Pleasant words [are as] an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
Ver. 24. Pleasant words are as a honeycomb.] Dainty and delicious, such as "the preacher set himself to search out"; Ecc 12:10 such as his father David found God's words to be; Psa 119:103 "wells of salvation." Isa 12:3 "Breasts of consolation"; Isa 66:11 the honey drops of Christ's mouth. Son 5:16 Oh, hang upon his holy lips, as they did! Luk 19:48 Hast thou found honey with Samson? Eat it as he did. Pro 25:16 Eat God's book as John did; Rev 10:9 find fatness and sweetness in it. Psa 63:5 Get "joy and gladness" out of it. Psa 51:8 And if at any time the word, in searching our wounds, put us to pain, as honey will cause pain to exulcerate parts, let us bear it, and not be like children, who, though they like honey well, yet will they not endure to have it come near their lips when they have sore mouths.
Sweet to the soul, health to the bones,] i.e., Satisfactory to the mind and medicinal also to the body, which many times follows the temperament of the mind. Alphonsus, King of Sicily, is said to have recovered from a dangerous disease by the pleasure that he took in reading Quintus Curtius, and some others in like sort by reading Livy, Aventine, &c. But these were "physicians of no value" to that of David. "Unless thy law had been my delight, I should then have perished in mine affliction." Psa 119:92 Look how those that are fallen into a swoon may be fetched again with cold water sprinkled on their faces, or with hot water poured down their throats. So those that are troubled in mind may by patience and comfort of the Scriptures recover hope.