“For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things” (Psalm 107:9 ESV). Why is there such a longing in the human soul? Why this emptiness that no physical thing, nor human relationship can fill? We hunger and thirst, so we attempt to satisfy our craving, but to no avail.
Chapter: 107
God is Good
“Is God really good?” You ask. Sometimes you may have doubted God’s goodness. For if any of us has had a trauma, a bad diagnosis, lost a job, or suffered a failed relationship… then we’ve asked the age-old question: “If God is good, then why are these bad things happening to me?” Most of us affirm God’s goodness until something bad happens to us.
Perhaps it is our understanding of God and our understanding of what is truly good that is lacking. For who are we to approve of what is good or not? In Psalm 107, the Psalmist encouraged his hearers to give thanks to the LORD for His goodness. We can give thanks to the LORD for His great goodness towards us.
WHERE DO YOU TURN WHEN IN TROUBLE?
‘“Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He led them from the darkness and deepest gloom; he snapped their chains.’ (Psalm 107:13-14 NLT). The psalmist gave thanks to God for His deliverance in times of trouble and distress. He praised the Lord for bringing them out of the
“For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” (Psalm 107:9 NLT).
THE SOURCE OF TRUE SATISFACTION The psalmist declared that thanksgiving is due to the Lord for His wonderful goodness and mercy. For God is the only one who can truly satisfy the longing of the human soul. There is a thirst and a hunger that the body knows. God created this in man that
“Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble; He saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and gloom and broke their chains apart” (Psalm 107:13-14 HCSB).
WHERE DO YOU TURN WHEN IN TROUBLE? The psalmist gave thanks to God for His deliverance in times of trouble and distress. He praised the Lord for bringing them out of the darkness and gloom of slavery. Perhaps a reference to Israel’s time of being enslaved in Egypt. He gave thanks to God as Deliverer.
“Let the redeemed of the Lord say so” (Psalm 107:2 NKJV).
IF YOU KNOW SO, SAY SO! The psalmist David encouraged the redeemed to “say so!” If we have been redeemed (bought back, ransomed, delivered from the penalty of sin) by the Lord, the Word encourages us to “say so!” We can never repay the One who gave His life as a ransom for us, but
“For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness” (Psalm 107:9 NKJV).
THERE IS A REAL SOUL FOOD The psalmist declared that thanksgiving is due to the Lord for His wonderful goodness and mercy. For God is the only one who can truly satisfy the longing of the human soul. There is a thirst and a hunger that the body knows. God created this in man
“For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness.” (Psalm 107:9 NKJV).
Why is there such a longing in the human soul? Why this emptiness that no physical thing, nor human relationship can fill? We hunger and thirst, so we attempt to satisfy our craving, but to no avail. Since nothing of this world satisfies the soul, isn’t this evidence that it was made for something or someone beyond it?
Surely, the hole within our soul is a residual echo of the fallen image of God within us. And it can only be filled by Jesus Christ. Of whom the apostle Paul wrote, “Christ is the visible image of the invisible God… Everything was created through him and for him” (Col. 1:15-16).
We were made by Christ and “for” Christ. The longing of the human soul will never be satisfied with anything or anyone other than Christ!
“Let the redeemed of the Lord say so” (Psalm 107:2 NKJV)
Psalm 107 opens with a call to worship inviting the “redeemed” to “give thanks to the Lord.” The psalmist then begins to remind them of God’s deliverance from Egypt. This call to worship is still relevant today. If we are among the redeemed, then we should “say so,” declaring what Christ the Redeemer has done for us and giving thanks to Him for our salvation.
“Those who are wise will take all this to heart; they will see in our history the faithful love of the Lord” (Psalm 107:43 NLT)
The Psalmist wrote of the Lord’s redemption of Israel throughout history. He instructed the people to “give thanks” to the Lord for his “faithful love.” This love is described by the Hebrew word חָ֫סֶד, “chesed” (kheh’-sed), which could also be translated “steadfast, faithful, or covenantal love.” While the people were unfaithful, some found themselves as wandering, imprisoned, suffering from their own sin. Yet, God’s faithful love was always ready to answer when he heard their cry for help. When you look back over the history of your life, are you thankful for God’s faithful love?