Sweeter Than Honey Treasure the Treasure of Gods Word

Sweeter Than Honey: Treasure the Treasure of God's Word

10/18/2022

In 1 Thessalonians, Paul encourages his readers to keep on keeping on and listed 15 things we should keep doing in his powerful benediction. Today, we're looking at his second, and final, letter to the #Thessalonians which scholars feel was written not too long after the first. In this letter, Paul writes much about the Second Coming as if maybe there was some confusion, misunderstanding, or false teaching among the church about the event. Then, in chapter 3, Paul encourages them not to be idle.

From the Old Testament to the New, the eternality of God's Word is clearly proclaimed:

Job tells us, “I have treasured the Words of His mouth more than my portion of food” (Job 23:12).

Isaiah reminds us that, “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of our God endures forever” (Isaiah 40:8).

And Matthew records Jesus saying, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My Words will never pass away” (Matthew 24:35).

God's Word is like an eternal Love Letter to us!

Have you ever received a love letter, friend? Did you read it? Did you read it just once, or did you read it over and over again? A Love Letter is a treasure when you love the One who sent it!

How would you like to read through God's Love Letter—His Word, the Bible, with a group of like-minded, Christian girlfriends? We're doing that over in the private, Sweeter Than Honey, Facebook group. Did you know you don't have to start a Bible reading plan on January 1? You can begin today! This simple plan, and an accountability partner, will help you succeed. Who will be your accountability partner? Share this post with them and invite them to the private Facebook group.

JOIN THE PRIVATE SWEETER THAN HONEY FACEBOOK GROUP

Sweeter Than Honey is patterned after this Bible Reading Itinerary. On Tuesdays, here at the blog, I would love it if you and I could take a trip through God's Word and Sweeter Than Honey, together! I would also encourage you to Join us over in the private, Sweeter Than Honey, Facebook group, introduce yourself, meet new friends, and share your thoughts there as well. We're waiting for you!

Nehemiah 6-9: Treasure the Treasure of God's Word

Nehemiah and the remnant who returned to Jerusalem from the Great Exile in Babylon rebuilt and fortified the walls of Jerusalem against much opposition and in record time. “And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God” (Nehemiah 6:16). A role of genealogy is recorded of the people, and then we find Ezra, in the town square of Jerusalem, reading the Law of God.

“And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel. So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose…. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, ‘Amen, Amen,’ lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.

And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, ‘This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.’ For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. Then he said to them, ‘Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’ So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, ‘Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.’ And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.” (Nehemiah 8:1-12)

Do you realize how special it was for these people to hear the Book of the Law read to them, and for the Levites to come alongside the common people and teach them and help them to understand it? All these people gathered together as one people, and they told Ezra to bring the Book of the Law. This wasn’t a book that every home had access to like we do the Bible today. Sometimes, I wonder if we don’t take for granted our access to God’s Word and forget that it hasn’t always been this way. Even in modern history, not everyone in the world has access to His Word. Today, let’s treasure the treasure of God’s Word!

How are you treasuring the treasure of God’s Word today?

About Sweeter Than Honey

When I read God’s Word each morning, I find inspiration and insight that keeps my day on track. Join me on this journey. Let’s settle in with His Word—it’s His Love Letter to us. Did you know that? Let’s read it like a love letter, expecting to glean something for our walk with Him every day. Let’s look for peace in the chaos and strength for our weaknesses. Even on our busiest days we can carve out a few minutes to refocus on the important—the eternal. Can’t we? We may have to get up a little earlier, when the house is still and quiet, or stay up a few minutes after the others are all tucked in for the night, but we can do this! I know we can.

Let's be intentional about focusing on God’s Word and the truths found there. Let's let it inspire us to live out our faith each day in a way that causes those we come in contact with to want what we have found. God sees you. He knows you by name, He knows the number of hairs on your head, and He cares about every detail of your daily existence. He wrote you a Love Letter. Let’s dive in!

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6 Comments

Barbara Harper link

10/18/2022 09:19:47 am

God's Word brings sorrow at first when we realize we're in the wrong. But oh, the joy when we realize God's grace and forgiveness.

Patsy Burnette link

10/18/2022 10:34:33 am

"But oh, the joy!!" GRACE!! :)

Ellen link

10/18/2022 07:25:43 pm

"I WILL delight myself in THY STATUTES: I WILL not forget THY WORD." Psalm 119:16

10/19/2022 09:57:40 am

Ii love that verse, Ellen!

I also love that the Bible pointed us to the Water Gate today. In Nehemiah 8, today, we read of tears and joy at the Water Gate. 🥰

Nehemiah, the cupbearer to the king of Persia, led in the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem. The wall was completed in 52 days! There were 10 gates in this wall, and there is Gospel in these gates!!

When the wall was rebuilt, and the people returned from exile, we find Ezra reading the Law of the Lord to the people who are gathered as one in the town square of Jerusalem. I believe it is significant to note that the Bible tells us these people, who had gathered to hear the reading of God’s Word, were gathered at the Water Gate.

The Water Gate is a picture of the Word.

Amy Jung link

10/18/2022 11:28:52 pm

I love the thought of God's Word being a love letter to us!

10/19/2022 09:59:13 am

I DO TOO, Amy!!

If we see the Bible just as a list of do’s and don’ts, we will end up feeling condemned, sad, and lost. However, if we see the Bible for what it is—God’s Love Letter to us—revealing God’s complete plan of redemption (and this was never Plan B, friend) culminating in Jesus’s finished work on the cross, we will, as those people in Jerusalem, be able to celebrate with exceedingly GREAT joy!

Why are we reading through and studying the Bible this year? We read and study God's Love Letter to us not to just know ABOUT God, but to KNOW God. God’s Word tells us of Jesus and His finished work on the Cross all the way from the book of Genesis to Revelation. Even in an Old Testament book like Nehemiah, we see pictures of God’s incredible mercy, grace, and love for us.

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