The prophet Ezekiel was commanded to eat a scroll which
contained the word of God. Well, he ate it. What did it taste like? He said: “It
was in my mouth as honey for sweetness” vs 3).
In Revelations 10:10 we find the apostle John was
commanded to eat a little book. He ate, and found it sweet as honey in his
mouth, but after he had eaten it, it made his belly bitter. The word of God and
the vision that he saw, were sweet. The “bitterness” is due to the painful
nature of the message the he was to deliver; he was commanded to “prophesy
again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings”
(Revelations 10:11). His road ahead would be difficult.
How about us? What does the word of God taste like to
us? Sad to say, many professed Christians find the word of God bitter to their
taste. Why do I say that? The one word that I could describe the attitude of
some about the word of God is, BORING. The word of God bored them to death.
They would not read it not touch it. Sad, isn’t it? When Christians can spend
hours on their Facebook, watching movies, surfing the internet, but not a
minute on the word of God.
Those who love God, love His word. The psalmist wrote:
“How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”
(Psalm 119:103). The entire chapter of Psalm 119 is devoted to the praise of
God’s Word. How does the psalmist demonstrate his love for the word of God? He
says: “O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day” (Psalm
119:97).
“O how I love thy law!” It starts with a
heart that loves the word of God. Those who love the word of God will want to
mediate on it every day. And they will not simply spend a few minutes on it and
close it. The psalmist mediates on it “all the day”. He meditates on
God's word because he loves it, and then loves it the more because he meditates
in it. He could not have enough of it; all the day was not too long for his
converse with it.
“It is said of some men that the more you know them
the less you admire them; but the reverse is true of God's word. Familiarity
with the word of God breeds affection, and affection seeks yet greater
familiarity. When “thy law,” and “my meditation” are together all the day, the
day grows holy, devout, and happy, and the heart lives with God.” (Treasury
of David, e-sword).
The Word of God is sweet because truth is beautiful
and beauty is only found in holiness. Hence, the word of God is bitter to those
who love their sins but sweet to those who desire holiness like God.
Nothing can benefit us like the scriptures: “All
scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of
God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy
3:16-17).
The word of God is sweet because of the good benefits
that come through meditating on it. What are some of the benefits?
1. Keeps from sin (Psalm 119:11).
2. Comforts in affliction (Psalm 119:50).
3. Gives Understanding to the will of God (Psalm
119:104, 105).
4. Gives Eternal Life (John 5:39; 6:63).
If we abandon the Word of God, we will die
spiritually. Only the Word of God gives the life which matters in the end. So
let’s start reading the Word of God daily for the end is eternal life: “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his
law doth he meditate day and night” (Psalm 1:2).
Jimmy Lau
P
No comments:
Post a Comment