The Levite is far from Jerusalem, exiled to the land where the Jordan originates. The sound of its flowing waters is to him a lament for the lost joy of the Temple festivals. We, too, are in exile, and this psalm should enhance our awareness of it. But our desires are not for ‘this mountain’ (Jn 4:21) or that, as the psalmists longed for Zion. Our Lord has given us a higher hope: to ‘see the face of God,’ not merely through sacred ceremonies. We are to see him ‘as he is’ (1 Jn 3:2). Pray for God to stir in you a desire for heaven. Like the Levites, we remain in exile here as long as we do not see the face of God. It’s good that we aren’t too quickly satisfied with just a few beautiful ceremonies. Long for God as a deer longs for flowing streams, and your happiness will endure forever, not just for a little while.