“More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb,” verses 10.
David now begins to make comparisons between the Word of God and earthly things greatly treasured.
1. He says that the Word of God is highly desirable.
The word ‘desired’ in verse 10 means ‘pleasant’. It first appears in Gen 2:9. That verse wonderfully illustrates the desirability of God’s Word. It is pleasant to look upon and ‘good for food’.
2. He further declares the value of God’s Word to be greater than gold.
“More than . . . gold, yea, than much fine gold.” We know the value men place upon gold. It is deemed one of the most precious of metals and underlies all of man’s trading and commercial activities! Yet David says the Bible is of greater value.
Gold cannot buy you heaven! “ . . . a great ransom cannot deliver thee,” Job 36:18. “None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him,” Psalm 49:7. Mark 8:36.
Only the Bible reveals the way of salvation. John 3:16 is ever so clear on the matter. It imparts a wisdom the value of which cannot be calculated!“For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it,” Proverbs 8:11.
3. David extols the taste of God’s Word.
“Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.” Samson asked, “What is sweeter than honey?” Judges 14:18. The sweetest thing known to man back then was honey but the Bible exceeds its sweetness. “O taste and see that the LORD is good,” Psalm 34:8.
Honey is desirable. That may be seen in that it was amongst the gifts sent by Jacob to placate the unknown and apparently angry Joseph, Genesis 43:11. Furthermore, the excellence of the promised land was declared in the title given it by the Lord, “A land flowing with milk and honey,” Exodus 3:8. What a sweetness there is to the Bible! “How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” Psalm 119:103; 104:33-34.
Honey is nourishing. Jonathan found it so. “ . . he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened,” 1 Samuel 14:27. Ps 67:2. Pro 4:20-22.