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If you need it you can go back to your memory file and draw strength. To me, the Word of
the Lord, from His mouth, is what has kept me going all these years as Iíve walked with
Him through sunshine but also through shadows. Itís His Word that has kept me when He has
spoken to my heart, especially when I have gotten it out of the Word and it unfolds like
a beautiful rosebud when the sun hits its petals and it begins to open and you begin
to see the revelation of the meat of the Lordís precious food, the table He sets before you
in the presence of your enemies, the scripture says or a table in the wilderness. That is
like sweetness of honey to your soul. Now, go to Song of Solomon 2:3 and weíre going
to see another picture of how she describes the sweetness of his words. As youíre finding
that, I want to refer to Proverbs 25:11, the King James says ìwords that are fitly spoken
are like golden apples in a silver setting.î Did you see our picture of the beautiful Golden
Delicious apples with the silver bases beneath it? This is how the Word of God compares words
that are properly, fitly spoken Öwords that fit, that zero in to the core of the needÖnot
bouncing off the wall or over the top of your head, not words that have no relevance personally,
but words that fit. They are like precious golden apples in a setting of silver, apples
of goldñspeaking of that which has been purified, that which is delicious, that which is sweet.
In a setting of silver ñ the silver mainly refers to redemption, words that can buy back,
that can renew. Words that are fitly spoken are like golden apples in a silver setting.
I want you to keep that in mind as we go into Song of Solomon 2:3. Sheís going to talk
about apples. Thatís why I needed to clarify that. Weíre reading from the King James,
she says, ìAs the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons.
I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.î So
now she has likens his words, that to her are so sweet like kisses, now his words that
are fitly and rightly spoken to her heart are like apples plucked off of an apple tree.
She compares him to the other trees in the woods or in the orchard. Letís presume weíre
looking at this orchard of trees. This particular apple tree is a stand-out because there is
precious fruit on it. And she says my beloved is like that. Heís different because off
him I can obtain food for my soul. Off him Iím going to eat sweet apples. Youíre not
going to get sweet apples off a fir, a cedar, a cypress or the various kinds of trees but
only under the apple tree. So thereís a comparison here she can partake of, thatís sweet to
her soul, that she hasnít found anywhere else in this world. Heís like an apple tree
among the trees of the wood. She said so is my beloved among the sons. Heís the best
thing sheís found, he ministers to her need. So what does she do? She has found this apple
tree and she sat down under it. When you sit down, youíre taking a posture of rest, to
refresh and be renewed. Itís not like youíre running frantically wondering what to do.
When you sit down thereís an attitude of rest. These all have symbolic suggestions.
She sits down under the apple tree and that tree is providing for her shadow. Where I
happen to live in the mountainous area, weíre in a semi-desert climate and it can get really
hot, so we planted lots of trees on our property over the years. If I have to be doing things
outside I love to be able to situate myself under the shade of the trees to keep the hot
sun off as I work. The Lord invites us to come that if we would abide under the shadow
of the Almighty in Psalms 91 and all the wonderful things that are there to protect and be provided
for you if you will dwell under His shadow. The Lord says Heíll not let the sun smite
us by day. The beating heat of this life can wipe you out. We need the shadow of His grand
limbs like a grand tree, so we can come, sit, renew, rest and refresh ourselves before we
go out and labor in the heat of this life. She says she found this apple tree was the
best of all the trees in the woods and he was to her the greatest among the sons. She
sits down under his shadow with great delight. I found that as I brought my life in under
Jesus Christ, in the shadow of His bough, I find my delight. She said, ìAnd his fruit
was sweet to my tasteî. He not only provided her a place to rest, shade from the heat of
the burden of her day, but he provides for her a fruit that is sweet. What kind of fruit?
Well, apples grow on apple trees. She is eating these golden apples. In this picture thatís
symbolic, sheís saying in essence (Iíd like to share with you this inspiration) ñ sheís
saying that when he speaks to me from this beautiful mouth weíre talking about, itís
like heís hand-feeding her, plucking from the tree these precious, golden apples of
words that fit, minister, soothe, comfort, direct, give hope-there is a better day yet
ahead. You need that from time to time. I know I do. Youíll find it under Him as the
apple tree. SweetÖO what a beautiful mouth He has. Another place in the scripture, youíll
read how His words are like honey. In Job 23:12, Job, even though he was going through
all that suffering and trial, said, ìI have esteemed and treasured up the words of His
mouth more than my necessary food.î The Word of God, to his soul, meant more than if he
had a chance to eat, physically. In Exodus 16:31 the heavenly bread, the manna that the
children of Israel partook of daily caused them to be sustained for forty years in the
wilderness ñ it says it tasted ìlike wafers made with honeyî Ezekiel and John, both,
ate of the roll of the scroll that God gave them. It was written within and without of
the Words of God. When they ate it, they said it tasted like honey. The Words of the Lord,
when they are personal and speak in a very intimate way to the need in your life, itís
like His kisses. Itís like apples off the apple tree. Itís like honey to your mouth.
I read of an occasion about Jonathan, King Saulís son in (K. J.) I Samuel 14:24-30.
ìAnd the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying,
Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies.
So none of the people tasted any food. And all they of the land came to a wood; and there
was honey upon the ground. And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey
dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath, but Jonathan
heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore 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. Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy
father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth
any food this day. And the people were faint. Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled
the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little
of this honey. How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely today of the spoil
of their enemies which they found? For had there not been now a much great slaughter
among the Philistines?î They were in battle, Saul thought if the people would fast while
they fought, God would honor that and he would win the battle. Instead, the people were faint.
His son didnít hear that they were not to eat and he came upon this honey in a tree.
He ate it and it refreshed him; his eyes were enlightened and he felt better. And spiritually
this is what Iíd like to suggest. You canít afford to fast the Word of God when youíre
in a fight, spiritually. You can partake of the honey of the sweetness of the mouth of
the Lord, His Words. And your eyes, spiritually, will be enlightened. The Lord will give you
revelation for the battle at hand. You canít afford to fast when youíre in a fight. You
must partake of the sweetness of the Word of God. Next time in the subject of ìHe is:
the Beautiful Bridegroomî weíll deal with ìHis Whole Beingî, how it
is altogether lovely. ëTil then, Amen.