Psalm 91:16
With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.”
“With long life will I satisfy him.” The man described in this Psalm fills out the measure of his days, and whether he dies young or old he is quite satisfied with life, and is content to leave it. He shall rise from life’s banquet as a man who has had enough, and would not have more even if he could.
“And shew him my salvation.” The full sight of divine grace shall be his closing vision. He shall look from Amana and Lebanon. Not with destruction before him black as night, but with salvation bright as noonday smiling upon him he shall enter into his rest. (Spurgeon)
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“With long life will I satisfy him,” etc. The margin here is “length of days;” that is, days lengthened out or multiplied. —implying:
(1) that it is natural to desire long life;
(2) that long life is to be regarded as a blessing (comp. Pro 3:2, 16; Exo 20:12);
(3) that the tendency of religion is to lengthen out life; since virtue, temperance, regular industry, calmness of mind, moderation in all things, freedom from excesses in eating and drinking,—to all of which religion prompts,—contribute to health and to length of days; and
(4) that a time will come, even under this promised blessing of length of days, when a man will be “satisfied” with living; when he will have no strong desire to live longer; when, under the infirmities of advanced years, and under his lonely feelings from the fact that his early friends have fallen, and under the influence of a bright hope of heaven, he will feel that he has had enough of life here and that it is better to depart to another world.
“And shew him my salvation.” In another life, after he shall be satisfied with this life.
—Albert Barnes.
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“I will show him my salvation.” The last, greatest, climax of blessing, including and concluding all! What God does is perfectly done. Hitherto has his servant caught glimpses of the “great salvation.” The Spirit has revealed step by step of it, as he was able to bear it. The Word has taught him, and he has rejoiced in his light. But all was seen in part and known in part. But when God has satisfied his servant with length of days, and time for him is over, eternity begun, he will “shew him his salvation.” All will be plain. All will be known. God will be revealed in his love and his glory. And we shall know all things, even as we are known!
—Mary B. M. Duncan.
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To whom these promises belong; who is the he and the him to whom these promises are made. He “calls upon God,” says Psa 91:15; he “hath known my name,” says Psa 91:14; he “hath set his love upon me,” says the former part of the same verse; he “has made the Lord his habitation,” says Psa 91:9; he “dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High,” says Psa 91:1. Hannah More says, “To preach privileges without specifying to whom they belong is like putting a letter in the post office without a direction.” It may be very good and contain a valuable remittance, but no one can tell for whom it is intended. All the promises of Scripture are plainly directed to those to whom they belong. The direction put upon the promises of this Psalm is unmistakably clear and often repeated.
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