Moreover He said to me, “Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.” So I opened my mouth, and He caused me to eat that scroll. And He said to me, “Son of man, feed your belly, and fill your stomach with this scroll that I give you.” So I ate, and it was in my mouth like honey in sweetness. Ezekiel 3:1-3
Honey is sweet and in scripture it represents a mature level of the word, in the text above it is prophetic. The word that the LORD spoke to Ezekiel offers insight to every believer—“eat what you find”. Then He says “eat this scroll”. We too can eat what we find in the word, and it shall be in our mouths sweet like honey.
Apart from Ezekiel, the diet of John the Baptist included honey. As the forerunner of the Lord Jesus Christ he needed a sure word in his mouth. His role was to pave the way for the Messiah, and so God filled his belly with honey. Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. [Matthew 3:4]
We don’t typically think of honey as a meal unto itself. We add honey to our tea, or biscuits to add sweetness, and other times, we may even use it for a medicinal benefit for our throat if we are speaking or singing in a way that could strain our voice. Yet the LORD tells the prophet to feed his belly, and fill his stomach with the scroll [word] which was sweet as honey. The substance that is in the word of God satisfies our innermost needs, and is sweet to the taste.
John the Baptist had a steady diet of Honey, and it sustained him in such a way that Jesus proclaimed his greatness when he said: For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” [Luke 7:28] What made John great? He had the singular privilege of ushering the messiah into His earthly ministry. The level of spiritual maturity and discipline required to do what he did is manifested in honey. The word of God in his belly that proceeded out of his mouth; represents the word that was hidden in his heart.
As citizens of the kingdom of God, we are greater than John the Baptist, because we have the privilege of continuing the work of the Savior of the world, while we are in the world. Therefore, we need a steady diet of honey — the word of God in our bellies. So eat what you find like Ezekiel was instructed; the difference for you and me, is that we are to search the scriptures in order to digest every word that has been spoken. As we seek, we shall find.
Have you had your honey today? Hear the word of the Lord: But He answered and said, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” [Matthew 4:4] — Get in the habit of putting His word in your belly before breakfast each morning. His word shall be sweet like honey in your mouth as you fill your belly with His word day after day. His word is more essential to abundant life than our necessary food.
Maranatha
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