Sweeter than Honey

Do you love God’s Word?  I don’t mean the pages or the grammar or even the information conveyed.  I mean do you love hearing from the One who made you, and pursued you (as a shepherd does a stray sheep), and rescued you from eternal misery, and embraced you as his own dear child?  Do you love hearing God’s voice in Scripture?  Delight in God’s Word is a pervasive theme in Psalm 119:

14    In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches.
16    I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.
20    My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times.
24    Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.
40    Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life!
47    I find my delight in your commandments, which I love.
48    I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love.
77    Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight.
97    Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.
111  Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.
127  Therefore I love your commandments above gold, above fine gold.
131  I open my mouth and pant, because I long for your commandments.
140  Your promise is well tried, and your servant loves it.
162  I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil.
163  I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your law.
165  Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.
167  My soul keeps your testimonies; I love them exceedingly.
174  I long for your salvation, O Lord, and your law is my delight. (See also verses 70, 92, 119, 143, 159)

Do these statements resonate with you?  Do you make time regularly to meditate on the life-saving message of the Bible?  Do you block out distractions and focus your heart’s attention on God’s written self-revela­tion?  It takes more than bits and pieces and snippets of Scripture tossed into a multi-tasking lifestyle.  The path to joy in the Lord follows the river of unhurried, undistracted focus on his Word.  And Bible memory is a vital part of the journey to delight!  Let me encourage you:  join me this summer memorizing a verse a week from the Psalms.  You’ll find that God’s Word is satisfying.  “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (119:103).