Showers of rain

Zechariah 10:1

Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.

In ancient Palestine, as is true there today and in many parts of the world, there are seasons of rain. In fact, the entirety of the globe consists of seasons. Some are more pronounced than others. Some are extreme. Some are mild and almost undetectable. But as long as this earth shall endure, there will be seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter. The cycle of the earth is permanent until this earth is no more. And within these seasons, there can be drought, deep drought. There can be cycles of famine and dearth. And there there can be times of torrential rain, more rain that can be handled, and the land may become flooded. But often, in the part of the world that the Bible here refers to, there would be a former and a latter rain. The rain would come around the time of sowing and around the time of harvest. These rains were important! They could be the very arbiter, the most important determining factor in the bringing forth of the crop. The harvest could be thus determined. And often, the latter rain was just as important as the former.

Now, dear friends, God works in the same way with nations and with people. The former rain is wonderful. It got everything going. It was needed for the initial planting, in order that the seeds may germinate and the field could spring forth and bloom. But often there comes a subsequent drought. Our nation is seeing a famine of God’s Word. It is not as severe as it could be. Other nations have fallen into complete deprivation and depravity. And without the Word of God, we would eventually be there. But that doesn’t have to happen! All we need is the latter rain! We need showers of rain! Showers of blessing! We need a second helping of the goodness of God! Will we turn again to Him so that He may bestow upon us that abundant and needed latter rain?

Now, my beloved, think of your own life today. Was there a period of blessing in the past that you recall, but which seemingly has passed away? The rain of God’s blessing was once there, but there seems to be a cessation of that? It is paused. It has temporarily stopped. Well, I say to you this day, begin to pray now for the latter rain. And the latter rain may be greater than the former! Turn with all your heart and soul and mind to the Lord, looking to Him only for the blessing that He can bring. Here is the promise: “Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain…” Ask ye of the Lord! Ask! He will bring the latter rain, He will give showers of rain! Would that not be a wonderful thing? Do not doubt but believe! If you will turn to Him, He can fulfill this same promise. Pray for our nation, for yourself, and for others! May God give us showers of rain!

“Dear Lord, we know that all blessings come from Thee. There is no other source or fountain. Therefore, we look to Thee alone for the showers of rain that we need. If we have sinned, we repent and turn to Thee. Our nation has sinned, and we pray that, as we turn to You, so our nation also would do the same. We would love to see the latter rain on this nation! And we long for it ourselves. We will look to You and wait patiently for the showers of rain that is so greatly and desperately needed, and that only comes from You. In Jesus’ name we pray and ask these things, Amen.”