Holiness and Honey

When God spoke of Canaan as a land flowing with milk and honey it had a spiritual significance as well as a meaning of prosperity. Milk refers to that which is good for babes, or new converts, recently justified, born again. Honey is a type of the richness and joy of the Deeper work of Grace, or Holiness. Israel leaving Egypt was leaving a life of slavery to sin, but then found herself in a Wilderness. She had to experience a Second miraculous crossing before entering the Promised Land, sanctification. There are so many Old Testament stories illustrating this that many books have already written on it. I am interested here in the story of Jonathan and The Honey

God had given Israel various victories when King Saul, humble and dependent on the Lord, had been filled with the Spirit, prophesying with the other prophets too. But later on Saul fell short in his obedience and consecration, especially he did not put to death old Agag. Paul's epistle to the Romans shows how necessary it is to put to death the Old Man of Self-will before one can enter the fullness of salvation.

Later on when the Philistines came against Israel, Israel not only lost the battle but was defeated so ignominiously that they lost both swords and their blacksmiths. Then the enemy could come against her to despoil of all her crops at will.

Finally Saul called Israel together to try to defend herself though armed only with scythes and other farm implements. Saul in an effort to be religious made them all vow to fast that day to force God to give them a victory. Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there at that moment but had gone off to see what God would open up for them. Jonathan was given a sign by the Lord to attack the Philistines alone, just him and his bearer, God gave them a tremendous miraculous victory, and soon the fearful half armed Israel began to come out of their caves and hiding places to join in.

But then things turned to be amiss, an incomplete victory, God's displeasure was seen about something.

Meanwhile Jonathan returned toward camp, and extremely weary say a hive of wild bees with its honey running over, praise the Lord, and reached up his staff into the honey, began eating thereof, and HIS EYES WERE OPENED.

Justification is wonderful, the forgiveness of the sins of the past a gift of grace beyond measure. But still it is the experience of a child who understands as a child ( l Cor. 13 is really referring to the Divine Love of Holiness). When Jonathan's eyes were opened spiritually and his understanding enlightened, he saw that it was his father, King Saul, and his carnal lack of holiness, that was the cause of Israel's defeats and troubles.

When it was discovered that Jonathan had not kept the forced fast day, Saul would have killed him. The continual enemy of Holiness is from the once-justified who refuse to go on into a deeper consecration and walk with the Lord. The good has turned to be the enemy of the better. The worldly half-hearted Christians turn to fight more against the whole hearted than against sin.

Only another miraculous intervention by the people saved Jonathan from his carnal father. "How can we allow Jonathan to be put to death, when it was through him that this great victory was wrought?" Later on in a fit of anger, Saul threw a javelin at Jonathan, but again he was spared by his alertness, "his eyes being opened".