Showers of Blessing
Since last night I have been fighting a cold and the loss of my voice. The first “seasonal” type of sickness since my health crisis, which is good. I was able to get out this morning to our men’s breakfast at the church. My friend Gary Ozello from CSU shared his story of faith. It was great to see several men commitment their lives to the Lord and a path of greater trust in Him.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “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. 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” Ezekiel 34:25,26 ESV
We have certainly had our share of literal “rain showers” that have been a blessing on some dry grass and have helped save water in recent weeks. But these verses above caught my attention for a different reason.
We see in Ezekiel the pronouncements of the Lord’s judgment on the land. It included poverty, pestilence, wile animals, being overrun by enemies and the like. But following the pronouncement of judgment we see the promise of restoration and these verses speak to that.
So we read of the promise of peace, wild beasts driven from the land security and the blessing of the Lord like a shower. This was undoubtedly literal and timely showers that would provide for prosperous crops to feed the people and enhance their livelihood. These would be “showers of blessing.”
Consider the blessing that would come to God’s people. “And the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield its increase….they shall be secure in their land….I break the bars of their yoke, and deliver them from the hand of those who enslaved them. 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….no more [shall they] be consumed with hunger in the land, and no longer suffer the reproach of the nations. And they shall know that I am the Lord their God with them….” (Ezekiel 34:27-30 ESV)
All that sin and rebellion brought into their lives, the Lord would reverse and restore. Blessings are not only to be received, but to share. The Lord has designed us to be “channels” not “reservoirs” of the blessings of the Lord.
To Abraham the Lord said, “You shall be blessed and you shall be a blessing.” (Genesis 12:2) We read, “Give an it shall be given…” (Luke 6:38) “He will make you rich in every way so that you can always give freely.” (2 Corinthians 9:11) “Such as I have, I give to you…” (Acts 3:6) “It is more blessed to give, than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)
The blessing of the Lord would allow God’s people to “know Him” and His salvation and restoration in their lives. What they would experience would have not have an explanation in human terms, it would be as a sign from the Lord. As such what they have was truly a gift and a trust from the Lord. It was to be a blessing to them and through them; and that same is true in our lives.
Prayer for today…. Lord thank you for the blessings that come to us that we don’t deserve and that You provide to reverse and to restore the losses that our own actions have created. We continually see Your mercy and grace along with Your justice. Allow us to be blessed and be a blessing.