Scripture of the Week

Isaiah 26:3

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

How's Your Appetite?

Matthew 5:6:
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled [chortazō].

  How hungry are you?  What's your appetite today for the things of God?  We know what physical hunger and thirst are and how they can press us for their fulfillment.  However, there are appetites for spiritual realities that can be ever so rich and rewarding.  In the fourth of the beatitudes Jesus describes the blessedness of those who hunger the thirst after righteousness.

  What blessedness indeed!  God promises to fill the longing soul and to satisfy its hunger.  Note all three parts:  they that hunger and thirst, the righteousness they desire, and the filling that is promised.  "The Preacher" says, and the fool often discovers that "he that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver" (Ecclesiastes 5:10), but Christ says that they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness shall be filled.  Not everything satisfies, but righteousness is a natural and essential food of the soul.

Isaiah 55:1,2
Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
²Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

  There is so much that is sought that does not satisfy.  Isaiah invites all to come partake freely of God's goodness.  The benefactor has provided, and if we desire to come, we can partake of the bounty freely.  (This orientalism is explained more fully in Part II of Living in God's Power.)  When we are blessed, we respond to God in like manner.  The Psalmist cries:

Psalms 103:1-5:
Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
²Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
³Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
⁴Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
⁵Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

  It is the Lord that forgives, heals, redeems, crowns, and satisfies.  As we are satisfied with good things our youth is renewed.  Praise God, His bounty is immeasurable.  He provides; He preserves and sustains; He fills and satisfies.  He moves us to longing, and it is He for whom we ultimately long.  The Psalmist also sings:

Psalms 63:1:
O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

  Not many of us have known physical thirst to that extent.  Pray God we come to know it spiritually.

Psalms 73:25,26:
Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
²⁶My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

  When we focus our desire that intently on God, He will be our strength and portion forever.  Our desire for intimacy and communion with God comes to fruition through a knowledge of Him.  (II Peter 1:2-4; Colossians 1:9,10)  Our hunger leads us to taste, and when we taste we find it sweeter than honey in a honeycomb.

Psalm 34:8;
O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

Psalm 119:103:
How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeterthan honey to my mouth!

  That is why we are encouraged to seek it out so we can mature.

I Peter 2:2,3
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
³If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

  Remember, God is not fickle.  He does not dangle His promises before us and recall them at His whim.  His promises are "Yea! and Amen!"  He had them recorded so we could count on them.  When we hunger after righteousness we will be satisfied.  Remember Proverbs 10:24b says, "...the desires of the righteous shall be granted."