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I Will Awake Like Him and Be Satisfied

 I Will Awake Like Him and Be Satisfied

Psalm 17:15 frames the believer’s hope as both present communion and future consummation: “As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.” This essay develops Charles Spurgeon’s reflection by adding the biblical emphases that we are being conformed to Christ now, that the Spirit gives life to our mortal bodies, and that our final awakening will reveal the full redemption of those bodies in Christ’s likeness.

Present beholding and present transformation

We already “behold the face of the Lord in righteousness” because Christ’s righteousness has reconciled us and opened intimate access to God. That beholding is not passive sight but an active, formative encounter: “We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18). Faith fixes our gaze on Jesus and the Holy Spirit applies that gaze as a transforming power so that Christ’s character is shaped in us now (Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:10).

  • Beholding with power: The glory of God is made known in the face of Jesus; the knowledge of that glory shines into our hearts and awakens transformation (2 Corinthians 4:6).
  • Ongoing conformity: God’s purpose for his people is that we be “conformed to the image of his Son” as a present and progressive reality, not only a future hope (Romans 8:29).
Resurrection is both a present and future event. Ephesians 2:1-10 speaks of being made alive and raised and seated with Christ, though we were dead. How can we be dead and made alive? See The Tripartite Nature of Humanity: Spirit, Soul, and Body. And Romans 8:18-23 speaks of our future resurrection, the redemption of the body. 

The Spirit gives life to our mortal bodies

The Holy Spirit is the agent who infuses life and guarantees the upward trajectory from mortality toward resurrection. Though our bodies remain subject to death, the Spirit who indwells us is “the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead,” and by that same Spirit God will give life to our mortal bodies (Romans 8:11). The Spirit’s presence both animates our present mortal frame—enabling holiness, witness, and communion—and secures the promise of bodily renewal.

  • Indwelling and guarantee: Believers are sealed with the promised Spirit as a down payment of the inheritance that includes bodily redemption (Ephesians 1:13–14).
  • Present empowerment: The Spirit’s life in us is the source of obedience and love that displays the forming of Christ’s image in daily living (Galatians 5:22–23; Romans 8:10).

Waiting for the redemption of our bodies

Scripture links our present transformation with a future, decisive redemption: the body we now have will be transformed to fit the glory of Christ. Paul anticipates this when he says that Christ “will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to his glorious body” (Philippians 3:21). The resurrection—when we “awake”—will consummate what faith and the Spirit have begun.

  • Sleep and awakening: Death is likened to sleep and the last day to waking, when believers will be fully satisfied by beholding and bearing Christ’s likeness (1 Corinthians 15:51–52; 1 John 3:2).
  • Full satisfaction: The soul’s present joy in the Lord is a foretaste; the awakening will bring complete satisfaction as creature becomes fully like Creator in body and soul.

Integration: look, be changed, await

The biblical pattern is unified: look, be changed, and await fulfillment. By faith we behold Jesus; by the Spirit of power, love, and truth we are being changed into his image; by hope we await bodily redemption.

  • Look: Faith contemplates the glory of Christ and receives the impression of his character (2 Corinthians 3:18; 2 Corinthians 4:6).
  • Be changed: The Spirit forms the soul to Christ’s likeness. That new born a new spirit, which is already raised and seated in the heavenlies with Christ, is within us. Growth and maturity transforms, renews the mind so that in this body of death we reflect his image and righteousness now (Romans 8:29; Galatians 4:19). 1 John 1:1-5 speaks of Christ as the word of life, in him we foretaste of life presently.
  • Await: The same Spirit who raised Christ in body will resurrect our bodies so that when we awake we will find ourselves satisfied in his likeness (Romans 8:11; Philippians 3:21).

Practical application and prayer

  • Live expectantly: Let the assurance of future bodily redemption shape present choices; holiness is the fruit of beholding and of hope (Hebrews 12:14).
  • Cultivate gaze: Regular meditation on the face and work of Christ—Scripture, prayer, and the sacraments—keeps the transforming gaze fixed.
  • Depend on the Spirit: Seek the Spirit’s power for the daily life that anticipates the soul's renewal and manifests Christ’s life now.
Key Aspects of the Verse

“As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness..” (Psalm 17:25 ESV)
  • Righteousness: The ability to "behold your face" is described as happening "in righteousness," implying a just and faithful connection with God (Ephesians 3:12; Hebrews 4:16;). 
    • Jesus came from the Father of his fullness, full of grace and truth (John 1: 14). 
    • Jesus established a new covenant by his death and through his blood. He is our redemption and righteousness from God, thus justification in grace through redemption, through the blood of Jesus. 
    • Jesus came and gave us the right to become children of God, not born of the flesh or human act but of God (John 1:12-13). We are also born a new of the Spirit into the kingdom of God. 
"now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe" (Romans 3:21-22).

Jesus changed everything. He is from God our wisdom, righteousness, redemption, and sanctification (1 Corinthians 1:30). Paul states the true Jew is one born of the Spirit (Romans 3:29). The sons of Abraham are through faith, called Children of the Promise, thus have confidence and boldness to approach God.
  • Satisfaction: The psalmist expresses certainty that this is a present and future encounter with God. 
    • Psalm 34:8 testifies of present satisfaction, "Taste and see that the Lord is good." An experiential knowledge that God is good and satisfaction can be found in Him. 
    • Jesus said he is living bread and all who eat and feed on him experience life (John 6). John proclaims Jesus as the word of life (1 John 1).
  • "When I awake": This phrase is often interpreted as referring to the resurrection or the afterlife, a state where one is fully satisfied with God's likeness. This is true, there will be a consummation of God's fullness in Christ as we receive a redeemed body. But we presently taste of life, being  transformed in the face of Jesus.
    • "We are being renewed each day" is a concept from 2 Corinthians 4:16, meaning that despite facing physical decline or hardship in this body, the inner spiritual self is moving forward to the consummation of the end goal; glory and life.
  • "Thy likeness": The ultimate goal is to be brought into the fullness of God, his likeness. Paul states we are to put off the old man and "put on the new man, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness" (Ephesians 4:24).
    • Our born a new spirit represents who we are in Christ., we were made alive and seated in the heavenlies with Jesus, this is our true identity. Transformation saves the soul, renews the carnal mind to be like the mind of Christ. This is brought about through being transformed from glory to glory, being matured into his perfect image and presence.

Lord, awake us to behold your Son, who is our righteousness and satisfaction. Give us a spirit of wisdom and revelation in knowing him, so to be enlightened to the hope of our calling, our inheritance, and the power available to us who believe. Root us in faith and love and grant us power in our inner man through the Spirit, so we may know of your great love and be brought into the fullness of God.

Lord, awake us to our reasonable service and help us put away all distractions. Lead us in the way of righteousness. Protect your church from false teaching, doctrines, traditions, piety, and humility, from human cunningness and deceitfulness, that which doesn't grow up the church to reflect the image of your son and find satisfaction in your likeness.

Lord, continue the work you have begun in us, by your Spirit cause us to behold Christ, be conformed to his image. In spirit, body, and soul, let us behold Jesus and the satisfaction of being in his likeness (2 Corinthians 3:18; Romans 8:11; 1 John 3:2). Amen.

Scripture references: Psalm 17:15; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 2 Corinthians 4:6; Romans 8:11; Romans 8:29; Philippians 3:21; 1 Corinthians 15:51–52; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:4; Ephesians 1:13–14; Ephesians 1:13–23; Ephesians 3:14-20; 1 John 3:2.

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