On September 22, 1959, a devotional article appeared in Our Daily Bread written by Dr. M. R. DeHaan. He wrote about how he yearned for a box of Cracker Jack candied popcorn. His intention was to relate it to the yearning for the Scriptures. But to his surprise, a few weeks later, boxes upon boxes of Cracker Jack popcorn began arriving at his office. His desire for Cracker Jack was satisfied by the loyal readers of his devotional.
Letting the practice of regular immersion in Scripture slip away is always easy. That’s why we need to yearn for something “sweeter than honey” (Psalm 19:10). The psalmist David encourages us to know that God’s words are “perfect, refreshing the soul”; they’re “trustworthy” and full of wisdom (v. 7). He explains that “the precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart” (v. 8).
Dr. DeHaan encouraged readers to make interaction with the Scriptures a habit, something they craved each day, just like sweet popcorn. It’s vital for us as well to develop a habit of meditating and reflecting on the Bible, and responding to its truths, in a regular manner. As God helps us, let’s be like David, who said, “May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight” (v. 14).
How “sweet” is the Bible to you each day? How can you share with others that the Scriptures are more precious than gold?
Dear God, thank You for Your Scriptures, for they point me to Jesus. Please help me be engaged with them each day so I’m reminded of Your truth.
In Psalm 19, David’s love for Scripture (revealed as law, statutes, precepts, or commands) is evident in the descriptive language he uses: it’s “more precious than gold” (v. 10); it refreshes us, makes us wise, gives insight, brings joy, warns, and brings rewards (vv. 7-11). We see a similar love for the words of God in Psalm 119:97-104. The psalmist, like David, describes the words of Scripture as “sweeter than honey” (v. 103). In them we find wisdom for living; they’re “a lamp to guide [our] feet and a light for [our] path” (v. 105 nlt). In the New Testament, Paul says that “all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). When we crave the sweetness of Scripture and read and meditate on its words, we too will delight in the Bible and reap its rewards.
