What does 'eat the fat, drink the sweet' mean here? As a matter of fact, there's just something about 'eating the fat, drinking the sweet' that makes people happy, literally! For some, just imagining a platter of hot, sizzling steak, and the fat that melts in their mouth is enough to put a smile on their face, and of course, make them salivate!
So, does this statement 'eat the fat, drink the sweet' literally mean what it is?
I believe there are also spiritual meanings to 'eating the fat, drinking the sweet' here.
1. 'Eat the fat' = Taking in God's portion
Leviticus 3:16 says, 'And the priest shall burn the offering on the altar as food, an offering made by fire for a sweet aroma; all the fat is the Lord's, i.e. the Lord's portion'.
So, 'eating the fat' here speaks of 'taking in God's portion', i.e. receiving God's heavenly resources (and inheritance) for you as a believer.
2. 'Drink the sweet' = Taking in God's Word & Spirit
Proverbs 16:24 says, 'Pleasant words (a 'picture' of God's Word & Spirit) are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones (a 'picture' of one's physical body)'. This speaks of 'taking in God's Word & Spirit'. Sweetness to the soul (inside) in turn leads to health to the body (outside).
And while you feed yourself with the 'fat' and the 'sweet', Nehemiah 8:10 also says, 'send portions to those whom nothing is prepared'. It means 'to remember those who don't have, and send portions (i.e. give some) to them, so that they have reasons to rejoice too!'
Leviticus 3:16 says, 'And the priest shall burn the offering on the altar as food, an offering made by fire for a sweet aroma; all the fat is the Lord's, i.e. the Lord's portion'.
So, 'eating the fat' here speaks of 'taking in God's portion', i.e. receiving God's heavenly resources (and inheritance) for you as a believer.
2. 'Drink the sweet' = Taking in God's Word & Spirit
Proverbs 16:24 says, 'Pleasant words (a 'picture' of God's Word & Spirit) are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones (a 'picture' of one's physical body)'. This speaks of 'taking in God's Word & Spirit'. Sweetness to the soul (inside) in turn leads to health to the body (outside).
And while you feed yourself with the 'fat' and the 'sweet', Nehemiah 8:10 also says, 'send portions to those whom nothing is prepared'. It means 'to remember those who don't have, and send portions (i.e. give some) to them, so that they have reasons to rejoice too!'
To 'eat the fat, drink the sweet' here also means 'to eat and drink the best that you have', and the truth is 'taking in God's portion' and 'taking in God's Word & Spirit' are the best ‘food’ and ‘drink’ that a believer can ever have! Yes, better than anything else on earth! As you eat and drink the best,
you’ll then also acquire the fervour in your soul (i.e. mind, will, and emotions), and the strength in your body to do God’s will effectively, and cheerfully!
A rejoicing heart is also a continuous medicine for you! Proverbs 17:22 says, 'A merry heart does good like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones'. The word ‘merry’ here is ‘sameach' in Hebrew, which can mean ‘joyful, rejoicing, gladness, cheerful, gleeful’. You see, a rejoicing heart does not necessarily arise from a life that exists without
problems (i.e. free from problems), but even if one is faced with problems (or challenges, or persecution) in life, he/she can still receive His joy, and grow in His joy! This happened in the early church days, and in the lives of the early
apostles, like Peter and Paul (see 1 Peter 1:6-8 and 1 Peter 4:12-14). In Nehemiah's case, persecution came from people who tried to shake his faith and his vision (in rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem) that God had put in his heart to fulfil.
People of God, this is your time to receive the joy of the Lord anew and afresh again! And this joy that comes from heaven (from Him) will also be your strength, regardless of the circumstances in and around you at the moment.
Note: Heaven is always full of joy and celebration! So, never for a second think that heaven is a dull, monotonous place! How do I know? Jesus Himself says so in the 'Parable of the Lost Coin' (see Luke 15:8-10), that when one soul repents (or returns to the Lord), the whole heaven rejoices and celebrates. And there are currently at least 6 billion people on earth and counting! So, just imagine how busy heaven is in celebration every day! Do you also know that when you were saved (or when you return to Him), all of heaven celebrates and rejoices with you? That’s how precious you are to Him! So, never mind if not many people on earth celebrate you (say, your birthday), because you have the whole heaven celebrating you!
Jesus has indeed borne all your griefs (‘choliy' in Hebrew, 'including all your sicknesses or diseases'), and carried all your sorrows (‘makowb’ in Hebrew, 'including all your pains or afflictions') on the cross for you, so now you can have joy! Isaiah 53:4 says so. As a believer, there's therefore now every reason to rejoice! So, never allow anything (or anyone) to rob away the joy of the Lord in your life!
As you receive this joy that comes from Him, the Bible says you’ll also have the strength (or power) to overcome, abounding in hope as you move on and carry on whatever God has for you in life. Romans 15:13 says, 'He fills you with all joy and peace, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit'.
As you receive this joy that comes from Him, the Bible says you’ll also have the strength (or power) to overcome, abounding in hope as you move on and carry on whatever God has for you in life. Romans 15:13 says, 'He fills you with all joy and peace, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit'.
Notice also when one loses the joy of the Lord
in life, everything deteriorates (and that includes health). Say, when a chef loses the
joy of serving his trademark cuisine, the quality of his cooking will inevitably (cannot be avoided, sure to happen) deteriorate! Or when
someone who serves in ministry loses the joy of serving and blessing others,
his (or her) ministry will also inevitably deteriorate. That’s how important receiving (and keep receiving) His joy afresh and anew is! So, when things begin to get a bit 'routine' and monotonous in any area of your life, 'eat the
fat, drink the sweet' again (maybe not literally!), and receive His joy afresh and anew again!
Back to Nehemiah 8:10 now. This verse ends with 'for the joy of the Lord is your strength'. The word
‘strength’ here actually has military connotations in Hebrew. In fact, all in all, the book of Nehemiah is effectively a 'defence' manual for God's people today. This word 'strength' is “ma’owz” in Hebrew, which
means ‘a fortified place (citadel), a place of defence, a place of safety, a
fortress, rock, stronghold’. It is a place of safety (stronghold) where the
enemy’s 'fiery darts' cannot touch us! In other words, 'the joy of the Lord' in you is your 'safety place, stronghold, fortress' against any problem, challenge, or persecution you face on earth!
By the way, what are those ‘fiery darts’ in
Nehemiah’s days (which we believers today can also identify with)?
(a) Ridicule and sarcasm (Nehemiah 2:18-19)
(b) Mockery and insults (Nehemiah 4:1-3)
(c) Conspiracy and confusion (Nehemiah 4:7-8)
(d) Threats and fear tactics (Nehemiah 6:6-9)
All these are also 'joy-robbers' of God's people in our days.
(a) Ridicule and sarcasm (Nehemiah 2:18-19)
(b) Mockery and insults (Nehemiah 4:1-3)
(c) Conspiracy and confusion (Nehemiah 4:7-8)
(d) Threats and fear tactics (Nehemiah 6:6-9)
All these are also 'joy-robbers' of God's people in our days.
People of God, as you build (and keep building) what God has for you this year (like Nehemiah building
the wall of Jerusalem), keep looking to Him and keep receiving the joy that comes from Him (not from the world), so that you can run
with His strength this whole year!
As you build (and keep building), also keep meditating and confessing God’s Word (i.e. agreeing with His Word, and not what the world says). Nehemiah 4:18 says, 'Every one of the builders had his sword girded at his side as he built'. The ‘sword’ here speaks of 'the Word of God'.
Finally, with Nehemiah 8:10 in your heart and in your mind, I believe you'll also be well on your way to completing all that God has for you this year, just as happened to Nehemiah and the people of God in his days. Amen!
As you build (and keep building), also keep meditating and confessing God’s Word (i.e. agreeing with His Word, and not what the world says). Nehemiah 4:18 says, 'Every one of the builders had his sword girded at his side as he built'. The ‘sword’ here speaks of 'the Word of God'.
Finally, with Nehemiah 8:10 in your heart and in your mind, I believe you'll also be well on your way to completing all that God has for you this year, just as happened to Nehemiah and the people of God in his days. Amen!
