Psalm 119:103

Psalm 119:103

How sweet are your words to my taste,

sweeter than honey to my mouth.

This is one among many passages that exemplifies that all of life is directed Heaven-ward. God created this world and its fullness so that we would know and see Him. Our senses exist that we learn who God is and what He is like. Our smell is so that we better recognize the aroma of Christ (Eph. 5:2). We have eyes that we may see that the Lord is good (Ps. 34:8). Our ears were made so that w may hear His voice (Jer. 33:3; John 10:27). We have in our dermis the sense of touch so that we might know the texture of Christ's hand (John 10:28). And we taste that we savor the sweetness of God's word (Pss. 119:103; 34:8).

Left to himself, man has an utter distaste for spiritual things. God is to him not someone to be feared or worshiped but despised and loathed. The words of God mean nothing because to the sinner they are but a nonsense language impossible to be understood. It is an utter transformation that must take place before any of this changes, but oh when it does what a reversal it is! The gibberish becomes life; the wormwood becomes honey. That which could not be seen or tasted is now beheld and savored. The untouchable is now embraced, and joy is found. Oh! taste and see that the LORD is good - His word is like honey.

Psalm 119:81-82

Psalm 119:81-82

My soul longs for your salvation;

I hope in your word.

My eyes long for your promise;

I ask, "When will you comfort me?"

Our souls' greatest need is God. It is when we are in distress, feeling distant from Him, that we begin to realize our need of Him. When we lack of Him, we call to Him. It is for Him we long.

But on what premise can we rightly trust God? How do we know He is faithful? Our hope comes from His word. We know God stands because His truth stands; it is unbound perfection (v. 96). His word will never fall (Is. 40:8).

As Jacob persisted for a blessing (Gen. 32:26), so our prayers must also be persistent in times of adversity. Let us always be hoping in God's word and longing for His promise and comfort. May we never give up seeking Him. Rather, long for Him, for in seeking we shall find.

Psalm 119:71

Psalm 119:71

It is good for me that I was afflicted,

that I might learn your statutes.

It is at times the most difficult of circumstances that brings about the greatest rewards. When can hardship be counted as good? Only when it works together for good (Rom. 8:28). It is not the affliction itself but the result effected by the affliction. Even in David's greatest struggle, he would eventually look back and see the benefit.

It is an essential practice of our faith to never waste affliction. We have full assurance that God always works for our good. Although we may not always be able to see that good, we can always trust Yahweh because He is faithful. Through suffering we can see more of him and learn to better obey Him.

This is the center of why difficulties are good for us. If an event pulls us closer to our God and His word, the pain is worth the bearing. Knowing Christ is of surpassing value (Php. 3:8). All that we do and all we endure must be aimed at Him.