“Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in; hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in. Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.” Psalm 107:4-9
In our journey to comprehend how God loves us, we must explore the concept of soul satisfaction. The verses from Psalm 107:4-5 paint a poignant picture of those wandering in desert wastes, hungry and thirsty, their souls fainting within them. Ours is perhaps the most affluent generation the world has ever seen. We’ve seemingly found ways to meet all our needs, access entertainment, and connect with the world. Despite this abundance, we see starving souls everywhere. The more we accumulate, the emptier we feel.
Divine Satisfaction
As we examined in the first article of this series, being cut off from the love of God is akin to being deprived of an essential resource. Just as water is indispensable for our physical well-being, the love of God is indispensable for our souls. We cannot replace the love of God with anything else and expect to find satisfaction.
Verses 7-9 reveal God’s redemptive plan: “He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in. Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.” God’s sovereign love is not merely about providing us with the minimum required for salvation; it lavishes us with His goodness. God leads us to a city where we have everything we need.
Ephesians 1:3 reinforces this notion, proclaiming that we are blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Jesus is the all-satisfying Savior who meets all the needs of our souls. Similarly, Colossians 2:9-10 says, “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.” Jesus, the one who is Himself the fullness of God, fills all those who come to Him. God is not stingy with His people; He abundantly provides for them, in Christ.
The Five Components of Soul Satisfaction
Every soul hungers for five fundamental components: intimacy, purity, safety, purpose, and peace. Just as an all-inclusive city caters to all our needs, Jesus is an all-inclusive Savior who satisfies our souls. In Christ, we find:
1. Intimacy: Communion with Him that satisfies our souls like no other intimacy can.
2. Purity: Forgiveness and purification through the death and resurrection of Jesus.
3. Safety: Assurance that our souls are securely entrusted to Him, unaffected by the world’s trials.
4. Purpose: The purpose of glorifying God, reflecting Him, and participating in His mission.
5. Peace: A stillness, calmness, and contentment that only Christ can bring to our lives.
Finding True Satisfaction in Jesus
Too often, we settle for trying to satisfy a few components of our souls with Jesus while seeking fulfillment in other places. It’s time to recognize that Jesus Christ is all we need. When we experience discontentment, we must turn to Jesus to find what our souls long for, for there is nothing more valuable than a satisfied soul in Jesus. And in giving us Jesus, God demonstrates that His love not only saves us but also satisfies us.
We will turn next week to conclude our deep dive into the love of God.
