God's Pure Doctrine
"My
doctrine shall drop as the rain, My
speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender
herb, and as the showers upon the grass."
-DEUTERONOMY
32:2 [KJV]
In
the falling of the natural dew there is something soft, still, and
gentle. We therefore read, "We will light upon him as the dew
falleth on the ground" [II
SAMUEL 17:12],
that is, stealthily and unseen. It does not rush down like the
pelting hail, but falls stilly and often imperceptibly; so that we
scarcely know it has fallen, till we go out in the morning and see
every blade of grass tipped with the sparkling dew-drops; by these
bright gems we know that dew has fallen during the still hours of the
night.
So
spiritually, the kingdom of God is not in noise, rant, or wild
excitement. The Lord was not in the strong wind, nor in the
earthquake, nor in the fire, but in the still small voice [I
KINGS 19:11, 12].
And thus there may be a great deal of religious fire, but no presence
of God felt; fleshly passions worked up into a storm, but no "still
small voice" speaking to the conscience; a very earthquake of
natural convictions, but no inward "demonstration of the spirit
and of power." But when the spiritual dew falls, it drops
gently, softly, and stilly into the heart, and it is only known by
the sweet and blessed effects it produces.
Dew
also has a softening effect, especially in warm climates, where it
falls very copiously. We therefore read, "Thou
makest it soft with showers"
[PSALM
65:10].
It does not tear up the ground as with thunderbolts, but by
moistening and softening penetrates into the soil. And thus the dew
of God's grace moistens and softens the heart, humbles, dissolves,
and fertilises it; not by tearing it up with the thunderbolts of
wrath and condemnation, but by dropping gently and stilly into it, so
as to melt it into contrition, meekness, and godly sorrow before the
throne of mercy and grace.
-Gospel
report by preacher J.C. Philpot (1802-1869 A.D.)
February
11th, EARS FROM HARVESTED SHEAVES
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