I Will Cause the Shower to Come Down in His Season
God's mercy is sovereign, and He gives us the showers of grace we need in our season of need.
C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes the concept of sovereign mercy in his sermon 'I Will Cause the Shower to Come Down in His Season,' illustrating that only God has the authority to send rain, symbolizing grace. He explains that just as the earth needs rain for growth, humanity requires divine grace for spiritual sustenance, which is given abundantly and in its proper season. Spurgeon reassures that God's blessings are plentiful and varied, meant to meet our needs whether in times of drought or heaviness. He encourages believers to look to God for these 'showers of blessing' and to remain open to receiving His grace. Ultimately, the sermon highlights the necessity of God's grace in every aspect of life.
Text
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.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Sovereignty of Divine Mercy
- A. Only God can give showers
- B. Grace is the gift of God, not created by man
- II. The Need for Divine Blessing
- A. Without showers, the ground is barren
- B. Labour is in vain without God's blessing
- III. The Plenteousness of Grace
- A. God gives blessings in abundance
- B. We need plenteous grace to stay humble and holy
- IV. The Seasonability of Grace
- A. God's showers come down in our season of need
- B. Whether drought or heaviness, God's showers are timely
Key Quotes
“Who sendeth down the rain upon the earth? Who scattereth the showers upon the green herb? Do not I, the Lord?” — C.H. Spurgeon
“I will give thee showers of blessing. The word is in the plural. All kinds of blessings God will send.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“As thy days so shall thy strength be.” — C.H. Spurgeon
Application Points
- We need to look to God for the showers of grace we need to stay humble and holy.
- God's blessings are timely and come when we need them most.
- We should look up to God for a heavenly watering, just like a parched plant opens its leaves and flowers to receive the rain.