Deuteronomy 32-1-3
WE NOW come to the song itself and what a wonderful song it is! It is truly a “song in the night” and one which only God Himself could give. By the way it begins we see at once there must be something in it especially worth noticing.
“Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of My mouth.” It is God who is speaking; and what a blessing it is that God has spoken! What a responsibility for us to heed His word, but what a solemn thing for one to reject what He has said! The Lord Jesus said on earth: “He that rejecteth Me, and receiveth not My words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” John 12:48.
But here when God speaks we see that it is something refreshing, something precious: “My doctrine shall drop as the rain.” How different is God’s word to man’s teaching! To a heart dried up through sinful failure, sorrow or trouble, how refreshing His words of grace! His teaching is like the rain on the parched ground. “My speech shall distil as the dew.” pure, gentle, soothing and quiet. If we come to His word morning and evening He will speak to us as the dew.
“As the small rain upon the tender herb.” How precious to see God’s care of the weak and tender plants of His planting! Every child of His is one of His plants; and the Lord Jesus said, “My Father is the husbandman.” He will refresh us by the “dew” and the “small rain” of His Word, and will also purge us that we might bear more fruit.
“And as the showers upon the grass.” How beautiful and refreshed the grass looks after a shower of rain! May we be careful and watch that there may be nothing that will hinder God by His Spirit continually refreshing us by the “dew” and the “showers” He sends from above.
We read of the Lord Jesus that “He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: and as showers that water the earth.” O what “times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord” for Israel, for all the earth, when Jesus comes to reign in the millennial day that is drawing near. But we as believers now do not have to wait till then. He gives “the living water” and refreshes the souls now of all those who know His wonderful redemption.
“Because I will publish the name of the Lord: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.” God’s word speaks of Himself; we are refreshed and strengthened by hearing of Him and by knowing Him. To be occupied with one’s self, or the world, only dries up the soul. But to be occupied with the Lord Jesus, that sweet and wonderful name which expresses what He is — how refreshing and uplifting! This song then is a song of joy in God; “we joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Rom. 5:11.
ML-04/04/1976