I love those little detours I can take while studying God’s Word.  When I find myself back on the main highway, I often have this visual in my mind or a newfound, deeper understanding of a verse or portion of scripture. My recent travels began in Psalm 107:9 ESV “For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.” 

Can anyone relate to my tendency to often make poor choices when hungry?  It’s like my brain is no longer engaged, hunger has taken the wheel.  When starving , I can easily compromise my attempts to eat healthy.  Many times it’s easier to grab something of convenience rather than food of real substance. Or what about hunger that is hard to satisfy? No matter what I eat, nothing seems to hit the spot. It’s a never ending search for the satisfaction a perfect meal brings. 

As I began digging into some of the words in this verse, I learned the Hebrew word “longing” means to run or rush about. One source compared it to a beast of prey on the hunt, greedily seeking something to fill the appetite. “Hunger” means to suffer or be famished to the point of  failing strength. Here’s the answer to why we make questionable choices when we’re in this state!

Food provides our body’s need for energy and supports its many functions. Hunger triggers our appetites which send us on the search for food.  Like us, animals search for food in order to satisfy their appetites. When conditions in their natural habitats make food hard to come by, an animal’s hunger will drive it to places and situations that typically by instinct they avoid.  The greater the hunger, the greater the risks are taken and oftentimes, they themselves become prey. 

Merging back on the main highway…

The historical background and context of Psalm 107:9 point to a time when the Israelites were exiled to Baylon due to their idolatry and disobedience. The people tried to find fulfillment in other gods or plainly, they just wanted to do things their way. During this period, the Israelites experienced captivity, displacement, and longing for their homeland. They were “hungry” because they were separated from their true source of satisfaction. This verse is part of a longer psalm that celebrates God’s faithfulness in delivering His people and satisfying them in their time of need. 

We too find ourselves spiritually longing and hungry for something greater, something beyond our earthly existence. We were made to have a relationship with our Creator, the longing and hunger is our souls seeking that connection. To hunger for God is at the core of our being. Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us, “He has planted eternity in the human heart.”

We can’t ignore this emptiness just like we can’t ignore a growling stomach. If I’m hungry, as much as I like getting a pedicure or buying new clothes, those things will not satisfy my need for food. I can easily get into the habit of just grabbing spiritual snacks like a short prayer, a quick glance at a devotion, etc . when God is calling me to sit and dine with Him. In Him is where I will find that full, satisfying meal. 

What I heard the loudest from The Lord in my time of study is this: many times I may not know I am spiritually hungry. I’ll feel discontentment slide into my space and all of a sudden I’m not liking so many things in my life. The search begins for new “stuff” I think will help me feel more satisfied. And let me not get started on what the emptiness social media can bring to my heart. 

These longings and desires come out of my human nature.  If I’m willing, these longings can serve as an invitation from My Father. An invitation to draw near to Him and find that He satisfies my longing soul and fills my hungry soul with good things. 

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