A God Who Satisfies

As I have indicated elsewhere, satisfaction in this life comes in many ways.¹ For example, due to his satisfaction, the psalmist praises God for his provision, even needs:

From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;
before those who fear you will I fulfill my vows.

The poor will eat and be satisfied;
they who seek the LORD will praise him –
may your hearts live forever! (Ps.22:25-26)²

Indeed, it is the Lord who gives complete satisfaction. So it is that the suffering psalmist (Moses) pleads with God saying,

Relent, O LORD! How long will it be?
Have compassion on your servants.

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days (Ps. 90:13-14).

Such was in accord with God’s giving the psalmist assurance that:

Because he loves me, says the LORD, I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.

With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation (Ps. 91:14-16)

So also in a psalm attributed to David we read:

The LORD is faithful to all his promises
and loving to all he has made.

The LORD upholds all those who fall
and lifts up all who are bogged down.

The eyes of all look to you
and you give them their food at the proper time.

You open your hand
and satisfy the desires of every living thing (Ps. 145:13b-16).

The Lord satisfies the need of the believer in many different ways. Thus, David says elsewhere:

Praise the LORD, O my soul
and forget not all his benefits –

who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,

who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s (Ps. 103:2-5).

Another psalmist proclaims boldly:

He waters the mountains from his upper chambers;
the earth is satisfied by the fruit of his work. (Ps. 104:13)

He goes on to state how even natural elements are really the work of the Lord (vv. 14-23; cf. vv. 27-28). So it is that he proudly declares:

May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
may the LORD rejoice in his works (v.31).

It is a small wonder, then, that David, after expressing his love for God (Ps. 63:1-2) assures the Lord that:

Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.

I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.

My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips, my lips will praise you (Ps. 63:3-5).

“The psalmist knows in whom he has believed and is persuaded that this great God will deliver him.”³ Surely it is the Lord who “satisfies” the believers desires with good things. For example, it is he who works “righteousness” and “justice” – even for the “oppressed” (Ps. 103:5-6). So also David praises the Lord saying,

You still the hunger of those you cherish;
their sons have plenty,
and they store up wealth for their children.

And I – in righteousness I will see your face;
when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness (Ps. 17:14-15).

All of this stands in strong contrast with the words of Solomon in the book of Proverbs:

Death and Destruction are never satisfied,
and neither are the eyes of man. (Pr. 27:20)

So also in Proverbs 30 the “wise man” Agur, is quoted as saying:

There are three things that are never satisfied,
four that never say, “Enough!”
the grave, the barren womb,
land, which is never satisfied with water,
and fire which never says, “Enough!” (Pr. 30:15-16).

We read a similar sentiment in Ecclesiastes 6:7:

All man’s efforts are for his mouth,
yet his appetite is never satisfied.

How much better it is to live a life in full dependence on the Lord. “A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?” (Ecc. 2:24-25). As Tremper Longman III observes, “In other words, this is the best that a person can hope for in this life that will end in death.”⁴

Indeed, there is nothing better for mankind, especially believers, to do than live a life in full dependence on and trust in the Lord. This is true satisfaction!

Here at thy table, Lord, this sacred hour,
Oh let us feel Thee near, in loving pow’r
Calling our thoughts away from self and sin,
As to Thy banquet hall we enter in.
So shall our life of faith be full, be sweet;
And we shall find our strength for each day meet
Fed by thy living bread, all hunger pass,
We shall be satisfied, and saved at last.⁵

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¹ See R.D. Patterson, “Psalm 22: From Trial to Triumph”, JETS, 47:2, 2004.

² All scriptural references are from the NIV.

³ Willem A. Van Gemeren, “Psalms”, in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1991), 5, 426.

⁴ Tremper Longman III, “Ecclesiastes & Song of Songs” in Cornerstone Biblical Commentary (Carol Stream, Il.: Tyndale House, 2006), 6, 272.

⁵ May P. Hoyt, “Here at Thy Table, Lord”.