Honey in the Rock!

Christian Devotional by Pastor Cecil Thompson

Psalm 81:13-16

“If My people would but listen to Me, if Israel would follow My ways, how quickly would I subdue their enemies and turn My hand against their foes! Those who hate the LORD would cringe before Him, and their punishment would last forever. But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

There is an old hymn that is seldom sung in our churches anymore. That is so sad. We have missed many vital messages by ignoring some of these wonderful hymns. One of those hymns was (is) “Honey In the Rock.” One line of the song goes something like this: “Leave your sins for the blood to cover—there is honey in the rock for you.”

When I enter the words “honey in the rock” into the Blue Letter Bible, I find there are two Scriptural references that use the words “honey from the rock.” The one here in Psalm 81 and the other in Deuteronomy 32:13. As I have been thinking on these two verses, I feel that there is a lesson that the Lord wants us to learn. But first we must establish the conditions.

God has always been—is now and always will be, displeased when His people turn their back on Him and go their willful way. A few verses earlier in Psalm 81, God laments that His people would not listen to Him, nor would they submit to Him. As a result He gave them over to their own devices. That is a scary thought! Our own devices always result in tragedy and chaos.

Look around us today. Pick up a newspaper, turn on the T.V. or radio, and see all of the violence. People riot, destroy and kill without regard for life or property. We hear of road rage that results in accidents or shootings. We are told of gang violence that cuts off the life of kids in their teens. We are now hearing of desk violence, where even offices are hazard zones.

Violence has always been with us, but there is no doubt that today it is more widespread. I think it all goes back to one single cause: The people who fail to honor the Lord are a people who will suddenly be overcome with violence. As the Lord has said, “He will leave them to their own devices.”

Virtually every nation on the face of the earth has turned away from God. We have shut God out of our homes, our schools, our government and our courts, dare I say it—our churches—and then wring our hands about why all of these evil things are seen all around us. How sad!

God gives a fantastic promise here in Psalm 82 that we need to start applying to every area of our life. God’s promise is that we need to listen to Him and follow His ways. We think, that sounds easy! Let me talk to my shrink, or bring it up in my group, or check our church manual.

NO! We need to listen to HIM! That means in His Word, on our knees in prayer, attending church in a Bible believing church, humbling ourselves in regular brokenness and fasting, and such other things that the Holy Spirit will lay upon our hearts. The result is that our enemies will be subdued by the Lord. He is going to do it, so please, do not try to do it yourself. Rest in Him and let Him bring it all to pass.

We might describe our sin-sick world as a huge barren rock. The beauty is that God has promised that He will bring honey from the rock. Honey does not come from a rock. For that matter, water does not come from the rock, but it did in the Exodus. God provided water for His people from a rock.

God is not confined to doing the things that are explainable. When He performs the miracle of the honey you need in your life, just return thanks, and spread it on your toast. Now is the time to start living in the richness of the promises of God—There is honey there!!!

Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today. Trust Him completely and be a blessing.

— Pastor Cecil