Desired than Gold, Honey - Psalm 19:10-11
Greetings: “The Lord is good and his love endures forever.”
The story is told by a college professor who visited the Fiji Islands. He critically remarked to an elderly chief, "You're a great leader, but it's a pity you've been taken in by those foreign missionaries. They only want to get rich through you. No one believes the Bible anymore. People are tired of the threadbare story of Christ dying on the cross for the sins of mankind. They know better now. I'm sorry you've been so foolish as to accept their story."
The old chief's eyes flashed as he answered, "See that great rock over there? On it, we smashed the heads of our victims. Notice the furnace next to it? In that oven, we formerly roasted the bodies of our enemies. If it hadn't been for those good missionaries and the love of Jesus that changed us from cannibals into Christians, you'd never leave this place alive! You'd better thank the Lord for the Gospel; otherwise, we'd already be feasting on you. If it weren't for the Bible, you'd now be our supper!” (Borrowed)
Introduction: C.S. Lewis wrote, 'I take this to be the greatest poem in the Psalter and one of the greatest lyrics in the world.' This psalm talks about the purpose of the creation to bring Glory to GOD. Nature declares the glory of God. His word glorifies God and we profit from it.
The word of God is more desirable than Gold, Sweeter than Honey, and more profitable than any rewards.
Word of God
Romans 1:20 says the creation of the world clearly shows the invisible qualities of God, his eternal power, and his divine nature. David mentions the heavens declare the Glory of God. Man is astonished by the beauties, graces, glories, and divine wisdom of God through celestial beings (Psalm 19:1-2). No speech, no language, and no words but sound is heard, lessons are learned and eloquence is great (Psalm 19:3). The animals and trees (Job 12:7-8), flowers, Meadows and valleys (Psalm 65:13), mountains and rivers (Psalms 98:8), oceans and clouds and rains are testimony to his kindness and compassion (Acts 14:17), and so on.
The psalmist uses the Sun and the Word of God as a comparison to show their power. Nothing is hidden in the face of the Sun, its all-piercing and all-detecting likewise the WORD of GOD and God are so powerful to search you and see you (Psalm 19:7-8). The word of God is called by various names such as Law, statute, precepts, commandments ordinances, gold and honey, decree, and rules. It was also called hammer, sword, light, healer, or guide and etc., All of these are good to men. One commentator says that David (19:7-9) enumerates six synonyms for God’s Word followed by six descriptive adjectives, followed by six verbs.
It is perfect, holy, righteous, and good. The word of God was inspired by the holy spirit and spoken to us for our enlightenment. It revives our souls, comforts us, and encourages us to stand firm in the faith. Wherever the WORD of God was spoken and accepted had brought a huge change in the lives of individuals, communities, and even nations. Barbarians had accepted Christ, and many tribes have changed their attitudes.
The functions of the Kaleidoscope are known to us. This is an instrument containing loose bits of colored material (such as glass or plastic) between two flat plates and two plane mirrors so placed that changes in the position of the bits of material are reflected in an endless variety of patterns. Bible is our Kaleidoscope that reflects from every corner to every person of all ages. The power of the Word is multidimensional and multidirectional and looks beautiful from every angle of life.
God uses Torah as a Powerful instrument to turn men and women from darkness to light, from Satan to Himself (Acts 26:18, 1 Thessalonians 1:9), and what a powerful instrument it is (Romans 1:16, Hebrews 4:12).
Trapp says, "Old people are all for profit, the young for pleasure; here's gold for the one, and honey for the other." Therefore, the word of God is more desirable than Gold, Sweeter than Honey, and more profitable than any rewards.
1. Desirable Than Gold (Psalm 19:10)
King David was a massively wealthy man, yet he is rarely known for his riches. He is much more known for his great heart toward God. He says, “God’s Word is better than a diamond, better than a diamond set between emeralds.” (MSG). ‘They are of greater value than gold than even a great amount of pure gold.’ (NET). ‘Desirable more than gold, and a stone much precious’ (WYC).
Desirable (Chamad) means to take pleasure in something, to covet, to desire passionately or intensely. desire, covet, long for pleasant trees as well as the forbidden trees in Eden (Genesis 2:9). Do not covet (Exodus 20:17) or do not lust after prostitutes (Proverbs 6:25) but here David uses the verb in its positive sense. So just as strongly as one would lust for some unforbidden (an attitude), we are too long for the Word of Jehovah because it is more valuable than the most precious metal known at that time. (Precept Austin).
The Word of God is more desirable than the wealth of this world than the gold of the best quality, and in the greatest quantity; than all the treasures and precious things which are brought from other countries (Benson). People look for imported Gold.
Gold is an article of principal value among men. Psalmists had shown its value in the abstract and speaks of his own feelings in regard to it, and shows that he esteems it more than he did the objects most prized and valued among men (Barnes). It is gold of the best quality and in the greatest quantity (Matthew Poole).
Gold is an outward expression of dignity, pride, value, honor riches of a man. Honey is the expression of the inner experiences, senses, and feelings of men. As spiritual treasure Word of God is nobler than mere material wealth, so should it be desired and sought after with greater eagerness.
2. Sweeter than Honey (Psalm 19:10)
“You’ll like it better than strawberries in spring, better than red, ripe strawberries.” (MSG) ‘they bring greater delight than honey, than even the sweetest honey from a honeycomb.’ (NET)
It is sweetest than the sweetest thing we know of is to the bodily taste: yielding truer, noble, and lasting satisfaction and happiness than any or all the delights of sense. Observe, reader, the pleasures of sense are the delight of brutes, and therefore debase the soul of man: the pleasures of religion are the delight of angels and exalt it.
‘The pleasure of sense soon surfeits, yet never satisfy, but those of religion are substantial and satisfying; there is no danger of excess.’ (Matthew Henry). That which is pressed from the combs will have almost inevitably a mixture of bee bread and of the combs themselves (Barnes).
It is said that the discharge of the honeycombs is the virgin honey, i.e., the honey that flows of itself out of the cells. To be desired are the revealed words of God, to him who possesses them as an outward possession; and to him who has received them inwardly, they are sweet.
These three are interlinked. Sin was first termed as an error or weakness. Then it becomes food for thought. Thoughts lead to a planned action; the planned actions lead to delight in it repeatedly. According to Arab Proverb, "no sin which is persisted in is small, no sin great for which forgiveness is sought of God,"
Sickness takes away the TASTE. A sick man does not taste the sweetness in his food. Just so, the sinner, by reason of soul-sickness, has lost his taste for spiritual things. The Word of God is bread to strengthen, and wine to comfort, but the sinner tastes no sweetness in the Word. The promise drops as a honeycomb. (Austin Precept).
In biblical times honey was known for its sweetness (Judges 14:14; Psalm 19:10; 119:103; Proverbs 24:13; Ezekiel 3:3; Revelation 10:9, 10) and its medicinal qualities (Proverbs 16:24). as a valued gift (Genesis 43:11; 1 Kings 14:3; 2 Chronicles 31:5; Ezekiel 16:13, 19; 27:17). It has symbolized abundance and prosperity (Deuteronomy 32:13; Job 20:17; Psalm 81:16; Jeremiah 41:8). At least twenty times OT calls the Promised Land of Palestine a “land flowing with milk and honey” (Dictionary of Biblical Imagery).
3. Reward of Keeping the Word
The heavens above and the moral law within are the two great witnesses to the Glory of God. But unfortunately, a man falls short of the glory. Even the men of God are caught in various kinds of Sins known as errors (Psalm 19:12), secret sins (Psalm 19:12), willful sins, or presumptuous (Psalm 19:13) sins and transgressions. Great reward by keeping them.
However, keeping the Word of God in the heart is a great reward. Now, what are the words of your mouth and meditation of your heart? Some are cherishing gossiping and backbiting. Others are interested in the meditation of evil designs, and evil plots, harboring jealousy and pride in their hearts. David prays for redemption from all these sins and problems. It is possible by valuing the word desirable than Gold and sweeter than Honey.
The reading of the WORD of GOD leads you to success and to have eternal life. Bible contains the real stories of heroes and heroines. Those who strictly adhere to the Word of God live a perfect and acceptable Life.
First Reward: You will be PROSPEROUS AND Successful (Joshua 1:8), You will know the time and the way of your success (Ecclesiasticus 8:5).
Second Reward: All may GO WELL WITH YOU forever (Deuteronomy 5:29, Romans 8:28). You will RECEIVE from God whatever you ask of him through obeying his commandments (1 John 3:22)
Third Reward: LONG LIFE on the earth (Deuteronomy 32:47, Proverbs 3:1-2).
