Rain.

From: The New Topical Textbook By: Reuben Archer Torrey

• 2 min. read • grade level: 11

Occasioned by the condensing of the clouds. Job 36:27, 28²⁷For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapor thereof: ²⁸Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly. (Job 36:27‑28). Psa. 77:17¹⁷The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad. (Psalm 77:17). Ecc. 11:3.

GOD

Made a decree for. Job 28:26²⁶When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder: (Job 28:26). Prepares. Psa. 147:8⁸Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains. (Psalm 147:8).

Gives. Job 5:10¹⁰Who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields: (Job 5:10).

Causes, to come down. Joel 2:23²³Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. (Joel 2:23).

Exhibits goodness in giving. Acts 14:17¹⁷Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. (Acts 14:17).

Exhibits greatness in giving. Job 36:26, 27²⁶Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out. ²⁷For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapor thereof: (Job 36:26‑27).

Sends upon the evil and good. Matt. 5:45⁴⁵That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. (Matthew 5:45).

Should be praised for. Psa. 147:7, 8⁷Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God: ⁸Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains. (Psalm 147:7‑8).

Should be feared on account of. Jer. 5:24²⁴Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the Lord our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest. (Jeremiah 5:24).

Impotence of idols exhibited in not being able to give. Jer. 14:22²²Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? art not thou he, O Lord our God? therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these things. (Jeremiah 14:22).

Not sent upon the earth immediately after creation. Gen. 2:5⁵And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. (Genesis 2:5).

Rarely falls in Egypt. Deut. 11:10¹⁰For the land, whither thou goest in to possess it, is not as the land of Egypt, from whence ye came out, where thou sowedst thy seed, and wateredst it with thy foot, as a garden of herbs: (Deuteronomy 11:10). Zech. 14:18¹⁸And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the Lord will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. (Zechariah 14:18).

Canaan abundantly supplied with. Deut. 11:11¹¹But the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven: (Deuteronomy 11:11).

DESIGNED FOR

Refreshing the earth. Psa. 68:9⁹Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary. (Psalm 68:9). Psa. 72:6⁶He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth. (Psalm 72:6).

Making fruitful the earth. Heb. 6:7⁷For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: (Hebrews 6:7).

Replenishing the springs and fountains of the earth. Psa. 104:8⁸They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them. (Psalm 104:8).

Promised in due season to the obedient. Lev. 26:4⁴Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. (Leviticus 26:4). Deut. 11:14¹⁴That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil. (Deuteronomy 11:14). Eze. 34:26, 27²⁶And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing. ²⁷And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the Lord, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them. (Ezekiel 34:26‑27).

Frequently withheld on account iniquity. Deut. 11:17¹⁷And then the Lord's wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the Lord giveth you. (Deuteronomy 11:17). Jer. 3:2²Lift up thine eyes unto the high places, and see where thou hast not been lien with. In the ways hast thou sat for them, as the Arabian in the wilderness; and thou hast polluted the land with thy whoredoms and with thy wickedness. (Jeremiah 3:2). Jer. 5:25²⁵Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you. (Jeremiah 5:25). Amos 4:7⁷And also I have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered. (Amos 4:7).

THE WANT Of

Causes the earth to open. Job 21:23²³One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet. (Job 21:23). Jer. 14:4⁴Because the ground is chapt, for there was no rain in the earth, the plowmen were ashamed, they covered their heads. (Jeremiah 14:4).

Dries up springs and fountains, 1 Kin. 18:1, 2.

Occasions famine. 1 Kin. 18:35, 36. Jas. 5:18¹⁸And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. (James 5:18).

Removed by prayer. 1 Kin. 8:35, 36. James 5:18¹⁸And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. (James 5:18).

Withheld for three years and six months in the days of Elijah. 1 Kings 17:1¹And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. (1 Kings 17:1). James 5:17¹⁷Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. (James 5:17).

DIVIDED INTO

Great. Ezra 10:9⁹Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month; and all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain. (Ezra 10:9).

Plentiful. Psa. 68:9⁹Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary. (Psalm 68:9).

Overflowing. Ezek. 38:22²²And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. (Ezekiel 38:22).

Sweeping. Prov. 28:3³A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food. (Proverbs 28:3).

Small. Job 37:6⁶For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength. (Job 37:6).

The former, after harvest, to prepare for sowing. Deut. 11:14¹⁴That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil. (Deuteronomy 11:14). Jer. 5:24²⁴Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the Lord our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest. (Jeremiah 5:24).

The latter, before harvest. Joel 2:23²³Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. (Joel 2:23). Zech. 10:1¹Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field. (Zechariah 10:1).

The rainbow often appears during Gen. 9:14¹⁴And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: (Genesis 9:14), with Ezek. 1:28²⁸As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake. (Ezekiel 1:28).

Often succeeded by heat and sun shine. 2 Sam. 23:4⁴And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain. (2 Samuel 23:4). Isa. 18:4⁴For so the Lord said unto me, I will take my rest, and I will consider in my dwelling place like a clear heat upon herbs, and like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest. (Isaiah 18:4). (marg)

The appearance of a cloud from the west indicated. 1 Kin. 18:44. Luke 12:54⁵⁴And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is. (Luke 12:54).

The north wind drives away. Pro. 25:23²³The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue. (Proverbs 25:23).

Unusual in harvest time. Pro. 26:1¹As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not seemly for a fool. (Proverbs 26:1).

Thunder and lightning often with, Psa. 135:7⁷He causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries. (Psalm 135:7).

Storm and tempest often with. Mat. 7:25, 27.

INSTANCES OF EXTRAORDINARY;

Time of the flood. Gen. 7:4, 12⁴For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth. (Genesis 7:4)
¹²And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights. (Genesis 7:12).

Plague of, upon Egypt. Ex. 9:18¹⁸Behold, to morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now. (Exodus 9:18), with 23 v.

During wheat harvest in the days of Samuel. 1 Sam. 12:17, 18¹⁷Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the Lord, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the Lord, in asking you a king. ¹⁸So Samuel called unto the Lord; and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel. (1 Samuel 12:17‑18).

After long drought in Ahab's reign. 1 Kin. 18:45.

After the captivity. Ezra 10:9, 13⁹Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month; and all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain. (Ezra 10:9)
¹³But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand without, neither is this a work of one day or two: for we are many that have transgressed in this thing. (Ezra 10:13).

Often impeded traveling in the east. 1 Kin. 18:44, with Isa. 4:6⁶And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain. (Isaiah 4:6).

Often destroyed houses, &c. Ezek. 13:13-15¹³Therefore thus saith the Lord God; I will even rend it with a stormy wind in my fury; and there shall be an overflowing shower in mine anger, and great hailstones in my fury to consume it. ¹⁴So will I break down the wall that ye have daubed with untempered mortar, and bring it down to the ground, so that the foundation thereof shall be discovered, and it shall fall, and ye shall be consumed in the midst thereof: and ye shall know that I am the Lord. ¹⁵Thus will I accomplish my wrath upon the wall, and upon them that have daubed it with untempered mortar, and will say unto you, The wall is no more, neither they that daubed it; (Ezekiel 13:13‑15). Matt. 7:27²⁷And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. (Matthew 7:27).

ILLUSTRATIVE

Of the word of God. Isa. 55:10, 11¹⁰For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: ¹¹So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. (Isaiah 55:10‑11).

Of the doctrine of faithful ministers. Deut. 32:2²My 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).

Of Christ in the communication of His graces. Psa. 72:6⁶He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth. (Psalm 72:6). Hos. 6:3³Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth. (Hosea 6:3).

Of spiritual blessings. Psa. 68:9⁹Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary. (Psalm 68:9). Psa. 84:6⁶Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools. (Psalm 84:6). Ezek. 34:26²⁶And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing. (Ezekiel 34:26).

Of righteousness. Hos. 10:12¹²Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. (Hosea 10:12).

(Destructive,) of God's judgments. Job 20:23²³When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating. (Job 20:23). Psa. 11:6⁶Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup. (Psalm 11:6). Ezek. 38:22²²And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. (Ezekiel 38:22).

(Destructive,) of a poor man of pressing the poor. Prov. 28:3³A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food. (Proverbs 28:3).

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The New Topical Textbook

• Privileges of Saints.

• Procrastination.

• Promises of God. 2 Corinthians 7:1; 2 Pet. 1:4, The

• Prophecies Respecting Christ.

• Providence of God, the.

• Prudence.

• Publicans, the.

• Publishers' Foreward

• Punishment of the Wicked, the.

• Punishments.

• Purifications or Baptisms.

• Rain.

• Raven, the.

• Reaping.

• Rechabites.

• Reconciliation With God.

• Red Heifer, the.

• Redemption.

• Repentance.

• Rephaim, or Giants, the.

• Reproof.