Showers of Blessing

We want to do some work on our deck. Although it bakes during the summer months, my wife has said several times in the last few months that it just hasn't dried out this winter. In fact, one could expand that to our entire yard. Even on a beautiful day such as today, to walk around in the yard is to feel yourself sinking slightly into the surface underfoot. And, then there are the boggy areas...

Often, rain is not seen as a blessing, but an inconvenience. Sure, when the crops need the water, or when it's been dry and dusty, especially in drought conditions, we long for and even pray for rain. But, when we get it, too many of us begin to see rain once again in a negative light.

For the Christian believer, though, drought is the condition of our soul when sin has an upper hand, and so we yearn for refreshing from God's Spirit like a dry, barren land longs for rain.

Ezekiel 34 begins with God's condemnation of the spiritual leaders who are not caring for His people. And, in verse 11, He just says, "I Myself will search for My sheep and look after them." He is fed up with those who have been given this responsibility and who have either not stepped up to the task or more especially have arrogantly flaunted it, taken advantage of the people for their own selfish desires.

This passage is brought into context for the Christian when in verse 23, God says, "Then I will appoint over them one shepherd, My servant David, and he will feed them...and be their shepherd." This prophecy made after the life and reign of King David, to us, refers to the coming and reign of the Messiah.

In the coming of Messiah, God makes several promises including the one referenced in our title: "And I will make showers fall in their season; they will be showers of blessing."

Then, just a few verses later, He makes again one of the great promises of the Bible. From the promise to Jacob, "Behold, I am with you" (Genesis 28:15) to the promise of Jesus, "behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20), the people of God have been blessed with the presence of God. And, here in Ezekiel 34:30, we see this same promise: "Then, they will know that I,, the LORD their God, am with them."

Finally, the chapter closes with what appears to me to be a comforting and encouraging verse. In it, God reminds us that we, His sheep, are people, mere men and women in need of a God, and that He Himself is God. In this He reminds us with 3 distinct names, "'I am your God (Elohim),' declares the Lord (Adonai) GOD (Jehovah)." A distinct reminder that God is God and we are not.

It is this God, our God, who gives us eternal relationship through His Son, Jesus, His very presence, and "showers of blessings."

1. There shall be showers of blessing:
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Savior above.

2. There shall be showers of blessing,
Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys,
Sound of abundance of rain.

3. There shall be showers of blessing:
Send them upon us, O Lord;
Grant to us now a refreshing,
Come, and now honor Thy word.

4. There shall be showers of blessing:
Oh, that today they might fall,
Now as to God we're confessing,
Now as on Jesus we call!

Refrain:
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need:
Mercy-drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.

"There Shall Be Showers of Blessing" by Daniel W. Whittle

Blessings
Richard

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