Honey and Light

This post is by Jennifer Dixon.

Psalm 119 is a fascinating chapter of the Bible that is filled with wonderful promises of God’s Word.  It tells interesting names for his Word and lists multiple benefits of knowing His Word and meditating upon it.  We can learn many magnificent truths from this chapter placed in the middle of the Bible. 

Two comparisons I find intriguing  are those of honey and light. Oh, that we could have a heart like David’s where we long for God’s truth and acknowledge the necessity of it in our lives.  In Psalm 119:103 David says, How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth.  And two verses later (verse 105) he proclaims Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.  What incredible descriptions of His Word to us, his children!

The psalmist uses various terms to describe his action toward God’s Word.  He lists seeking, keeping, obeying, considering, meditating upon, learning, living according to, taking delight in, recounting, believing, and standing in awe of.  To stand in awe!  How amazing is God that we should stand in awe of His Word to us!  How much effort do we put into learning and obeying His Word?  Do we make time to be in His Word?  Do we really meditate on it?  If we don’t know what His Word says, then we will be unable to obey it. 

It is also interesting to note the author gave multiple names for God’s Word:  law, statutes, commands, precepts, decrees, and promises.  No matter what we may choose to call it, God’s Word is His communication to us.  His written word, His promise that holds as true today as it did in David’s time centuries ago.  But without sufficient time in His presence, reading His Word and talking with Him through prayer, it is impossible for us to reap the benefits of His promises.  He longs to have a vibrant relationship with those He calls His own.

In verse 28 of the chapter David cries out, My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to Your word.  And in verse 116 he pleads, Sustain me according to your promise, and I will live.  A beautiful promise in verse 151 is that God is near.  And my favorite is in verse 165:  Great peace have they who love your law; and nothing can make them stumble.  God, through His word, will strengthen us, sustain us, and give us peace.  And these are benefits listed in just one chapter.   

When we spend time seeking God and meditating on His word, we become familiar with His unfailing love and faithfulness.  And we grow more dependent upon Him.   We should be able to  proclaim like David, O, how I love your law!  I meditate on it all day long (verse 97). 

May our desire be to start each and every day seeking Him.  In verse 147, David declares, I rise before dawn and cry for help, I have put my hope in your word.  There is no better or more powerful place to put our hope than in the Word of God.  He is faithful and His promises are trustworthy.  His Words should be sweeter than honey to our mouths.  And His Word should illuminate the path on which we walk day by day.

Jennifer is a stay at home wife and mother.  She homeschools her two children, Naomi and Luke and enjoys reading and crafting.  Her hope is to shine His light wherever she goes.

Photo by Alexander Mils on Unsplash