Showers of Blessings Indeed!

image by Michael Podger on Unsplash

This morning, I woke up to the sound of rain on the metal roof, and the chorus of an old gospel hymn–“There Shall Be Showers of Blessing”–starting playing in my mind. Here’s Willie Nelson’s version:

“Showers of blessing,
  Showers of blessing we need;
Mercy-drops round us are falling,
    But for the showers we plead.”
The text for this old revival song is based on Ezekiel 34:26-27:
“I will make them and the places all around My hill a blessing; and I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing.”
In the Bible, God uses rain–a lot–for both punishment as well as  blessing. The most well-known rain, no doubt, involves a large boat full of animals, a righteous man named Noah, and a flood that washes away the sins of a corrupt world.
“Seven days from now I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and I will wipe from the face of the earth every living creature I have made.” (Genesis 7:4)

Through His prophet Elijah, God also uses the lack of rain as a punishment:

“Now Elijah…said…, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.” (1 Kings 17:1)

But just as rain (or the lack thereof) is used as discipline, rain can also be a blessing to God’s people. The prophet Joel instructs the people of Zion to:

“…rejoice in the Lord your God, for He has given you the autumn rains because He is faithful. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before.” (Joel 2:23)

In Lystra, Paul and Barnabas shout to the people of Lystra:

“[God] has not left Himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; He provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.” (Acts 14:17)

In the above passages, Joel, Paul, and Barnabas are referring to literal rain, but rain is also a symbol of the love and righteousness that God showers upon us.

In Isaiah, God uses Cyrus of Persia (who does not know God) as His instrument to bring the Hebrew exiles back to Jerusalem, telling Cyrus:

“You heavens above, rain down My righteousness; let the clouds shower it down. Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up, let righteousness flourish with it; I, the Lord, have created it.” (Isaiah 45:8)
In his second letter to the church at Corinth, the apostle Paul writes:
“…God is able to shower all kinds of blessings on you. In all things and at all times you will have everything you need. You will do more and more good works.” (2 Corinthians 9:8)
When the Israelites (repeatedly) turn away from God, the prophet Hosea warns them that war and destruction await them. Hosea advises:
“…it is time to seek the Lord, until He comes and rains His righteousness on you.” (Hosea 10:12)
But just as God showers His love and righteousness upon us, He also commands us to shower His Word through the entire world. Jesus’ instruction, known as the Great Commission, is recorded five times in the New Testament, both before His crucifixion and after His resurrection. :
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” (Mark 16:15)

“This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:46-47)

“Peace be with you! As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you.” (John 20:21)

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  (Acts 1:8)
God rains showers of blessings on us through His mercy and grace, and we, in turn, are to rain down the Word of God to the ends of the earth. Just as we are blessed, we are called to bless others. Showers of blessing indeed!

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

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