2026-07-16
Psalm 119:103 NKJV
In ancient Jewish culture, formal education began at six years of age. Jewish boys enrolled in the local synagogue school called bet sefer, which means “house of the book.” By the time they graduated four years later, they had memorized the entire Torah – every jot and tittle of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy was engraved on their cerebral cortex via memorization. There goes our excuse for not being able to remember, right?
According to tradition, the rabbi would cover the students’ writing slates with honey on the first day of class. Then the rabbi would instruct his class to lick the honey off their slates while reciting Psalm 119:103: “How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (NKJV). That was the first and perhaps most important lesson in their entire education. The rabbi wanted his students to fall in love with the Word of God. He wanted them to taste and see that the Word is good (see Psalm 34:8).
Jeremiah thought so: “Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart” (Jeremiah 15:16 NKJV). David said: “The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple” (Psalm 119:130 NKJV). Solomon said: “For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:6 NKJV).
When you acquire a taste for God’s Word, the Holy Spirit, who is the author of the Word, will do two things for you. First, He will reveal it to you. Second, He will remind you of it.
Soul food: Eph 4:17-6:24; Matt 26:57-75; Ps 123; Pro 18:13-16
Psalm 119:103 NLV
In die antieke Joodse kultuur het formele onderwys op sesjarige ouderdom begin. Joodse seuns het by die plaaslike sinagogeskool genaamd bet sefer ingeskryf, wat ‘huis van die boek’ beteken. Teen die tyd dat hulle vier jaar later hul skoolloopbaan voltooi het, het hulle die hele Tora gememoriseer – elke punt en komma van Genesis, Eksodus, Levitikus, Numeri en Deuteronomium is deur memorisering en herhaling op hul serebrale korteks gegraveer. Daar gaan ons verskoning dat ons sukkel om dinge te onthou!
Volgens tradisie sou die rabbi die studente se leie waarop hulle skryf, die eerste dag van die klas met heuning bedek. Dan sou die rabbi sy klas opdrag gee om die heuning van hul leie af te lek terwyl hulle Psalm 119:103 (NLV) voordra: ‘Hoe aangenaam is u woorde vir my; dis soeter as heuning in my mond.’ Dit was die eerste en miskien belangrikste les in hul hele opvoeding. Die rabbi wou hê sy studente moes op die Woord van God verlief raak. Hy wou hê hulle moes proe en sien dat die Woord goed is (sien Psalm 34:9).
Jeremia het ook so gedink: ‘Ek het u woorde verslind toe hulle gekom het, hulle was vir my ‘n vreugde; ek was bly daaroor dat u Naam oor my uitgeroep is, Here, almagtige God’ (Jeremia 15:16 AFR83). Dawid het gesê: ‘Begrip van u woord bring lig; dit gee insig aan die eenvoudige’ (Psalm 119:130 NLV). Salomo het gesê: ‘Dit is tog die Here wat wysheid gee. Sy woorde gee kennis en insig’ (Spreuke 2:6 NLV).
Wanneer jy ‘n smaak vir God se Woord ontwikkel, sal die Heilige Gees, wat die outeur van die Woord is, twee dinge vir jou doen. Eerstens sal Hy dit aan jou openbaar. Tweedens sal Hy jou daaraan herinner.
Sielskos: Ef 4:17-6:24; Matt 26:57-75; Ps 123; Spr 18:13-16
2026-07-15
Joshua 3:10 NKJV
As the Jordan River swelled to a mile in width, crossing it was no small task. Especially with millions of people! God said, “Go over this Jordan, you and all this people” (Joshua 1:2 NKVJ). Do you think they were scared? Would you have been? “The feet of the priests who bore the ark dipped in the edge of the water” (Joshua 3:15 NKJV). It was the smallest of steps, but with God, the smallest step of faith can activate the mightiest of miracles.
As they touched the water, the flow stopped as if someone had shut off the water main. Next, we read: “All Israel crossed over on dry ground” (v. 17 NKJV). By performing this miracle, God wanted them to know: “By this you shall know that the living God is among you.” For Joshua’s people, assurance came as they stood on dry land looking back at the Jordan.
For us, assurance comes as we stand on the finished work of Christ and look back at the cross. Let the cross convince you. Be settled about God’s faithfulness. The psalmist describes a person of faith this way: “He is settled in his mind that Jehovah will take care of him” (Psalm 112:7 TLB).
Life has many unanswered questions, but God’s promise to save you needn’t be one of them. “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32 NKJV). Rest in your redemption. The past is past. Your future is bright.
Soul food: Eph 1:1-4:16; Matt 26:47-56; Ps 118:19-29; Pro 18:10-12
Josua 3:10 NLV
Dit was geen geringe taak om die Jordaanrivier, wat op plekke tot ‘n myl breed was, oor te steek nie. Veral nie met ‘n miljoen mense wat jou volg nie! God het gesê: ‘…jy [moet] gereedmaak om my volk deur die Jordaanrivier te lei…’ (Josua 1:2 NLV). Dink jy hulle was bang? Sou jy gewees het? ‘Die priesters wat die ark dra, het… hulle voete in die vlak water [ge]sit…’ (Josua 3:15 NLV). Dit was ‘n klein treetjie, maar God kan die kleinste treetjie van geloof in die magtigste wonderwerk omskep.
Toe die priesters se voete die water raak, het die water begin opdam asof iemand die kraan toegedraai het. Vervolgens lees ons: ‘…Almal van Israel het deur die droë bedding gegaan…’ (vers 17 NLV). Deur hierdie wonderwerk te verrig, wou God hê Israel moet weet: ‘…Vandag gaan julle weet dat die lewende God hier tussen julle is…’ Israel het hierdie werklikheid besef toe hulle op droë grond gestaan en na die Jordaan teruggekyk het.
Ons besef hierdie werklikheid wanneer ons op die voltooide werk van Christus staan en na die kruis terugkyk. Laat die kruis jou oortuig. Wees seker van God se getrouheid. Die Psalmdigter beskryf ‘n persoon van geloof as volg: ‘…hy is gerus, hy vertrou op die Here’ (Psalm 112:7).
Die lewe het baie onbeantwoorde vrae, maar jy hoef nie aan God se belofte om jou te verlos, te twyfel nie. ‘As God werklikwaar nie sy eie Seun gespaar het nie, maar Hom ter wille van ons almal aan die dood oorgegee het, is daar tog geen manier waarop Hy nie ook alle ander goeie dinge aan ons sal skenk nie’ (Romeine 8:32 NLV). Rus in jou verlossing. Die verlede is verby. Jou toekoms blink.
Sielskos: Ef 1:1-4:16; Matt 26:47-56; Ps 118:19-29; Spr 18:10-12
2026-07-14
Isaiah 41:10 NKJV
Dr. George Washington Carver overcame racial prejudice and became an educator, scientist, and inventor who was honoured by the U.S. Congress. He was also a follower of Christ. And here’s what he had to say about prayer: “My prayers seem to be more of an attitude than anything else. I indulge in very little lip service, but ask the Great Creator silently, daily, and often many times a day to permit me to speak to Him… I ask Him… to give me wisdom, understanding, and bodily strength to do His will; hence I am asking and receiving all the time.”
Carver gave the world many inventions and was most famous for what he could do with a peanut. He stood on the truth of these Scriptures: “I will go before you and make the crooked places straight” (Isaiah 45:2 NKJV). “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3 NKJV). “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10 NKJV).
Pay particular attention to Carver’s words: “I am asking and receiving all the time.” Prayer was not his last resort, but his first choice. To him, it was more than religious ritual; it was a means of constant communication with the God he loved, sometimes talking and sometimes listening, but at all times sensitive to and aware of the presence of God. And daily prayer should be that for you too.
Soul food: Obad; Mal 1-4; Matt 26:36-46; Ps 118:10-18; Pro 18:7-9
