November 27, 2017 - - Proverbs 27:7 Jesus the feast of the soul

A satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb,

But to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

Proverbs 27:7 NKJV

It is a proverb that I have read quite often. There are pithy proverbs nearby to this one, so this particular one I have not really paid attention to it. But today it took hold of my imagination.

Who alone can satisfy my soul? It is the LORD. Worshiping the King of heaven is the soul's delight. Reading the Word and knowing Him--every single thing else on earth pales in comparison. Consider even something as delicious as the honeycomb--it is repulsive, not because there is anything wrong with it in and of itself, but a soul that is satisfied with the love of God cannot even be tempted with something as good as the sweetness of the honeycomb.

What is a hungry soul? God made men and women so that they could be in relationship with Him. Nothing else will satisfy the heart, nothing else will bring contentment to the soul. The one who is in rebellion against God will try everything the earth has to offer. All kinds of rank sins and bitter, destructive-to-the-soul worldly pleasures will be sought and considered as a sweet substitute for the relentless hungry longing for Jesus. All these will fail to satisfy.

Knowing Jesus--getting to speak with Him in prayer, letting Him speak to you as the Spirit makes His voice plain when you are reading the Bible, and listening to sermons by preachers whose hearts are satisfied in Jesus alone--knowing Jesus is the sweetest thing God offers us.

Father in heaven, in Your Word You have set a banqueting table that is the feast of knowing Jesus. Cause Your Spirit to bring my soul to delight, ever more deeply, in the feast of knowing Jesus. As Your Spirit works in me and Jesus is confirmed as the King of my life and the feast of my soul, let Your great Name, Father, be declared to all near and far. Amen.