Why You Should Eat The Honey!

Jesus taught His disciples to (Matthew 24:16/Mark 8:34/Luke 9:23):

1) Deny themselves

2) Take up their cross daily

3) Follow Me

Central to the Christian approach is an understanding + implementation of self-denial. It's a stand against our carnal impulses. An opposition to wayward feelings. A counter to the deceptive schemes of the enemy. I've noticed much fruit in my life from discipline with alcohol, sugar, social media, swearing, etc. And while putting the things of this world behind me is productive/righteous/truthful in terms of submitting to my ways of Christ, I want to assert a greater understanding of enjoying the beautiful, God-given world we walk on.

Open up your Bibles to 1 Samuel 14

The Israelites had been asking God for a king to lead them and fight their battles, such as all the other nations had. God heard His people, and answered by the prophet Samuel to anoint the first king of Israel. His name was Saul, a Benjamite (the smallest of the 12 tribes). Saul did foolish things. He did not keep the commands the Lord gave him. It seems as if Saul was more concerned about the longevity of his throne, than the God who gave him the seat.

Saul had a son named Jonathan, and his faith in God was firm. Jonathan trusted in God to rout the persecuting Philistines. "Perhaps the LORD will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many of by few...So Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, climb up after me; the LORD has given them into the hand of Israel." -1 Samuel 14:6,12. Like many believers today, Jonathan knew God would bless the hope he had. And true to His word, we read that Israel was saved. As you might imagine, the king and his son reacted differently to the deliverance. Let's read in verses 24-30 about the discrepancy between Saul's legalistic self-denial and Jonathan's renewal of vitality.

"So on that day the LORD saved Israel, and the battle moved on beyond Beth Aven. Now, the Israelites were in distress that day, because Saul had bound the people under an oath, saying, 'Cursed be anyone who eats food before evening comes, before I have avenged myself on my enemies!" So none of the troops tasted food.

Then entire army entered the wood, and there was honey on the ground. When they went into the woods, they saw the honey oozing out; yet no one put his hand to his mouth, because they feared the oath. But Jonathan had not heard that his father had bound the people with the oath, so he reached out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it into the honeycomb. He raised his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened (or his strength was renewed; similarly in verse 29). Then one of the soldiers told him, 'Your father bound the army under a strict oath saying, 'Cursed be anyone who eats food today!' That is why the men are faint.'

²⁹Jonathan said, 'My father has made trouble for the country. See how my eyes brightened when I tasted a little of this honey. How much better it would have been if the men had eaten today some of the plunder they took from their enemies. Would not the slaughter of the Philistines have been even greater?'" - 1 Samuel 14:24-30

Close your eyes for a moment and envision your wonder of nature.

I track a monarch butterfly floating in the wind. I taste a wonderful, juicy watermelon on a summer afternoon. I marvel at a royal blue waterfall falling over my head. When we stop, we notice. Yes, there is honey in this world.

What happens when our heads are down, when we prescribe to the procedural king Sauls of the world, Lord knows we deprive ourselves of the honey He placed on this earth. The pageantry of creation. I'm talking about getting sunlight on your eyes before you open your phone. Or sharing an ice cream cone with your grandparent despite the diet you cling to.

May the illumination of Jonathan's eyes be a reminder for us to delight in what God has bless us with.