What does the "sweet as honey" symbolize in our spiritual journey? Revelation 10:10—The First Taste “Then I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth…” Honey: A Repeated Biblical Picture – Psalm 19:10 — God’s judgments “are sweeter than honey” – Psalm 119:103 — “How sweet are Your words to my taste—sweeter than honey” – Proverbs 24:13-14 — Honey illustrates wisdom bringing hope and a future – Ezekiel 3:1-3 — The prophet eats a scroll, “and it was sweet as honey” Why the Word Tastes Sweet • It is pure truth—unmixed, undefiled (Psalm 12:6) • It satisfies the deepest hunger of the soul (Jeremiah 15:16) • It delights the renewed mind with God’s beauty, promises, and grace (Psalm 34:8) • It brings light and discernment (Psalm 119:130) Sweetness, Then Bitterness Revelation 10:10 continues: “…but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned bitter.” • Prophetic burden—bearing God’s message includes announcing judgment (Jeremiah 20:8-9) • Personal cost—obeying truth invites persecution (2 Timothy 3:12) • Compassion’s ache—seeing others reject the sweet gospel hurts the believer’s heart (Romans 9:2-3) • Spiritual warfare—the enemy resists every advance of the Word (Ephesians 6:12) Connecting Our Journey 1. Receive the Word eagerly—taste its sweetness daily (Acts 17:11) 2. Expect the cost—truth confronts sin and culture (John 15:18-20) 3. Speak anyway—sweet or bitter, proclaim all God gives (Acts 20:27) 4. Find strength in the sweetness—God’s promises sustain through the bitterness (Hebrews 10:35-36) Living the Honey Today • Start every morning with a “taste”—read, recite, or sing Scripture. • Memorize key passages; let the sweetness linger on the mind. • Share honey: encourage someone with a verse, text, or note. • When bitterness follows—opposition, sorrow, or cost—remember the end: His Word never returns void (Isaiah 55:11). Tasting Foretastes of Eternity One day the bitterness ends and the sweetness remains forever: – Revelation 22:1-4 — the Lamb’s people see His face, healed and satisfied eternally. Until then, keep eating the scroll—sweet as honey, strong enough for every step of the journey. |
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