Sweet and Bitter

"Then I took the little book out of the angel's hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter. ¹¹ And he said to me, "You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings."

Revelation 10:10-11

The Word of God is filled with sweetness.  To know that it has been written by God to reveal Himself to us is a remarkable privilege.  How humbling the thought, that God would write such a personal letter to us!  Studying the Bible is not to be limited to gathering information or refining theological doctrines:  it is all about transformation of our lives.  Unless the Word of God makes a practical difference in our lives through stripping away of falsehoods, revealing Christ, renewing our minds, and changing the way we live, it has not accomplished its purpose.

In the passage concerning John and the little book, it was not enough for him to hear it read.  He needed to consume the word and allow it to become a part of him.  He needed to chew, swallow, thoroughly digest and understand the meaning before he could accomplish the purpose God had for him:  to prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.  It is the same with us and the scriptures.  We also are to do more than read or listen to the scriptures.  We must allow God's Word to be our sustenance and choose to obey the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Reading God's Word without putting it into practice is like chewing food but spitting it out before we swallow.  We will miss the whole purpose for putting food in our mouths in the first place!

In John's mouth the book was sweet, but in his belly it was bitter.  Had John spat out the book, all he would have tasted was sweetness.  Yet God intended that the word that was sweet in his mouth would be bitter in his belly.  The truth of scripture is exciting and like honey for sweetness.  It is the joy of our hearts to know God has given us exceedingly great and precious promises.  Yet when we absorb the truth of scripture into our minds and hearts, we are given the responsibility to speak and live accordingly.  To our redeemed souls the Word is sweet, yet the same words are bitter to our flesh.  How the flesh hates being governed by God or anyone rather than self!  The words which bring us much comfort and assurance of salvation are sweet.  Because we know them to be true, there is also bitterness in the knowledge that some people will choose to reject the Gospel and face an eternity in hell.  It is sweet to know God speaks to us, but the flesh loathes and resists our sanctification.  With knowledge and freedom comes responsibility.

This is a good reminder that if we only find bitterness in the scripture, we are missing something.  There is sweetness to be found.  We live in a day spoken of in Isaiah 5:20-21:  "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! ²¹ Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!"  We are called to rightly divide the Word of truth, not avoid passages which confront us.  God's Word is sweetness to our souls if we will believe and receive.  God entreats us with love and desire, not disgust and revulsion.  God has promised His Word will endure forever.  It is I who need to change.  If I find a passage particularly bitter to my taste, perhaps the flavour has been masked by my own prejudice, misconceptions, and unrighteous judgments.

Let us not labour only to read God's Word, but allow the scriptures to have the impact God intends in our lives.  When the Word becomes bitter in our stomach, it is a perfect time for self examination.  How has my spiritual diet been of late?  Is my life lining up with commands and doctrines of Christ?  Repentance and forgiveness can bring sweetness where there has only been bitterness and despair.  Don't be surprised if you find that truth burning within you to the point you become weary of holding it in.  Rejoice believer, for God has committed a message to share!