Psalm 119:103 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth.
[New International Translation]
Summary
With 176 verses, Psalm 119 is the longest chapter and the longest psalm in the Bible. Psalm 119 is an alphabetic acrostic (i.e. composition) psalm. The first eight verses of the psalm all begin with the letter “aleph,” the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The next eight verses begin with “beth,” the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and so on. Psalm 119 covers the entire Hebrew alphabet, this is one of the reasons why the Psalm is so long.
Verse 103 of Psalm 119 is under the Hebrew letter, “mem.” The verses under “mem” contain verses that express “the love of God’s law”--- the sweetness of GOD’s WORD.
As you read the eight verses of “mem,” it is as if the writer is overwhelmed with emotion at how GOOD GOD’s WORD is. The sweet communion with THE MAKER; the rich joy of listening to HIS PROMISES; remembering GOD’s whispering WORD of comfort, the writer of Psalms 119 delights and rejoices in THE WORD . He marvels how the WORD taught him how to walk [in the right direction] and how THE WORD opened up his understanding as no human teacher could do. The writer is in awe at how much GOD’s WORD has shaped his life. To the writer, not even the best and the sweetest honey in all the land compares to how sweet THE WORD.
Sugar
Sugar comes in many forms. There are the naturally occurring sugars that are in fruit, called fructose, and in milk, called lactose. And then there are the “added sugars,” those sugars and syrups that are added to foods and drinks during their preparation.
According the American Heart Association the major sources of added sugars are those found in soft drinks, candy, cakes, cookies, pies, fruit drinks (fruitades and punch), dairy desserts (e.g. ice cream, sweetened yogurt, sweetened milks, and grains (e.g. cinnamon toast, honey waffles).
The American Heart Association has two separate guidelines for daily added sugar---one for women and one for men:
See, www.Heart.org.
According to the American Heart Association there are about 4 calories per gram. So a 12 oz. can of soda with 39 grams of sugar is about 156 calories, much more than the daily calories recommended for a man or woman.
In an article, “How Much Sugar Are Americans Eating,” by Alice G.Walton, it was reported that in 1822 American consumed about 45 grams of sugar per day. By 2012, Americans were consuming about 785 grams every 5 days or about 130 lbs. of sugar a year. She notes that the average adult American consumes about 22 teaspoons of added sugar per day and that the average child consumes about 32 teaspoons of added sugar per day. “Added sugar” has been linked to:
- Obesity,
- Hypertension,
- High Blood Pressure
- Hypoglycemia
- Depression
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Nervous Tension
- Aching Limbs
- Diabetes
- Acne
- Skin Irritation
- Stiffening of Arteries
- Violent Behavior
Refined sugar has no nutritional value:
- 0 Vitamins
- 0 Minerals
- 0 Enzymes
- 0 Fiber
Walton notes that according to brain scans, sugar is as addictive as cocaine.
See: https://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2012/08/30/how-much-sugar-are-americans-eating-infographic/#558a21884ee.
There have also been a number of articles suggesting that increased added sugar intake make be linked to person’s increased risk of Alzheimer’s. See, “Type 2 Diabetes and Alzheimer’s Brain ‘Tangles,’” by Amy Norton, September 9, 2015,
See: www.webmd.com/diabetes/news/20150902/type-2-diabetes-linked-to-more-alzheimers-brain-tangles#1
Because of the increased levels of obesity in children, researchers have found that a number of obese children and adolescents are now exhibiting liver disease formerly associated only with alcoholics—they call it non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Obese children and adolescents are also at increased risk for type 2 diabetes.
Eat naturally sweet fruit.
If you have a “sweet tooth,” one way to avoid “added sugar” snacks is to instead eat a piece of fruit (e.g. grapes, oranges, apples, pineapple, mango, bananas, pears, blueberries, blackberries, etc.), try to maintain a healthy diet and avoid impulsive eating.
If you are diabetic or have a specific medical condition, you should always consult your personal physician, who is knowledgeable about your specific medical history, about your diet.
Spiritually Sweet
The psalmist in Psalm 119 found spiritually sweetness in the WORD of GOD!
Today, pray that GOD give to all of us the intense, love and reverence for GOD and HIS WORD.
Pray for a craving for good health and the wisdom to make healthy choices.
Pray for the strength to avoid what harms us and to embrace spiritual sweetness.
Be prayerful and BE BLESSED!
