As The Deer

Album: We Draw Near (1984)
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Songfacts®:

  • In 1984 Martin "Marty" Nystrom was a school teacher in Seattle. Since he had the summer off he traveled to Dallas, Texas to spend time at the Christ For the Nations Institute. Marty had an ulterior motive, as he was interested in a girl there. However the prospective relationship didn't work out leaving him feeling heartbroken and regretful over his choice of spending the summer in Texas.

    Marty had a roommate at CFNI who was a very enthusiastic Christian. His friend challenged him to go on a fast, to consume nothing but water as a way to draw himself back toward God.

    Marty recalled to the St. Augustine Record's Lindsay Terry what happened next: "I took up the challenge, and on the 19th day of the fast I found myself sitting at a piano trying to write a song. I was simply playing chord progressions when I noticed a Bible on the music stand of the piano. It was open to Psalm 42. My eyes fell on the first verse of that chapter... 'As the hart (deer) panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.' After reading the verse I began to sing its message, right off the page. I wrote the first verse and the chorus of a song, pretty much straight through. The whole of the adventure was completed in a matter of minutes. I then repeated the song I had just written. I wanted to seal it in my mind."

    "I had no intention of showing the song to anyone," Marty continued. "It was to be for my own devotional time with the Lord. However, before leaving the school to go back to Seattle, I did share it with one person, Dave Butterbaugh. He introduced it to the students of the school and it became a favorite."

    The words and the melody that Marty composed resonated with many. Since the introduction of the song, it has been translated into several languages and is sung in churches worldwide.

Comments: 4

  • Pat from Glasgow Scotland When my 2yr old daughter died 3 things happen to me the first was a big white feather was sitting on my living room floor 2nd was a lady approached me in the supermarket and started telling me things about my daughter the 3rd was a beautiful deer standing at my daughter grave so graciously and beautiful I just stood and watched the deer then after a few minutes it graciously disappeared my auntie gave me a book by Hannah Hubbard hinds of a deers it’s about gods children here on earth. I love this song reminds me of my angel.
  • Timothy Thomas from NigeriaThis song is serious massage to everyone listen to it. I pray and hope my heart will continue to seek God as though the deer search for water in the desert.
  • Veronica Wolfe from Limestone, MiI just love this song so much and it has a message that I am so very needful of at this time. Praise the Lord for Marty Nystrom having written such a beautiful song.
  • Veronica Wolfe from Limestone, MiSuch a beautiful, meanginful song.
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