FWD: Morning Manna Apr. 25-BP: Ps. 19; RBTTY: Lk. 18:24-43; II Sam. 21-22

 
Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net

 

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-----Original Message-----
From: "Smith, Lynn " <lsmith20@Central.UH.EDU>
Sent: Thu, 24 Apr 2008 06:17:00 -0500
To: "Smith, Lynn " <lsmith20@Central.UH.EDU>
Subject: Morning Manna Apr. 25-BP: Ps. 19; RBTTY: Lk. 18:24-43; II Sam. 21-22
 

April 25                                            “Sweeter Than Honey, More Precious Than Gold”

 

“More to be desired are they than gold—yea, than much fine gold—sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.”

                                                                                                                      Psalm 19:10

     It should always be a part of our daily spiritual diet—for it’s always our “soul-food” and will last us for eternity.

     When the children of Israel left Egypt, they were slaves.  They were slaves under Pharaoh and it turned out they were also slavish in their attitudes and actions.  Even though the God of Abraham miraculously delivered them from 430 years of bondage, they still murmured and complained like spoiled children.

 

     They were thirsty; so, God turned bitter water into sweet (Ex. 15:22-27).  Then, they were hungry and Jehovah-Jireh sent the manna from Heaven (16:1-36).  It was a “small round thing as fine as frost” (v.16) and looked like a white, coriander seed.  And, it tasted like “wafers made of honey” (v.31) or “pastry prepared with oil” (Num. 11:8).  It was also referred to as “the bread from Heaven” (v.4).

 

     Thus, today’s Manna should be read with this in mind, along with Jesus’ words about His being the “new Manna” from Heaven (Jn. 6:31-35).  And, when we remember that He is the “Living Word” (Jn. 1:1, 14)—and comes to us by the Spirit through the written Word (Lk. 24:13-34)—we suddenly realize His Word should be “more desired than 24-karat gold and sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.”  Hallelujah!!

 

     Although David didn’t have the advantage of having the “whole” Bible as we do, he did know the importance of “hiding God’s Word in his so he wouldn’t sin against God” (Ps. 119:11).  Likewise, like the anonymous author of Ps. 119, he knew firsthand how God’s Word—for him, most likely the Pentateuch/Torah—would be “a lamp unto his feet and a light unto his path” (v.105).

 

     Why, then, are we so Biblically illiterate—yet, say we love the Word??

     Oh, dear Pilgrim, if we truly love the Lord Jesus, we’ll love His Word.  We’ll not read it in order to accumulate Biblical knowledge; we’ll read it so we can commune with the One Who inspired it.  And, through feasting upon His Word we can rest assured “the words of our mouths and meditations of our hearts will be acceptable (Heb. ‘ratsown’—‘to delight in, be acceptable, favored, desired, be pleased with, etc.’) in His sight, the One Who is our Strength and Redeemer” (Ps. 19:14).

 

     David’s description of the Word’s power in our lives (Ps. 19:7-9, 12-13) is also a rich feast, further whetting our spiritual appetites to “hunger and thirst” more for the Savior.  And, through daily devotions and prayer, His Word will become our “delight” (Ps. 1:2), causing us to “be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, bringing forth our fruit in its season and having no withering leaves because the Lord causes us to prosper in whatsoever we undertake” (Ps. 1:3).  Glory!!  May today be the day we make “seeking God’s Kingdom first—knowing that our doing so will assure us that He knows our needs and will supply them” (Mt. 6:33; Phil. 4:19).  Amen and amen.

 

 

Thanks,

 

 

Mr. Lynn M. Smith

Department Business Administrator

Department of Economics

University of Houston

204C McElhinney Hall

Houston, TX 77204-5019

(713) 743-3802 (office)

(713) 743-3798 (fax)

LSmith20@central.uh.edu (email)

http://www.class.uh.edu/econ/ (department website)