psalm 42 (Loudest Praise)" on March 17, 2023. The song draws its core inspiration directly from Psalm 42 in the Bible, a lament expressing deep longing for God amidst distress and opposition. The video background accompanying the song's release visually complements this theme, often featuring natural, elemental imagery that reflects the scriptural text's references to water, waves, and the deep, enhancing the contemplative and sometimes overwhelming mood conveyed by the music and lyrics.
The lyrical content of the song faithfully captures the essence of Psalm 42, beginning with the iconic imagery of a deer thirsting for water as a metaphor for the soul's intense yearning for God. It speaks to the experience of emotional hardship, where tears become a constant companion, and the soul feels overlooked or forgotten. Yet, embedded within this expression of struggle is a recurring call to the soul to place its hope firmly in Christ alone, recalling the psalmist's self-exhortation to hope in God despite current circumstances. The song connects this longing to a desire for ultimate spiritual home and closeness with the divine.
Further verses introduce classical Christian hymnology with the phrase "Come thou fount of living water," merging the ancient thirst of Psalm 42 with the New Testament concept of Christ as the living water. The lyrics acknowledge "streams of trouble never ceasing," painting a picture of relentless difficulties, yet paradoxically, these trials are identified as the very catalyst that should provoke "songs of loudest praise." This reflects the biblical theme found in numerous psalms and New Testament writings where praise arises not from the absence of suffering, but from faith in God's character and future deliverance even within it. The song portrays overwhelming challenges using the metaphor of the deep calling to the deep and waves crashing over the individual, referencing Psalm 42:7. It describes being brought low, even to one's knees, by these "waves of unbelief" and trials, questioning God's presence ("Where is my God"). However, the response is an anchor point of faith: finding salvation and hope solely in God.
The song concludes with a reaffirmation of God's presence and sustaining power, stating that His song is with the believer even in the night and that He holds them fast day by day. It reiterates the command to the soul to hope in Jesus, culminating in the confident declaration that the soul *shall* ultimately praise God. This journey from deep thirst and despair to resolute hope and promised praise encapsulates the powerful message of finding strength and expressing worship even in the midst of profound personal struggle, making it a source of inspiration for listeners facing their own difficulties, reminding them where true hope resides according to the scriptural narrative.
