The Verse of the Day

-September 20, 2020-

Good morning, happy Lord’s Day,

-Restoration And Revival Lead To Rejoicing-

“Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God; For He has given you the former rain faithfully, and He will cause the rain to come down for you — The former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.”

(Joel 2:23).

Some prophecies in the Bible, especially in the OT, have both an immediate fulfillment and one that there is yet future. After the seventy year Babylonian Captivity, Israel was brought back to their land. There was great revival, restoration, and rejoicing. The temple was rebuilt and so were the walls of Jerusalem. They were so happy. The fulfillment of the words of the prophet Joel have their second and final fulfillment in Millennium and in the eternal state of the Jews on the new earth.

God’s blessings will once again be on His earthly people Israel. After severely dealing with their sin, idolatry, disobedience, and unfaithfulness, God’s restoration and blessing fall on them like showers of blessing. God sends them rain, both the former and latter rain in the first month. Rain in the Scriptures is a symbol of God’s blessings on their land and on their lives. Water is a symbol of both the Word of God and also of the Holy Spirit.

John 7:37-38 says, “On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” We today have the Holy Spirit who causes us to overflow with God’s blessings of salvation and eternal life.

In Ezekiel 34:26, the prophet writes, “I will make them and the places all around My hill a blessing; and I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing.” This what we need so much in our country and in the church today. Revival precedes restoration and leads to rejoicing. Is the Lord trying to get our attention by all the things that are happening in the world today? Oh, yes He is!

The hymn writer Daniel Whittle wrote, “Showers of blessing, showers of blessing we need: mercy drops ‘round us are falling, but for the showers we plead.” In Joel 2:21-32, the prophet speaks of God’s promise of restoration and blessings in the form of fruitful trees and vineyards, eating plenty and being satisfied, God pouring out His Spirit on His people, and causing them to dream dreams and see visions. God also restores the years the locusts had eaten.

May the Lord help us to cry out for revival in the church today and in our country as well. Only God can do it. We need His showers of blessing upon our lives in order to restore and revive us in our walk with Him and in our service for Him. Jesus is coming soon and He wants us to be ready.

Have a blessed day of worship and praise for our salvation and eternal life. We thank Him for the Word of God, prayer, and the message of the gospel. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean