"Oh how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statues. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts. I have kept my feet from every evil path, so that I might obey your word. I have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path."
Psalm 119:97-104
Have you ever been to a pastry shop? I am not talking about seeing one on the food channel, but I mean actually setting foot in a pastry shop. From the moment you enter the door, every sense you have is filled with sugary goodness. There are no limits to what you see. The sweets normally range from cheesecakes, to cannoli, to macaroons, to various types of cakes and cookies. It's really hard to pin down exactly what you want to get. Sometimes you want to try that shop's version of your old favorite. And then sometimes you want to venture out and try something new. Whatever you try, everything promises to be an experience sure to make your taste buds dance. David feels the same way about the Word of God. In Psalm 119, he talks about how he loves the law of the Lord. It is something that he constantly thinks about. The Word has made him wiser than others. He has more insight than others because the Word of God becomes a part of Him. When it becomes a part of him, it convicts him and makes him want to please God even more. He does not fall into temptation because he is allowing God himself to teach him. He has discernment. His conscience is clean. He is obedient. And he hates what God hates. He cherishes the Word of God. He honors God's precepts. He keeps them close to his heart. And every time he "tastes" the word, every time it caresses his palate, it becomes sweeter and sweeter, just like honey. We all have spiritual taste. There is an inner drive in us that longs to be closer to God. Our spiritual taste causes us to have an inward savor for the things of God. Sure, we are constantly pulled by the world, and the world may offer us things to please our palate for a moment, but only the Word of God satisfies. God has created us to relish the divine. And like the pastry store has cheesecakes, cakes, cookies and chocolates, the Word of God also has tender morsels of goodness. Philippians 4:8 paraphrased says " whatever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and are of good report; if you want to taste something good, if you want only the best, if you want to lavish in the delectable, then think on (meditate on...and taste) these things. What are you craving for today?