399. PSA 119:103. THE SWEETNESS OF GOD’S WORD

Psa_119:103. The Sweetness of God’s Word

"How sweet are thy words unto ray taste; yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!"’97Psa_119:103.

It is not every one who can truly adopt he language of the text: the skeptic cannot; he derides, scoffs, and hates the word of God, the wicked and profane cannot; they care not for it, they dislike it, because of its purity, &c.; the worldling cannot, his mind is fixed upon the earth, and the grosser things of time, he has no relish for spiritual things, he prefers his ledger and day-book; the formalist cannot, for the word of God is a searcher of the heart, and it lays open and condemns that which merely has a name to live, and is dead; the humble and sincere Christian knows and feels the truth of those words, "How sweet," &c.

I. In what Respects the Word of God is sweet, &c.

The word of God is that which is suited to the state of the believer; it is agreeable to his taste, and refreshing to his soul. Now, this will apply,

1. To the doctrines of the divine word.

They may be compared to the planets of the solar system, of which Christ is the sun and centre. Redemption by Christ is the great basis, salvation through his merits, pardon, peace, and holiness in his blood.

2. The invitations of the divine word.

These are sweet; the hungry are invited to a feast, "Ho, every one," &c., the weary, &c.; "Come unto me," &c.; the needy, "Hitherto ye have asked." &c. as fallen, "O Israel, return."

3. The promises of the divine word These are sweet; they are styled great and precious they are diversified, suitable, full, and certain; one, "I will be thy God." "No weapon that is formed," &c. "All things," &c.

4. The counsels and admonitions of the divine word.

In prosperity, in adversity, in health, and sickness, we need divine counsel. God’s word is the Christian’s pillar of cloud by day, and fire by night; no other safe. unerring guide but this; not feelings, not past experience, not example. "Thou shalt guide me by thy counsel," &c. Notice,

II. When the Word of God is sweet, &c.

1. It is often so in the public means of grace.

Here, it is often brought afresh to our minds, and our hungry souls are fed and satisfied, &c.

2. In private meditation.

Now, the word of God must supply the material, and by it, the soul is secretly refreshed and lifted up.

3. In the afflictive scenes of life.

Often without it would be in darkness in mental distress, in despair. See ver. 92, 93, Rom_15:4.

4. In the hour of death.

I never read of a happy death-bed, where the word of God was not sweet, yea, sweeter than honey. The night of death can only be serene and bright, by the light of the stars of the promises of God’s word, irradiating the scenes around us. It must be our staff as we pass through the gloomy vale.

Application

1. Urge the daily reading of he divine word.

2. Do it with sincere prayer.

3. Our state may be determined by our love to this exercise.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS