My people shall be satisfied with My goodness.
A promise for God’s people
I. Ascertain the right application of the promise. “My people.” The term is restrictive. Only the people of God. And it is universal: all, everywhere, in every age. Who, then, are they? The phrase denotes covenant relationship. As man is alienated, it implies reconciliation,--acceptance. The covenant by which this is effected is that of mercy in Christ. As children of the covenant, we have received its visible seal,--have been instructed in its obligations and blessings. Repentance and faith required. These produce continued obedience,--and so we become, so we continue to be, the people of God.
II. What is the promise made to them? “They shall be satisfied,” &c.
1. There is “the goodness of God.” The phrase sometimes refers to His essential goodness; He is good. But here, to its bestowments;--He doeth good.
(1) The condescending manifestation of pardoning mercy, and adopting love to the conscience.
(2) The various gifts of grace, and blessings of providence, all flowing from paternal love.
(3) The blessings of glory, future, and to be waited for; but brought near by good hope, given by God who hath loved us.
2. With this they are “satisfied.”
(1) The effect of manifested mercy is true satisfaction--peace, joy, delight. We possess what we feel is our true portion.
(2) And, preserving this feeling,--living as penitent, pardoned believers,--we rejoice in the ordinary gifts of providence; even in chastenings we joy, knowing, their source and object; we rejoice in the overflowing fountain of grace; we joy in the foretastes of glory.
Lessons--
1. See the inestimable value of religion Other gifts vain without this. This of itself all in all.
2. Oh, the unutterable folly of sin! You refuse bliss; choose misery; and for what ? The fountains of living waters,--for broken, even empty cisterns.
3. Seek religion now. Live in full possession of it. (G. Cubitt.)
God’s people satisfied with His goodness
I. My people. Who are now God’s people? All, whether of Jewish origin or of Gentile extraction, who--
1. Have repented of sin, and turned to the Lord with weeping and supplication (Zechariah 12:10; Jeremiah 31:9; Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19).
2. Have received Christ, and believed on Him to the salvation of their souls (John 1:11-13; John 3:18; John 3:36).
3. Have been regenerated by the Spirit and the truth of God (John 3:5-8; Tit 3:3-7; 1 Peter 1:1; 1 Peter 1:9; 1 Peter 1:23).
4. Have the assurance of their adoption into the family of God (Romans 8:14-17; Galatians 4:4-7).
5. Who worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:24; Philippians 3:3).
6. Who keep His commandments, and are zealous of, and careful to maintain, good works (John 14:21; John 14:24; Titus 2:14; Titus 3:8; James 2:14-26; Revelation 22:14).
7. Who have their thoughts and affections set on things above, and who are ever looking for the coming of their Lord (Colossians 3:1-4; Philippians 3:20-21; Tit 2:13; 2 Peter 3:10-14; Revelation 22:20). My people--
II. Shall be satisfied. Satisfaction is the rest of the desiring faculties. To be satisfied is to be filled, contented, and gratified to that degree, that nothing more is, or can be desired. “The primary idea” of the Hebrew word “lies in abundance of drink, although in the common usage of the language this verb is more frequently applied to food than to drink. Thus of one sated with food, Deuteronomy 31:20; Ruth 2:14; Isaiah 44:16; Jeremiah 31:14. It is spoken of the Spirit, Ecclesiastes 6:3; and metaphorically of the eye, as not satisfied with seeing, Ecclesiastes 1:8. Compare Isaiah 53:2; Psalms 17:15.”--Gesenius’s Heb. Lex. Our spiritual need is often set forth in Scripture by our bodily necessities; and our spiritual supplies are spoken of in similar terms, to the supplies of our temporal wants (Isaiah 25:6; Isaiah 55:1-3; Isaiah 66:10-14; Zechariah 9:15-17; Matthew 5:6). They shall be satisfied; for
1. Their minds shall be filled with knowledge, confidence, and hope, in reference to Divine, Spiritual, and eternal things. They shall be free from perplexity, doubt, and fear. They shall have “the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ” (Colossians 2:2). They shall to God draw near in full assurance of faith, having their hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and their bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:22). And they “shew the same diligence unto the full assurance of hope unto the end” (Hebrews 6:11). These three full assurances satisfy the saints.
2. Their souls shall be filled with holiness.
3. Their hearts shall be filled with love (1 John 4:16-19).
4. Their lives shall be filled with good deeds (Philippians 1:10-11; Philippians 2:14-16; Matthew 5:13-16). Shah be satisfied--
III. With my goodness, saith the Lord. The goodness of God here means His kindness, benignity, and beneficence, as it does in Psalms 25:7; Psalms 27:13; Psalms 31:19; Psalms 145:7, and in many other places.
1. They shall be satisfied with God’s favour. “O Naphtali, satisfied with favour, and full of the blessing of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 33:23). “In His favour is life” (Psalms 30:5). In His favour there is pardon and peace, purity and hope, love and joy, protection and honour (Romans 5:1-5; Psalms 4:7-8; Psalms 5:12; Psalms 32:1; Psalms 23:2; Psalms 89:15-18; Psalms 106:4-5).
2. They shall be satisfied with His goodness in their meditations on God (Psalms 63:5; Psalms 36:6; Psalms 104:34; Psalms 119:14-16).
3. They shall be satisfied with God’s goodness in His worship and service (Psalms 65:4; Psalms 36:7-9; Psa 36:34).
4. They shall be satisfied with God’s goodness in fellowship and communion with Him (1 John 1:3-4). Fellowship with God and His Son Jesus Christ consists in our being partakers of the Divine nature; in constant intercourse and communion with the Divine being; in community of interest; and in mutual possession. In this blessed fellowship we are satisfied; for we are “filled with all the fulness of God,” and are “blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly things in Christ.”
5. They shall be satisfied with God’s goodness in heaven for ever and ever (Psalms 17:15). Then shall we be satisfied, fully satisfied, eternally satisfied (Revelation 7:14-17).
6. The certainty that God’s people shall be satisfied with His goodness. We have no ground for doubt; for God says it, whose word cannot fail. Are we God’s people? If so, we shall be satisfied with His goodness; but if not, we cannot be satisfied. Literature, art, and science cannot satisfy the soul. Wealth, honour, pleasure cannot satisfy the immortal mind. Believe me, nothing can satisfy us but the goodness of God. (H. O. Crofts, D. D.)