I’m a fan of dark chocolate.
Rich. Slightly bitter sweet. And supposedly healthy (if that has changed, please don’t tell me).
I often use dark chocolate as an illustration when I teach people how to study the Bible.
King David made the statement in Psalm 19:10 – “[Your Word] is to be desired more than gold, yes, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.”
In David’s mind, God’s Word was so valuable it would be worth desiring over a pile of pure gold. But he goes on to talk about the sweetness of the Word by saying it is sweeter than honey and honeycomb.
In David’s day, honey was one of the sweetest things he knew about. But since sugar is quite normal for ours, David’s statement loses its impact.
Imagine living on a simple diet of what you can grow from the ground with the occasional meal of lamb or other meat. While they had date-honey (made from dates) there was a rare delicacy of coming across bee honey. This special treat would have been euphoric.
The closest thing I can relate it to is Lindt dark chocolate truffles.
Have you ever experienced such delight?
Lindt has somehow crafted a truffle that once placed in the mouth, begins to melt and the explosion of flavor floods the mouth with a silky chocolate filling.
So while it is taking it out of context, let me rephrase David’s words in a way our culture may better understand:
God’s Word is to be desired more than gold, yes even more than a huge pile of cash or a big bank account. His Word is also sweeter than Lindt dark chocolate balls that explode in your mouth.
However you want to say it, we should desire the Word of God above all else and find our greatest delight in it.
Know I’m cheering you unto that end.