My earliest memory of honey appears in the form of a plastic bottle shaped like a bear, purchased from a chain grocery store. In Psalm 119, the unnamed psalmist presents an alphabet poem declaring His love and dedication to God’s Word. The longest psalm in the Bible, the twenty-one 8-verse stanzas begins with the letters of the Hebrew alphabet in sequence. Psalm 119:103 says, “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth.” In ancient times, many cultures used honey as their primary sweetener; honey has a relatively long natural shelf life compared to sugarcane juice, which spoils within a few days unless it is processed to produce either sugar crystals or molasses.
Honey was probably the sweetest commodity known to the psalmist – other than God’s Word! The metaphor, however, does not suggest limited intake. Rather, it simply points to the Word as the source of great joy for the one who partakes of it. The psalm alludes to this joy in nearly every stanza. From the psalm, let us note at least three reasons God’s Word is “Sweeter than Honey.”
God’s Word is sweeter than honey because it gives me life. The first two qualities here complement each other. The psalm opens by indicating that those who follow God’s Word follow the “blessed” or happy path. Elsewhere, the psalmist identifies the Word as the source of life (vv. 25; 40). God in His Word prescribes the positive actions we must take in order to live the best possible life. Food and drink taste best when we need them most, usually after a period of intense physical exertion. God’s Word is sweetest when we realize that we need it for life, spiritually and physically.
God’s Word is sweeter than honey because it guards me against sin. God’s Word not only prescribes positive actions, but it also proscribes or prohibits the actions we should not take. The Bible tells us the way we should go and the path we should avoid. People will bristle at being told “no” chiefly for this reason: They believe they know better than the person telling them no. If we do not recognize the dangers of sin, we will not appreciate God’s Word. When, however, we know the prohibitions in Scripture protect us from sin and its destruction, we will say God’s Word is sweeter than honey. Psalm 119:9 says, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.”
God’s Word is sweeter than honey because it assures me of God’s faithfulness. At several points in the psalm, the psalmist acknowledges the low points in his life. He speaks of the shame and reproach that comes from sinning (vv. 6; 31; 39). He also mentions enemies who scorn him (vv. 22–23; 83–85; and many other verses). Finally, he experiences sorrow without naming its cause (v. 28). Throughout the psalm, God’s Word, and particularly His promise, comforts the psalmist in his affliction. He says, “This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life” (v. 50). The more time we spend reading Scripture, the more we will see God’s faithfulness to His people. He always keeps His word. Whatever we may face, we can know God is faithful in the situation because He has made it known in His Word. God’s Word is sweeter than honey!
Clay Leonard
