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Yearning and Fainting For

Sometimes we can inadvertently gloss over the intensity of what an author might be experiencing and is writing about.

Recently, I was reading in Psalm 84 where the Psalmist wrote that his soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord (v. 2).

Wait, yearning and fainting, now that’s looking a bit intense!

To yearn for is to have an intense feeling of longing for something or a very eager desire.

To faint for is yearning for something that might result in becoming weak, lightheaded or even giddy.

The Amplified Version uses some additional words that might help provide some possible insights into the intensity of what the Psalmist was feeling:  “My soul yearns, yes, even pines and is homesick for the courts of the Lord;”

The meaning of “pines” is probably not very familiar to most.  It means to yearn intensely and persistently and even to feel very sad because one wants (something) or because one is not with (someone).

That’s not just looking a bit intense, that is intense!  So why all this desperate yearning?  The Psalmist himself sheds some light on that question in the very same Psalm:

·         “How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts.” (v. 1)

·         “Blessed are those who dwell in your house.” (v. 4)

·         “For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.” (v. 10)

A lovely dwelling place, blessings for all those who dwell there and a vivid comparison of its incredible value, I think the picture is becoming clearer as to why the yearning!

Yet, the desire for the Psalmist to be in God’s dwelling place probably had less to do with the beauty and desirability of the place and more to do with the fact that the Lord’s presence was there.

This seems to have been confirmed when I read where one commentator suggested the wording indicates that the Psalmist’s desire was deep and insatiable and that the very soul of the man was yearning for his God.

So I think it would be safe to say that while the Psalmist said he yearns, even faints for the courts of the Lord, what he really desired above all else was to be where God Himself was so that he could enjoy His presence.

So I do have to ask myself if my desire for God runs that deep and is that insatiable.  It certainly should be!

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