Here is sovereign mercy — ”I will give them the shower in its season.” Is it not sovereign, divine mercy? — for who can say, “I will give them showers,” except God? There is only one voice which can speak to the clouds, and bid them beget the rain. Who sendeth down the rain upon the earth? Who scattereth the showers upon the green herb? Do not I, the Lord? So grace is the gift of God, and is not to be created by man.

It is also needed grace. What would the ground do without showers? You may break the clods, you may sow your seeds, but what can you do without the rain? As absolutely needful is the divine blessing. In vain you labour, until God the plenteous shower bestows, and sends salvation down.

Then, it is plenteous grace . “I will send them showers.” It does not say, “I will send them drops,” but “showers.” So it is with grace. If God gives a blessing, He usually gives it in such a measure that there is not room enough to receive it. Plenteous grace! Ah! we want plenteous grace to keep us humble, to make us prayerful, to make us holy; plenteous grace to make us zealous, to preserve us through this life, and at last to land us in heaven. We cannot do without saturating showers of grace.

Again, it is seasonable grace . “I will cause the shower to come down in his season.” What is thy season this morning? Is it the season of drought? Then that is the season for showers. Is it a season of great heaviness and black clouds? Then that is the season for showers. “As thy days so shall thy strength be.”

And here is a varied blessing. “I will give thee showers of blessing.” The word is in the plural. All kinds of blessings God will send. All God’s blessings go together, like links in a golden chain. If He gives converting grace, He will also give comforting grace. He will send “showers of blessing.” Look up to-day, O parched plant, and open thy leaves and flowers for a heavenly watering.

What is your season today? Are you experiencing a season of drought? If so, then it is the season for showers. Are you going through a season of great heaviness with dark clouds? Then that too is the season for showers.

“Your strength will equal your days” (Deuteronomy 33:25). “I will send . . . showers of blessing.” Notice that the word showers is plural.

God will send all kinds of blessings. And all His blessings go together like links in a golden chain. If He gives you saving grace, He will also give you comforting grace. God will send “showers of blessings.” Look up today, you who are dried and withered plants. Open your leaves and flowers and receive God’s heavenly watering. CHARLES H. SPURGEON

Let but your heart become a valley low, And God will rain on it till it will overflow.

You, O Lord, can transform my thorn into a flower. And I do want my thorn transformed into a flower. Job received sunshine after the rain, but was the rain all wasted? Job wants to know, and I want to know, if the rain is related to the sunshine. Only You can tell me—Your cross can tell me.

You have crowned Your sorrow. Let this be my crown, O Lord. I will only triumph in You once I have learned the radiance of the rain. GEORGE MATHESON

The fruitful life seeks rain as well as sunshine.

The landscape, brown and dry beneath the sun, Needs but the cloud to lift it into life; The dews may dampen the tree and flower, But it requires the cloud-distilled shower To bring rich greenness to the lifeless life.

Ah, how like this, the landscape of a life: Dews of trial fall like incense, rich and sweet; But meaning little in the crystal tray— Like moths of night, dews lift at break of day And fleeting impressions leave, like lips that meet.

But clouds of trials, bearing burdens rare, Leave in the soul, a moisture settled deep: Life stirs by the powerful law of God; And where before the thirsty camel trod, There richest beauties to life’s landscape leap.

Then read you in each cloud that comes to you The words of Paul, in letters large and clear: So will those clouds your soul with blessing feed, And with a constant trust as you do read, All things together work for good. Fret not, nor fear!