"How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings. They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures [delights, delicacies]. For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light” (Psalm 36:7-9).
Dear Praying Friends:
Where can we find real satisfaction?
Surely not in anything in this world. All that is good and pleasurable, even when given to us, quickly fades away. At its best, it satisfies only temporarily. Frequently, even our richest enjoyment does not fill the emptiness deep inside our hearts. We quickly long for more.
Meanwhile, millions of Christians around the world suffer from hunger, thirst, sickness, pain, and approaching death. Others live with emotional agony for years on end. In addition, millions of Christ’s followers face rejection, legal restrictions, social pressure, economic hardship, imprisonment, torture, starvation, and even death for their faith.
So, what does the inspired psalmist mean here? Surely, he is referring to the promises God has made to those who trust in him that he will protect them from spiritual harm, the domination of sin, and the power of Satan. Even more, he will fill their hearts with his lovingkindness, as embodied and expressed to us in Jesus Christ.
In Christ, God will bestow upon us his pardon, his presence, his power, his provision of all our spiritual needs (and often our daily bread as well), the pleasures of the created order and of his people, the beauties of his written Word, his moral and spiritual light, and the constant refreshment of his life-giving Holy Spirit.
In other words, he will give us life, which is found in himself. All these good things – and much more – will come in this life to those who trust in him, and will be enjoyed forever when Christ returns (Revelation 21:1-7; 22:1-5).
“I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst” (John 6:35).
Yours in his fullness,
Wright