Sicut areola praeparata ad inrigationes aquarum sic anima mea praeparata est ad Te Deus.
This verse comes from the Latin Vulgate. It is, according to its numbering system, Psalm 41:2. Translated into English, it reads: "As the ground is prepared for the irrigation of water, so my soul is prepared for You, God." In our modern translations, this is Psalm 42:1: "As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for Thee, O God."
My wife and I have a cat named Buttercup. Sunday morning, as I was getting up, she was making constant, obnoxious noise. Upon inspection, I found the reason for her whining: she was out of water. I picked up her water bowl; she was at my feet meowing with every step I took. As the faucet ran, her cries continued. She found no relief until her water bowl was back in its rightful place filled with fresh, cool water.
Not having water was a source of distress for Buttercup. She thirsted for it. Hers is a more domesticated image, but the message is the same. Without water, the animal withers. Even after getting a drink, eventually the thirst comes back. Water is necessary for life and growth. God is the same for our souls.
We thirst for what only God can give. Jesus said that He would give water and that whoever drank from this supply would never thirst again (John 4:13-14). He spoke not of the literal water which could be drawn from the well; instead, His parable gave an image of the source and hope of life with God, a life that has both present and future implications. In the next verse, the woman to whom He spoke eagerly asked for this water. We have the same opportunity. There is, however, a flip side to this: we can choose not to drink. Our rational minds, to our detriment, can convince us that we will be fine without the water.
This brings us back to Jerome's Latin interpretation. When I read this several weeks ago, it struck me as incredible. You see, when we know we are thirsty, we often choose to go for other things. I am a fan of Dr. Pepper, as well as a variety of hot teas. I choose them, knowing that they may not always be the best drink for me. The imagery which Jerome uses is striking because of its implications: as the farmer prepares the ground to receive water, so our souls must be prepared. The ground can only prepare itself to a certain extent, and it has no control over how much water the rain provides. The farmer takes all things into account and gives the necessary water source and supply for growth.
The amazing thing is that God does just that. Whether you prefer the illustration of the deer to that of the soil, the point is the same. God is the source of growth and hope. Without the water, the deer cannot survive. Without the water, the ground cannot produce.
We need to thirst daily for this water which Christ gives, water which will become "a well of water springing up to eternal life."
The amazing thing is that God does just that. Whether you prefer the illustration of the deer to that of the soil, the point is the same. God is the source of growth and hope. Without the water, the deer cannot survive. Without the water, the ground cannot produce.
We need to thirst daily for this water which Christ gives, water which will become "a well of water springing up to eternal life."
Bibliography
Biblia Sacra Vulgata: The Latin Vulgate Bible. Kindle.
New American Standard Bible. La Habra, CA: Lockman Foundation, 1977. Kindle.
Biblia Sacra Vulgata: The Latin Vulgate Bible. Kindle.
New American Standard Bible. La Habra, CA: Lockman Foundation, 1977. Kindle.
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