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HONEY
And he put forth the end of the rod, and dipped it in the
honeycomb. And he carried his hand to his mouth and his eyes were enlightened.
(1 Sam 14: 27)
Of all of the creatures created by God, the little
honeybee is one of the most amazing and useful. While of course it is generally
best known for the honey that it produces, the honeybee is a vital part of
nature. While gathering nectar from flowers, the honeybee also helps to transfer
pollen from plant to plant, which enables their flowers to ripen into many kinds
of fruit that we eat. Still more proof that "nature" didn't just happen after a
"big bang" creation event - it was all planned and designed by our Creator.
Honey was common in Bible History. It was the primary source of sugar for the
ancient Israelites. It was also used in baking, to make mead (a fermented
beverage), and was sometimes mixed with wine. The Ancient Egyptians also used
honey as an embalming substance. Honey is mentioned widely through The Bible:
probably the honey of wild bees.
For many reasons – mostly because it tasted so good-
honey was one of the most popular foods among the people of the bible. It became
a symbol for abundance and God’s blessings- thus “a land of milk and honey.”
Tradition says that when Kind David made his triumphant entry into Jerusalem
with the Ark, the treat he brought with him were honey cakes. And he distributed
to all multitude of Israel, both men and women, to everyone a ring-shaped cake
of bread and a date cake and a raisin cake. (2 Samuel 6:19)
Hippocrates himself recommended a mixture if honey, water
and certain herbs to bring down the fever. Honey is indeed, is not only very
good eating. It is one of the most powerful healing foods we have at our
disposal. A single serving of honey, about one tablespoon, contains 64 calories
and 17grams of carbohydrates. And even that small amount packs all the
wallop of a small pharmacy Honey we now know, can kill bacteria and disinfect
wounds and sores. Countless travelers have found that honey works when nothing
else does to end the distress of traveler’s diarrhea. The study involved two
groups of children being treated for acute gastroenteritis. All suffered
terribly from diarrhea brought by intestinal infection.
Endomorphins have a powerful influence on our mood,
memory, learning ability and perception of pain. Endomorphism affect the brain
much the way morphine does-and these natural painkillers are non addictive. So
honey taken for a sore throat apparently works by dulling the pain. “Honey has
the power to make us feel better by improving our mood and think well by
stimulating the part of the brain responsible for learning.”
Honey: God the giver of (Psalms 81:16; Ezekiel
16:19) · Gathered and prepared by bees (Judges 14:8) · Moderation
needful in the use of (Proverbs 25:16,27) · Loathed by those who are full
(Proverbs 27:7) · WAS EATEN Plain (1 Samuel 14:25,26,29) With the
honeycomb (The Song of Solomon 5:1; Luke 24:42) With milk (The Song of
Solomon 4:11) With butter (Isaiah 7:15,22) With locusts (Matthew 3:4;
Mark 1:6) Mixed with flour (Exodus 16:31; Ezekiel 16:13) ·Not to be
offered with any sacrifice (Leviticus 2:11) · First fruits of, offered to
God (2 Chronicles 31:5) · Often sent as a present (Genesis 43:11; 1 Kings
14:3) · Exported from Canaan (Ezekiel 27:17) ILLUSTRATIVE OF The word
of God (Psalms 19:10; 119:103) Wisdom (Proverbs 24:13,14) Holy speech
of saints (The Song of Solomon 4:11) Pleasant words (Proverbs
16:24) Lips of a strange woman (Proverbs 5:3) In the Bible "Honey" is a
symbol: Psalms 119:103 How sweet is the taste of your instructions, sweeter
even than honey." Proverbs 16:24 Kind sayings are a honeycomb, sweet to the
soul and good for your health." Psalms 19:7,8,10,11 The commands of the
LORD ... gives wisdom and understanding to the mind. ...those who obey them are
happy. They are sweeter than the purest honey. They give knowledge to me, I'm
rewarded for obeying them." Proverbs 24:13,14 My son, eat honey; it is good.
and just as honey from the comb is sweet on your tongue, you may be sure that
wisdom is good for the soul. Get wisdom and have a bright future. "
Have we reviewed our spiritual diet lately? Is butter and
honey our nutritional mainstay, or is it basic milk and sugar? Milk is
associated with our infancy in the Truth (Heb. 5:12-13). We are exhorted to
mature in the knowledge of Deity (2 Pet. 3:18). Have we made an honest effort to
do so? Sugar is good, but honey is far more beneficial to our physical health.
It should come as no surprise, then, that honey is associated with the
acquisition of wisdom (Prov. 24:13-14). Are we learning to correctly apply what
we have gleaned from the Word? Are we learning to refuse the evil and choose the
good?
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