The human soul is hungry and passionate. Because Jehovah has put eternity into every human heart (Ecc. 3:11), no one can ever be satisfied or contented when only earthly and temporal things have been pursued. Solomon sought satisfaction and spiritual contentment in wisdom, fame, pleasure, construction projects, wealth and possessions, and worldly success (Ecc. 1:13-2:9). "And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labor: and this was my portion of all my labor" (Ecc. 2:10). Yet, he found no lasting satisfaction or contentment: "Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun" (Ecc. 2:11).
Solomon's father, David, focused the hunger and passion of his soul upon God. He was a man after God's own heart (1 Sam. 13:14). Therefore, he pursued spiritual and eternal things far more vigorously than did his son.
David purposed that his mouth would not transgress God's law (Ps. 17:3). He communed with God in prayer and knew Jehovah heard when he called to Him (Ps. 17:6). Solomon's father repeatedly experienced God's deliverance from wicked men who stalked him like lions greedy for prey (Ps. 17:8-14). For David, his satisfaction was in pursuing God and His will. "As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness" (Ps. 17:4).
I shall be satisfied when __________.
How are you filling in that blank?
Does your answer sound like something Solomon would say, or David?