Satisfied

Gladys Crook

A few thoughts on the word “Satisfy” found in the Psalms:

In the 90th Psalm, verse 3, we find that the Lord turned man to destruction and then commanded, “Return, ye children of men,” and how it seemed to be a continual dwelling in the fear and wrath of the Lord. They realized how short their life really was, and finally, in verse 13 cried out, “Return, O LORD, how long? And let it repent thee concerning thy servants.” In verse 14, they cried out, “O satisfy us early with thy mercy, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.” Surely, it is only the mercies of the Lord that can satisfy the soul. “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning” Lam. 3:22,23.

Then in Psalm 107, verse 9: “For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.” Only the Lord can fill that longing down deep within us, and also the hunger for Him. In this Psalm, we see how the children of Israel and we are much alike, left to ourselves. They were constantly moving away from the Lord, and when they got into deep trouble, they cried unto the Lord. God is always faithful to hear the cry of His own, and He delivered them out of their distresses. Four times in this Psalm we read, “Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness and his wonderful works to the children of men!” They seemingly forget so quickly.

In Psalm 103, verse 5, we read, “Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” There are many good things mentioned in the Word. Hebrews 13:9: “…it is good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.” Also in Psalm 92:1 we read, ‘It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night.” Also Psalm 84:11: “For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.” So we thank the Lord that we can be satisfied with good things, and can be renewed like the eagle.

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” Psalm 91:1. The last verse reads, “With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.” The Lord gives a long life of satisfaction, and all the while He shows us His salvation, which is Jesus Christ. Simeon, coming into the temple, took up the baby Jesus in his arms and said, “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace…For mine eyes have seen thy salvation…A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel” Luke 2:29-32.

The lest verse of Psalm 17: “As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied when I awake, with thy likeness.” We shall not be fully satisfied until we behold Him and are made like Him, fully conformed to His image.