Attractive Words

Sweeter than Honey
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“How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalms 119:103).

Ken Osterman

The Psalms all have particular objectives or messages, some obvious and some not so obvious. Many are verses of praise or supplication to God. Some, such as the Songs of Ascent (120-134), were possibly sung by the people as they ascended to Jerusalem or used by the priests as they ascended the steps in the Temple. Others are prophetic (110) or contain prophetic threads of truth (22). Psalm 51 is a confessional containing a sincere penitential sentiment. Some are picturesque (19, 23). Others are poetic or acrostic in nature (119). Beyond any poetic or prophetic nature, a Psalm’s message may be obscured by translation since the nuance of the native language is often lost.

Many Psalms are easy to memorize and become part of personal worship and prayers. Memorization of Psalms can be a blessing by providing immediate access to a portion of the Bible at any time and place. Many years ago I memorized several short Psalms (19, 23, 27, 46) which are beautiful and encouraging. However, forgetting memorized verse is much easier than recalling memorized verse.

It now seems more practical to grasp the sentiment or meaning expressed by a Psalm than to laboriously memorize each verse. For example, “The LORD is my Shepherd — my provider and leader — he will surely care for me — he will guide me through many situations — good places, difficult places — but always leading toward a sure destination.”

Two Similar Pictures

The author of Psalm 119 is not stated, but there is both a marked similarity and a marked contrast with Psalm 19. The first six verses of Psalm 19 are quite picturesque. In contrast, only five or six of the 176 verses that compose Psalm 119 rival the picturesque quality of Psalm 19.

Psalm 19 flows freely and blends three lovely and related aspects of Jehovah (His glory, His perfect law, David’s supplication). The central aspect of Psalm 19 is God’s perfect law, sweeter than honey (verses 7-11). This focus on the “law of the LORD” repeats throughout Psalm 119. Nearly each verse directs our attention to God’s perfect law. Without a doubt, the Psalmist recognized the importance of God’s law and yearned to understand it, to proclaim it, to yield to it and to live it. Both Psalms close with humble supplication for understanding and help.

Verse 103 is one of the more descriptive verses of Psalm 119. “How sweet are thy words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (RSV). This echoes Psalm 19:10 (RSV), “More to be desired are they [God’s laws] than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.” The mention of fine gold also ties these verses together (Psalm 119:72,127).

This comparison of God’s perfect law surpassing sweet honey and fine gold is hidden deep in the lengthy Psalm. So, what is important, the three choice picturesque verses of Psalm 119 or the other 173 seemingly mundane verses that say the same thing over and over and over?

Before we delve into the psalm’s content, let us skim its structure.

Psalm 119 has 176 verses composed of 22 stanzas of 8 verses each. Each of these stanzas is assigned a corresponding letter of the basic Hebrew alphabet. Perhaps this is a clue for understanding the Psalmist’s intent.

Letters of the alphabet are the basic units of oral and written communication. Letters form words, words form sentences, words and sentences form messages which convey thoughts, feelings and purpose.

Faith and Reason

 
The Hebrew alphabet is read right to left, top to bottom. (However, in the diagram above, we arranged them left to right for the convenience of English readers.)

The words of Psalm 119 (and the Bible) are written expressions by human authors conveying information. Here our faith and reason must meet. We have faith in the overriding guidance of God’s Spirit as the writers penned the words. Do we also have enough faith in the message to guide our lives according to it? God speaks to all according to his time and purpose (Psalm 19:1-4, 1 Peter 1:10-12, Daniel 12:9- 10, Isaiah 55:11). Are we good receivers? Are we attuned? Do we allow God to regulate us? If the reception is good, and static free, we sense God’s calling and leading (redirection). How do we respond to that calling and leading?

When we read the word (message) of God, we do not have the advantage of the non-verbal communication cues that we have with those with whom we speak. Similarly, our communication through Christ’s advocacy lacks the visual and tonal expressions that we generally experience with others. The Divine and the human natures are separate and distinct and our human nature is marred with sin. We are physically challenged and do not recognize the full extent of our disabled condition.

In many regards, we (mankind) are like Helen Keller — severely and physically challenged, stubborn, self-willed, in a dark chaotic world, unable to properly communicate our needs or understand God’s leadings. In Keller’s case, the relentless support of Ann Sullivan broke through the veil of darkness and stubbornness. Helen Keller learned to associate water with language. A whole new vista opened up for her.

Similarly, many Christians can point to a breakthrough, a touching moment of truth, when they consider their Christian life beginning. A truth has dawned on them. No voice was heard, but something touched them. God has spoken a truth to them and they understand something very exciting. Helen Keller’s breakthrough was momentous and exciting, but her struggle was not ended, simply redirected. New hopes commenced under her mentor’s guidance. Every experience was now seen, in mind and heart, as an opportunity or stepping stone forward. Without a doubt, her life is exemplary. Similarly, our Christian life has struggles against the world, the flesh and the devil. We have need of a great mentor for guidance and advocacy. With such a help, our experiences become opportunities for building with gold, silver and precious stones (1 Corinthians 3:11-13).

So, what is the message of Psalm 119? What is the lesson? What is the purpose? Why is God’s law termed “sweeter than honey”? Certainly the author, guided by God, had something in mind. The repetition of similar expressions shows that a deep impression had been made upon the writer, something engraved in his heart. An identity was burned into his being, a firebrand that clearly marked him as one owned and led of God. Perhaps there was a breakthrough moment when he experienced failure, was rescued from trouble, or realized a weakness.

In that moment, he recognized a principle of God’s law. In that moment, he realized that God shows mercy when one humbles oneself. Perhaps there came another breakthrough experience and God again showed mercy. Then another experience, and another, and another. These experiences were not repeat experiences, but new experiences resulting in further revelation and confirmation of God’s perfect law and God’s mercy to the humble. These varied experiences meld together to form a purposeful life — a vessel made for noble use (2 Timothy 2:20-21).

The Foundation for Learning

As an alphabet contains the basic elements of a language, a foundation for learning, similarly our every day experiences are the basic elements of our life and a foundation for our spiritual learning. Christian life experiences are God’s method of directly communicating with us, teaching us and molding us.

What are we learning from our varied experiences? These experiences are common to all men and are used to teach us compassion (1 Corinthians 10:13). However, some experiences come with extraordinary purpose. Some are disciplinary or pruning for our growth and fruitage (Hebrews 12:11, John 15) and some are refining and testing our works (1 Corinthians 3:11-15).

There is never an experience that falls outside of “the perfect law of God.” Perhaps the author came to realize that his daily experiences with friend and foe, night and day, feast and famine, and even sin, had some purpose. As he considered his experiences, at the moment or more often in retrospect, he could see God’s perfect law at work. This brought him joy and comfort.

Here are some sentiments of Psalm 119 one might consider.

(1) God’s law, his word, his precepts, and his ordinances are perfect. Our Father’s way is best. Although we may question it at the time, we should never doubt it.

(2) God’s principles apply in every experience of our life, whether it be in nature, with family, neighbors, friends or foes, in sickness or in health. Reconsider everyday experiences and act accordingly.

(3) We are to meditate on, listen to, learn from our experiences until God’s law, purpose, will, becomes increasingly evident. Then we should engrave His will in our heart, mind and being.

(4) There are constant forces, seen and unseen, opposing and seeking to hinder the application of God’s principles in our lives. If we respond properly to those forces, our Father will cleanse us and refine us. Experiences give us opportunities to learn compassion and to witness God’s goodness to others.

(5) The final stanza summarizes the Psalmist’s ongoing experiences — an unfinished work in progress. The final verse shows humility, faith and determined trust.

Psalm 119 may be acrostic and repetitive, but it is not vain repetition. The clear message for those who are listening is to seek to know, and then yield to, the perfect law of our Father. First, we must recognize our deficiency and then seek God through His son Jesus in a life of habitual prayer.