Wednesday, August 27, 2025

Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever.
The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair.
They are more desirable than gold,
    even the finest gold.
They are sweeter than honey,
    even honey dripping from the comb.
They are a warning to your servant,
    a great reward for those who obey them. (Psalm 19: 9 -11, New Living Translation)

                I love honey comb.  It is a real treat on the rare occasion I find some. Last week, we were at the outdoor farmer’s market, here in Whitby, and there was a honey vendor’s stall. A small block of honey comb called my name. It wasn’t cheap but I splurged anyway.

                The bee keeper explained to me some of the process of harvesting honey comb. They put each piece in the freezer for 24 hours. There is a slight risk that the queen bee has laid an egg in the comb and freezing it kills the eggs.  Good to know as I really wouldn’t want to spread some honey on my toast and see a wiggling larva looking up at me; don’t need the extra protein that badly!

                Honey is a biblical metaphor for a life that is good, a sweet existence. The Promised Land was called a land flowing with milk and honey. “And if the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us. It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey.” (Numbers 14:8) It is said that the manna God gave the Israelites in the desert tasted like honey wafers. God promises that his people will be nourished well. “But I would feed you with the finest wheat. I would satisfy you with wild honey from the rock.” (Psalm 81:16)

                Then, of course, we get our text that proclaims that God’s Word is “sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb.” Psalm 119 expresses the same, “How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey.” (119:103) Although I prefer the honey metaphor, the Message Bible expresses it this way: “God’s Word is better than a diamond, better than a diamond set between emeralds.  You’ll like it better than strawberries in spring, better than red, ripe strawberries.” Now just maybe, if you put the honey on top of the strawberries…

                But the preamble to these sweet verses is equally important to help us understand just how the word of God nourishes us and sustains us and why the word of God is essential for our well-being. “The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living.” (vss. 7 -8) God’s Word warns us when we sin. God’s Word replaces ill-thoughts with good thoughts.  

           “Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh!
            Keep me from stupid sins,
                from thinking I can take over your work;
            Then I can start this day sun-washed,
                scrubbed clean of the grime of sin.
            These are the words in my mouth;
            These are what I chew on and pray.

            Accept them when I place them
                on the morning altar,
            O God, my Altar-Rock,
            God, Priest-of-My-Altar.” (Psalm 19: 13 -14, The Message Bible)

                I know that I could always stand to be a little sweeter. How about you?

Dale