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, which 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. To the writer, not even the best and the sweetest honey in all the land compares to how sweet THE WORD.
Sugary Sweets
Many Americans are addicted to sugary sweets. According to the American Heart Association, some of the major sources of sugars include the following: soft drinks/energy/sports drinks, candy, sugars, cookies, pies, fruit drinks, dairy desserts, and milk products (e.g., sweetened yogurt, sweetened milk) and some grain-based items (e.g. cinnamon toast, honey-nut waffles).
It’s important to read the labels and ingredients on the packages. Some of the names of sugars include maltose, sucrose, high fructose corn syrup, molasses, cane sugar, corn sweetener, raw sugar, syrup, honey, ready-to-eat cereals, and fruit juice concentrates.
According to the American Heart Association, we should think of sugar and calories this way: Four calories in every gram of sugar. It a product has 15 grams of sugar, you are ingesting 60 calories just from the sugar alone.
The American Heart Association suggests limiting the amount of added sugar you consume to no more than half of your daily discretionary calorie allowance. See below:
Our Brain and Body on Sugar
WebMd describes the following ways that sugars can “mess with our health.”
Our Brain
Eating sugar gives the brain a huge surge of a feel-good chemical called dopamine. Fruits and vegetables do not release as much dopamine as sugar, so the brain starts to need more and more sugar to get the same feelings of pleasure. According to WebMd this explains that “gotta-have-it feeling for an after-dinner dessert, that may be so difficult “to tame.”
Our Mood
The occasional candy or cookie can give a quick burst of energy (or “sugar high”) by raising our blood sugar levels. As the body absorbs the sugar and the blood sugar levels drop, a person may feel a bit jittery and anxious (a.k.a., the “sugar crash”). Studies have linked a high sugar intake to a greater risk of depression in adults.
Our Teeth
According to WebMd, sugar can rot your teeth. Bacteria that cause cavities to eat the sugar in your mouth that may linger after eating something sweet.
Our Joints
Eating lots of sweets has been shown to worsen joint pain because of the inflammation they cause in the body. In addition, studies have shown that continuous sugar consumption can increase a person’s risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.
Our Skin
Inflammation may make skin age faster. According to WebMd, excess sugar attaches to a protein in our bloodstream and creates harmful molecules called “AGEs” (i.e., advanced glycation end-products). These molecules damage collagen and elastin the skin, resulting in wrinkles and saggy skin.
Our Liver
Fructose or high fructose corn syrup is an added sugar that is processed in the liver. In large amounts, these sugars can damage the liver.
Our Heart
Eating excess sugar can cause extra insulin in the bloodstream affecting our arteries. This can cause artery walls to become inflamed, grow thicker than normal, and stiffer, stressing the heart. People who eat excess sugar are at increased risk of heart disease, like heart failure, heart attacks, and strokes.
Our Pancreas
When we eat the pancreas pumps out insulin. Eating too much sugar may cause the pancreas to pump out too much insulin. If the pancreas breaks down and blood sugar levels rise, this may result in diabetes and heart disease.
Our Kidney
The kidneys play an important role in filtering our blood. If blood sugar levels reach a certain level, the kidneys may start to release excess sugar into the urine. If uncontrolled, diabetes can lead to kidney failure or prevent the kidneys from effectively filtering out waste from the blood and body.
Our Weight
Research shows that people who drink sugar-sweetened beverages tend to weigh more and be at a higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes, than those who don’t. According to WebMd, excess sugar consumption can also inflame fat cells causing them to release chemicals that increase weight.
See, “How Does Too Much Sugar Affect Your Body, https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/features/how-sugar-affects-your-body#:~:text=How%20much%20sugar%20should%20you,a%20max%20of%209%20teaspoons.
Treat Sugar Like Any Other Addiction
It is important to be diligent, reduce your intake and be aware of the problem. Educate yourself: read labels and determine what you can and cannot eat. Plan Ahead: Prepare healthy snacks as an alternative to reaching for a sweetened snack. Don’t skip meals. Consult your personal physician if you think you have a problem.
Exercises to Lower Blood Sugar
Ellen Greenlaw in “How to Lower Your Blood Sugar,” suggests some of the following exercises:
Walking outdoors, taking a dance class, outdoor bicycling or stationary bicycling, stretching, yoga or tai chi, resistance training with light weights or bands, fitness classes, housework or yard work, or gardening. See, https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/features/exercise-lower-blood-sugar#1. Many classes can be taken virtually or on Zoom. If you have a medical condition, you should always consult your personal physician about the best or right exercise program for you.
Spiritually Sweetness
The psalmist in Psalm 119 found spiritual sweetness in the WORD of GOD! So, continue to study GOD’s WORD. Attend Sunday School or a Bible study. Many places of worship are scheduling virtual meetings.
Take care of your body and limit your physical sweet intake.
Crave spiritual sweetness and BE BLESSED!
