“Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones” (Proverbs 16:24).
Solomon’s droplets of wisdom in this section of scripture show a continuing dependence on God’s word for learning, and this verse emphasizes a positive message of encouragement.
Capturing the essence of communication, the preacher zeroes in on the power of the words we use in interacting with our fellows and lets something as simple as honey be the crux of his image. Not only is honey the essence of sweetness, it also is good for both food and medicine.
Like honey, “pleasant words” are good both for the “soul” (the outer layer of our fleshly structure) and for our “bones” (the foundation or strength of our body). And words that come from us as a child of God have been instilled into us as a result of a serious study of the word that guides us into all truth.
The message should not be lost on us: our communication with those around us should be pleasant, upbuilding, encouraging, and instructive as we navigate our way through the maze of life and look to the reward that awaits us on the other side.
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