Sweeter Than Honey – Psalm 119. 97-104

      Honey is an amazing sweet substance. Many people use it in their tea, coffee, and other drinks and on a variety of foods. It is used in baking all kinds of things and can provide a great shot of energy when taken by its self.  There is nothing sweeter than honey, and it is made by the simplest of creatures, bees, by a very complicated process.
      The Psalmist begins by saying, how he loves the Word of God and meditates on it all day (vs. 97). Oh how we might love God’s Word the same way. Where we would put it into our hearts so we to, could meditate on it all day long.  But it is not loving God’s Word that is enough, it is recognizing what is does to us. It has been given to us to make us wiser. Not in the sense of I will become a genius, but wiser in making correct decisions, wiser in following what God wants you do to each day. Wiser than your enemies, because you are following God’s Word and His will for your life.
      Do not read more into these verses than is really here. The Psalmist is again not saying you will become some great intellect just by reading the Word of God. However, you will have a greater spiritual understanding of life, know what God has called you to do, and know His will for your life. These things will make you wiser, and give you more understanding than your teachers, more understanding then your elders. But be careful not to lord it over them or become boastful about what you know or think you know. God does not like a proud spirit and He will surly humble you with that kind of attitude (Proverbs 3.34, 16.18-19, 1 Peter 5.5).
      Loving God’s Word, meditating on God’s Word will give you the ability to keep your feet on the right path. This is not because you are an awesome person, but because you are hiding God’s powerful Holy Word in Your heart. So when you begin to stray from His path you can recall His Word and stay on the road. Think of God’s Word like the rumble strips on the highway. When the car is going down the road and is in the lane all is fine. But when you veer left or right you hit the rumble strips and it reminds you to move back into your lane. The Word of God does the same thing for us. It reminds us when we are moving outside of the lane God has given to us, telling us to move back into the right lane.
      His Word is not old or out dated, it is right and true, and ready for a time such as this. The Psalmist says, “How sweet are Your Words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (vs.103) The Word of God should be so precious to us; something that we cannot live without. Unfortunately for many of us we go days even weeks without ever opening our Bibles and reading anything from God’s Word. If we are not reading God’s Word how will we understand any of God’s precepts, laws, rules, judgments, testimonies, or commands. These are the things which help keep us on the path of life and keep us out of the ditch. We must love God’s Word because it is sweeter than Honey.
 
Application
 

1.  Are you on the right path of life? In other words are you on the path God wants you to be on? How do you know? By spending time in His Word and through Prayer. It is never too late to ask God for wisdom and guidance in your life. Do it today and He will show you what you need to do.
2. Do you really Love the Word of God? Are you meditating on His Word daily so it can keep you on the path of life? Set aside 15 minutes each day to spend in God’s Word. Make it a point to read, study and journal about what the Holy Spirit is saying to you. This will help you recall later what you read and will place it deeper in your heart.
3.  Take time today and pray to your Heavenly Father for wisdom and understanding in all the things you do. Ask Him to help you see your path, to Love His Word, and to place it deep in your heart. James writes, “Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him” (James 1.5, CSB).[1] All you need to do is ASK.

 
Prayer
 
Oh, Holy Father in Heaven, hear my prayer today. I humbly come to You asking for greater understanding from You Holy Word. I know I do not spend the time in Your Word that I should, so Help me Lord to devote more time to the reading, studying and meditating on Your Word. Lord grant me Wisdom to know the right path for my life, to know what is right and wrong. To know when to turn left and when to turn right and to know how to just follow You. I know life will present all kinds of distractions but Lord Help me to focus on what is important, Your Word. It truly is sweeter than honey but only if I taste it. Thank You for being in my life, for Your direction and guidance. Help me today to continue to follow You, in Your Son’s Jesus Christ Name, Amen.

[1] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (Jas 1:5). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.