Showers of Blessing

Ezekiel is a hard book to read.  There is the wheel within the wheel, there is the object lesson of laying on his side for a year and making a clay model of Jerusalem and prophesying against it.  Like many of the prophetic books, one must understand where they were in the timeline of Israel to appreciate what was going on in their lives.  I like to tell my Old Testament Literature students that you have to ask:  Was the prophet ministering before during or after the exile?  That changes everything.  I even try to get them to look at this sign in the back of the room:

This way it reminds them of the 2 most important events in the Old Testament.


1.  Exodus
2.  Exile

Did the events in the Old Testament happen before, during or after the Exodus?  Or did they happen before, during or after the Exile?

Context changes everything.


Ezekiel was before and during the exile.


The time period in which he lived was full of frustration and social upheaval.  The Northern Kingdom of Israel fell in 722, The Southern Kingdom of Judah fell in 586 and the Babylonian Kingdom led by Nebucahadnezzar deported the people of God to Babylon.

Ezekiel was among the deportees.  The Expositor's Bible Commentary puts it this way:

It was in this period of international turmoil and unrest, combined with the immorality and apostasy of Judah, that Ezekiel ministered. Having grown up during the reform of Josiah, and having been taken captive in the deportation of Jehoiachin in 597 b.c., Ezekiel, both a priest and a prophet, proclaimed to the exiled Jews in Babylonia the Lord’s judgment and ultimate blessing.^[1] Frank E. Gaebelein, Geoffrey W. Grogan, Charles L. Feinberg et al., The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Volume 6: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1986), 739.

In chapter 34, Ezekiel is on a roll talking about the future of Israel, when God's promises will finally be fulfilled.

That's what caught my attention.  Here's the passage:

Ezekiel 34:25–31 (ESV)

25 “I will make with them a covenant of peace and banish wild beasts from the land, so that they may dwell securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. 26 And I will make them and the places all around my hill a blessing, and I will send down the showers in their season; they shall be showers of blessing. 27 And the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield its increase, and they shall be secure in their land. And they shall know that I am the Lord, when I break the bars of their yoke, and deliver them from the hand of those who enslaved them. 28 They shall no more be a prey to the nations, nor shall the beasts of the land devour them. They shall dwell securely, and none shall make them afraid. 29 And I will provide for them renowned plantations so that they shall no more be consumed with hunger in the land, and no longer suffer the reproach of the nations. 30 And they shall know that I am the Lord their God with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are my people, declares the Lord God. 31 And you are my sheep, human sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, declares the Lord God.”

Paul the apostle understood this great truth when he declared in Romans 

Romans 8:12–30 (ESV)

12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. 

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

I'm concerned that today's believers are living way below their high status in Christ.  Consider this:

God sent His Son in Christ to redeem us from all sin.

Jesus rose from the dead, conquering death, hell and the grave

The disciples, following Jesus command, waited for the promise of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus instructed His disciples on the necessity of Spirit baptism in John 7:37-39

The Angel told the disciples on the Mt. of Olives that Jesus would return in the same manner that He wen into heaven.  Acts 1:9-11

Jesus declared to John 60 years later from the throne of God that He would return (Revelation 22:6-7)

We have the blessing of Salvation, the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, and the hope of His Soon Return.

Showers of Blessings!

129 Years ago, Major Daniel Whittle, and  James McGranahan collaborated on this song that has landed in almost every hymnal since.  It echoes the cry of the Church and the believer for blessings from God.  This hymn first appeared in Gospel Hymns No. 4, 1883.

“There shall be showers of blessing”—this is the promise of love; there shall be seasons refreshing, sent from the Savior above.

“There shall be showers of blessing”—precious reviving again; over the hills and the valleys sound of abundance of rain.

“There shall be showers of blessing”—send them upon us, O Lord; grant to us now a refreshing; come and now honor Thy Word.

“There shall be showers of blessing”—O that today they might fall, now as to God we’re confessing, now as on Jesus we call!

Chorus: Showers of blessing, showers of blessing we need; mercy drops round us are falling, but for the showers we plead.^[1] Kenneth W. Osbeck, Amazing Grace : 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publications, 1990), 94.

 Thankfully, He not only fulfilled His promise in Christ and the Power of the Spirit, but we have today the joy of His presence and the hope of eternal life.  It's time to look up and thank God for His mercy on all who believe, now and forevermore.  Showers of Blessing!

Rumors of Wars

This morning, NBC had a troubling piece of news that Iran, even the Ayatolla himself were planning to attack the U.S. homeland.  No one wants war with Iran, but I find it interesting how quick the media throws down stories just to keep the hype going.  My reaction to this news was to remember a t-shirt that I saw when I had the privilege of visiting Israel back in 1998.  Here it is:

I know that the mighty F-16 is built in Ft. Worth.  This t-shirt reminds me that there is always more info to rumors of wars.  Here's what Jesus said about war rumors:

Matthew 24:5–14 (ESV)

5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. 

9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

The future of the world is dependent on one thing.  The mercy of God.  Peter clearly made this point in his epistles to the whole church scattered all over the ancient world at the close of the first century.

2 Peter 3:8–13 (ESV)

8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. 

The return of Jesus is a certainty.  He is coming back in power! Oh Hail the Blessed Hour!  I notice that verses 11-12 tell believers what to do:

11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 

The viewpoint of the Church is summed up in verse 13.  May the Lord bless you as you reflect on the real and living hope of Christ's imminent return.

13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.