A Memo to The Rolling Stones: You CAN Find Satisfaction

From Dust to Eternity - Psalm 103 - Part 8 - Who Satisfies You With Good

Nov 26, 2024

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" I can't get no satisfaction." -- Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones

"Bless the Lord...who satisfies you with good" -- King David of the Nation of Israel

Mick Jagger knew how to describe the beginning of a troubled era: 1965. Bad grammar, a double negative, and sexual frustration. The song is a screed, almost a tantrum of emotional tension and anxiety. Keith Richard thought of the first line; Jagger did the rest. And a cool guitar riff sealed it. The Rolling Stones intoned an anthem for his age—and on to ours. He wasn't just lamenting his self-seeking frustration. He was voicing humanity's oldest struggle: finding enough of enough.

Contrast that with the poet-king David, who, as we have seen, speaks to himself (in a proverbial mirror) about the deep and abiding peace and joy he has because of God in his life. We have been reading Psalm 103 very slowly, line by line, phrase by phrase, and discovering David’s incredible ability to describe the benefits and blessings of believing in God.

As we have seen, David is not shy about the good things that come from God. He isn’t hiding the ball. When a person believes in God, they receive real, personal, spiritual, and emotional blessings—like perks. We have seen six so far, and there are at least two dozen more!

We've journeyed through forgiveness, healing, redemption from death, and being crowned with love and mercy. Now David touches on something that speaks to a deep human longing - satisfaction.

Let’s look into what he is talking about.

Satisfaction

The Hebrew word used here for "satisfies" is "saba," which means to be full, to have enough. It's the same word used in Exodus when God provided manna for the Israelites in the wilderness - they ate and were satisfied. This isn't about getting everything we want, but about having enough, about being content.

And what does God satisfy us with? Good things. The Hebrew word here is "tov," the same word used in Genesis when God looked at His creation and declared it good. This isn't about God satisfying us with extravagance or excess, but with what is truly good, beneficial, and life-giving.

This satisfaction goes beyond mere physical provision. Yes, God does provide for our physical needs, but this promise touches something more profound. It speaks to the satisfaction of our souls, the quieting of that restless longing that nothing in this world seems to fully satisfy.

St. Augustine famously wrote, "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you." Hannah Hurnard (Hinds Feet on High Places) must have had the Bishop of Hippo’s quote in mind when she wrote, “God has made us for Himself, and our hearts can never know rest and perfect satisfaction until they find it in Him.”

David seems to have understood this centuries earlier. He knew that true satisfaction, true contentment, comes not from accumulating more but from knowing and being known by God.

With What?

But what are we satisfied with? It is a wonderful thing to say that belief in God brings us satisfaction with good things. But what good things is he talking about? Here, the Hebrew scholars scratch their heads. The meaning is unclear. However, from the simple reading of the text, it seems to mean good things (the word means ‘ornaments’). God satisfies you with the good things of your life. (I love that! Ornaments!)

Simple. Profound. Satisfying. It means I don’t need more and more to find enough. I can find that what I have enough of is enough for me. I can relax. I can find contentment.

Indeed, David doesn't mean believers will never want for anything or experience lack. But it does mean that even in times of want, we can experience a deep, soul-level satisfaction in God. Paul learned this life-changing secret, as he wrote in Philippians 4:11-12, "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation."

Mick Jagger, take note. You actually can find satisfaction.

Have a “King David Mirror Moment”

Here is a way to bring it home. Stand in front of a mirror and have a “King David Moment”. Look yourself in the eye. Say these words:

"[Your Name], listen carefully. The God you serve is not just a provider, He's a satisfier. He knows what you truly need, what's truly good for you. Your restless heart, your constant craving for more - God can satisfy that. Not with stuff, not with success, but with Himself. He is the good that your soul is longing for. Let Him satisfy you. Trust His provision. Rest in His goodness. Bless the Lord, O my soul, who satisfies you with good!"

This truth can change us starting today. When we know that God satisfies us with good, we can break free from the endless cycle of wanting more for tomorrow. We can be content with what we have and generous with our resources.

Take an inventory of the good things in your life. Start with the basics - food, shelter, clothing - and move on to relationships, opportunities, spiritual blessings. Write them down. As you do, thank God for each one. Don’t miss any.

Then ask yourself: Am I allowing these good things to truly satisfy me? Or am I always looking for the next thing? Pray for contentment, for the ability to be truly satisfied with the good things in your life God has provided.

As we continue our exploration of Psalm 103, we'll see how this satisfaction with good prepares us for the renewal that God promises. But for now, let's rest in this incredible truth: the God of the universe satisfies us with good.