The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 2 — Section 206

sad to be on the margin of a shower, perhaps to receive some of the duet that precedes it, yet to have no droppings of its refreshing water. 2. Active servants Qf God. The preacher, the missionary, the Sunday school teacher, the Christian worker in all kinds of service, need, greatly need, showers of blessing (1) in their own hearts, to strengthen and cheer, to stimulate and rouse; (2) in their work. 3. The Church. Deadness seizes the Church without a Divine blessing. Worldliness, formalism, narrowness, selfishness, then degrade and corrupt it. The Church sadly needs a Divine benediction. 4. The world. All men need what few men seek-the grace and aid of God, The old weary earth thirsts and pines unconsciously for a new Pentecost. II. SHOWERS OF BLESSING COME FROM BEA. VEN. 1. Their source. This is above us. Showers fall from the clouds that sail far over our heads. We must look up fo1 the blessing. Men put too much trust in the earth. 'l'he most fertile land, withou• rain, would be a Sahara Desert. 'l'he most capable and energetic human work needs grace from above. Paul plants, Apollos waters, and God gives the increase (1 Cor. iiL 6). 2. Their descent. The showers are formed in the clouds, but they do not remain there. It is disappointing to see black clouds gather in a season of drought, and then pass away without shedding a drop of rain. Showers are descending waters. Blessings are not only promised and retained in the treasury of heaven; they come down and water the earth. IIL SaoWERS OF BLESSING DESCE:trn IN ABUNDANCE. It would take long for men with watering-cart and hose to distribute the moisture that is spread over a wide area in an hour by one summer shower. God blesses richly and abundantly. His grace is widespread. Every root of grass in the meadow comes in for a share of the shower, every leaf in the forest is cleansed and refreshed. Moreover, the result is done with the utmost gentleness. It is a shower, not a flood. "He shall come down like ra.in upon the mown grass " (Ps. lxxiL 6). IV. SB:OWEBS OF BLESSING COMF: AT VA.BIOUB SEA.SONS. It is not always raining. Palestine had its former and its latter rain. Showers alternate with sunshine in our April weather. There are seasons of especial blessing. It may not be well for ue te be always receiving the most stimulating kind of Divine grace. Nor is it possible for us to be perpetually cheered. Yet we can and should pray for blessing, and hail the cloud no bigger than a man's hand as the promise of coming showers. V. SHOWERS OF BLESSING ABE FOLLOWED BY BEAUTY AND FRUITFULNESS. How fair and fresh the earth looks after a spring shower! Then " the dainty flowers lift up theiJ heads," the grass shines in its greenest hues, and the very ground is fragrant. The world, the Church, the soul of man, will wear a new beauty and gladness, and bring forth fmit to the glory of God, when heavenly showers of blessing have been received. Well may we pray for them with more than Elijab's earnestness 1 Ver. 29.-".A plantation of renown." Restored Israel is to be a plantation of renown.. The Israel of God, the Church of Christ, may be considered as of the same character. I. THE CHURCH 18 A DIVINE PLANTATION, I. It is planted by God. A plantation is not a wild, primeval forest. It is a wood the trees of which have been carefully selected and set in the soil by the bands of men. God plants bis people. (1) He originates the life of the soul. (2) He determines the position and sphere of individual activity. (3) He calls men into his Church. 2. It is a community. A plantation is not a single tree, nor is it the scattering of a few separate trees over the fields. It is a collection of plants. " God settetb the solitary in families" (Ps. lxviii. 6). He has ordained domestic and social life. Christ founded the Church, Brotherly fellowship is a Divine ordinance. 3. It is carefuUy tended. The woodman visits the plantation.,. removing dead bough~, keeping the soil clean, destroying dangerous parasitic growths, ek:. God does not leave his people alone. They are not like the neglected tropical forest, in which the wreck of the hurricane lies undisturbed and dead, and living trees are matted together with gigantic creepers and tangled with undergrowt~ ; they ar_e \ike a well-trimmed plantation. 4. It is expected to grow. A plantation. 1D poor soil en a bleak hillside may be slow to thrive, and one on a hot sandy plam may even perish in drought. But healthy well-placed plants should grow from saplings till they become great trees. Il. THE CHURCH 18 A PLANTAT-vN OF BENOWN, 1. There is renown in tlie planting '(lll. XXXIV. 1-31.] THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. 213