“The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb” (Ps. 19:9f).
“And it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness” (Ezek. 3:3).
Many people think that God’s commands just make everyone unhappy. But David by the Spirit declared that God’s laws and commands were more valuable than very much gold, even the best and purest gold. David saved and gave 3,000 talents of gold (about 100 tons!) for the work of the temple (1 Chron. 29:4). He knew that God’s laws were worth far more than all that money.
David loved good food, but he found that the Word of God was sweeter than the sweetest honey. He only had part of the OT, Genesis to Ruth, (that is all which was written in his time) but he loved it because it came from God.
Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible, 176 verses. It is divided into 22 parts, eight verses each, all eight beginning with the same letter of the alphabet in Hebrew. The writer speaks of the word or the law of God in almost every verse. He said: “How sweet are Thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Ps. 119:103). “O how love I Thy law! it is my meditation all the day” (v. 97).
We too can love God’s Word if we keep His laws. The Old Testament contains:
1. The Law—Genesis to Deuteronomy
2. Historical books—Joshua to Esther
3. Poetry and Wisdom books—Job to Song of Solomon
4. Prophets—Isaiah to Malachi
Some parts are hard to understand, but all the books are very valuable, for they are God’s Word and will give you pleasure if you study them carefully.
“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart” (Jer. 15:16). Honey is not sweet while you hold it in your hands. The prophet says here that he took God’s Word right into his heart and mind, and this brought him great joy. Ezekiel also ate God’s Word, and found that it tasted sweet as honey (Ezek. 3:3). We will too, if we read, study, and think about God’s Word, and obey what He says. Sometimes it may seem bitter, as it did to John (Rev. 10:9), but we know that God’s Word is good and perfect.
“O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him” (Ps. 34:8).
Adapted from Feed on My Word (Everyday Publications)
Written by R. E. Harlow