Honey of God

Often people find following God’s law to be a burden. Many see it as a list of rules that control our lives and makes life not as fun. But is that how we should view God’s commands? Not according to Psalm 119.

The Sweetness of the Honey

Psalm 119:103 says, “How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth! (NASB)” The greater context of Psalm 119 reveals that by the phrase, “Your Words.” The psalm writer is referring to God’s law. So if God’s law is sweet as honey, we then need to ask. “How sweet is honey?”

I personally enjoy eating honey and I like to stay healthy. Many health experts say that a cup of green tea a day is good for us. That sounds great, but I cannot drink it straight. The tea needs a touch of something sweet.

Keeping the idea of health in mind, I use a tablespoon of raw honey in my tea instead of processed sugar to make it sweet. But after the honey goes into the tea, I’m not always ready to put the bottle away. I often tilt the bottle above my head and squeeze it until the honey cascades into my mouth. It tingles as it strikes my tongue.  I get a bit of a honey buzz. Wow, there is nothing quite like it! Honey is super sweet!

The Sweetness of God’s Word

The writer of Psalm 119 most likely knew what it was like to have pure honey on his tongue, so for him to say that God’s law is sweeter than honey is a bold statement. Think about what the writer is saying. God’s laws are sweeter than honey which means that the restraints and boundaries God places on our lives are indeed “sweet” to the man or woman who runs hard after God.

Most people in today’s culture (including many Christians) do not consider God’s parameters on their life as being sweet. But when we truly know God and follow His ways, a sweet peace settles in our hearts. Despite what the world and the temptations around us say, following God’s rules is the best way to attain joy and fulfillment.

The Sweet Life

Joy and the sweet life do not come from drunkenness, free sex, greed, taking what is not ours or getting our own way. Living that way of life brings destruction and pain. Joy comes from living under God’s authority. Nothing brings us sweeter joy than living the life God calls us to.

Through God’s grace, a true believer strives to live life by God’s word. That is where the sweetest things of life are found. And although we won’t ever be able to live up to God’s perfect statutes, the humble and contrite find forgiveness in Him.

Confession restores sweetness to life when we fall short of it. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (NASB)” Forgiveness is sweet and God’s law is sweet.

To read more about the goodness of God’s law in our lives dig into all of Psalm 119.