Deep calls unto Deep.

Read Time:5 Minute, 55 Second

By William Van Zyl (Published in Nov 2023).

Deafened by the noise of the waterfall, looking down to the next waterfall, and up to one he just fell from, Roland sighs.

“Uuuggghhh! No, not another waterfall to plunge into.”

He is thoroughly soaked in cold, pristine water. Tiny streams of water trickle slowly from his drenched hair in criss-cross patterns – like little rivers – over his perplexed face. He looks weary.

“Really, do I have to go down to another waterfall? After all I have been through?” he asked.

“The waterfalls just get bigger and bigger; the noise gets louder. The pools get deeper and deeper, and the billows of the turbulent waters roll stronger and stronger – it tumbles over me.”

“I have been down several waterfalls now. I can’t do this any more.”

“ I call on You from deep to deep. Please help me! Deliver me!”

“All Your waves and billows have washed over me.”

Arms hanging in despair, Roland whispers. “I have been ripped apart. God, please help me..”

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Have you ever been in a situation where situations just keep on deteriorating? Everything just seems to get worse and worse.

That place of destruction – have you experienced it? Everything continues to deteriorate in your life and situations around you. Have you been there? Can you recall those emotions?

Many years ago, I experienced such a waterfall-upon-waterfall situation—calling from deep unto deep. It was a very challenging process. At the end, looking back, I realised that I had lost all that dead weight. I also realise that I have developed resilience, character and tenacity. I became braver and more robust; my character was refined.

Table of Contents

Poetry in Motion

For me, two of the most poetic verses in Scripture which describe those emotions and feelings are:

Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: All thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, And in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. Psalm 42: 7 & 8 (King David).

Isn’t that just stunning poetry?

Recently, I have asked AI – Midjourney (Discord) – to create an image for me of this phrase – “Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: All thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.”

I share two of these images with you (one is on the cover).

Look closely. What do you see? Can you see the vaguely recognisable second person in the background? The person in the foreground asks: “I have been there just now (he sees himself higher up). I have been washed down to here. All these waves and billows have gone over me. Must I be washed away even further down the deep?”

Have you ever been in a situation like that? Falling and falling. Circumstances, situations, and personal emotions keep deteriorating. Falling from the ‘deep unto the deep.’ From a spiritual perspective, these situations build character. It all depends on how you view it.

David’s admissions of guilt

David knew these waterfalls – the waves and the billows. God has sent these over him to test him and to develop him. He uses prose in the Psalms to express his inner emotions and thoughts. We love reading it because we identify with him in his distress.

How do you respond to those experiences? What have you learned and developed after those waves and billows have gone over you? How has your character developed?

Tending to your personal Picket Fences

I remember a Pastor preaching about tending to your picket fences some years ago.

He said, ‘Nail the loose slats back again, and waterblast the moss and lichen off the slats. Apply a good undercoat and give the fence two quality coats of paint.’

He meant that we should – regularly – look at our personal boundary fences (e.g. fences around ‘our house’). Christians can easily avoid adhering to His Kingdom Laws, Statutes, and Precepts.

So from time to time we have to freshly demarcate the borders we have set in our lives according to His Word. Think about the movies we watch, the things we say, the images we look at, the conversations we make, leaving other people’s property alone, gossiping, keeping our word, telling tiny white lies, be honest in business, using accurate scales and weights, and much more.

How do we tend to our picket fences, you may ask? We sit down. We have an honest look at what we do daily. Identify those areas where we transgress. In a private prayer – after meditation – repent of those sins, transgressions and iniquities. The Perfect Law of Liberty (God’s Word) and His Holy Spirit will convict you of sin, righteousness and judgment. While in private, speak out about what you are doing is wrong – be accountable. Then, pray and make declarations. For example: “ Lord, I am sorry about …….. Please forgive me. Help me not to transgress by ………. I will not do that again. When that situation occurs again, I will ……….(change my response and behaviour). Please help me.

IMAGE: White picket fence with house in the background. We have to maintain our personal picket fences! It requires regular attention. Do not neglect your picket fences.

Now, if you meant it from your heart and have encountered one of those weaknesses or tempting situations and conquered it by doing the right thing, your picket fences have been restored. They are clean and painted in fresh, bright white paint. Well done! You are developing your character. You are honest, sincere, and transparent before God. You will be rewarded. Uprightness and righteousness are established. You are in right standing with God.

Between me and you, I have seen and experienced how God will use a weakness or area of transgression to develop character. He sometimes places His people inside a ‘deep’ waterfall – triggering situations and events that send shockwaves through them. He allows His waves and billows to go over His loved ones. He allows them to plunge deeper and deeper down the waterfalls. He wants them to change, He wants them to build character. Embrace it, and make those personal changes. Be quick to repent.

Genuine Character

Genuine Christian character is shaped when you surrender to Christ’s plan and purposes for your life. We are to allow His continual work to grow and enrich us as we submit to a lifestyle and an outlook on life that promotes character. Building and developing character – just like David – is something we must desire.