"I will be like the Dew to Israel."—Hosea 14:5
The book of Nature is both rich and large. Its study is
exhaustless profit. When much is read, much still invites continued
contemplation. One object here is often replete with diverse teaching. It is
so with the Dew. When the bright morning calls to the garden or the field,
how glittering is the sight! From leaves, from flowers, from grass,
innumerable drops are pendant. Each has a voice to tell variety of truth.
Let a few instances be noted.
The words of life borrow description from it. The Spirit
writes, "My doctrine shall drop as the rain, My speech shall distill as the
Dew." (Deut. 32:2) As the Dew works, so works the Bible's teaching.
Again, the blessed influence of godly men is thus
portrayed. Micah proclaims, "The remnant of Jacob will be in the midst of
many people like Dew from the Lord, like showers upon the grass, which do
not wait for man, nor linger for mankind." (Micah 5:7) The true believer
spreads extensive good. His godly walk and his bright example allure to
paths of piety and peace. The holy remnant may be small, but its effects are
mighty. It averts judgments, and calls down blessings. Ten righteous men
would have delivered Sodom. Such Dew would have saved the plains from fire.
Ah! if the world knew the value of the praying seed, their feelings would no
longer hate, but gratefully invoke their presence. May truth long flourish
in our land, as this protecting Dew!
Once more, when the Lord sends the rod of His strength
out of Zion, converts spring up. The image of our text shows their multitude
and beauty. "You have the Dew of Your youth." (Psa. 110:3) As the Dew
sparkles resplendent in the early sun, so a goodly company shines in
youthful faith.
Yet further. The Dew is soon absorbed. It vanishes when
rays grow strong, then it quickly disappears. Thus vain professors make a
transient show. For a while their look is pleasing. They seemingly reflect
celestial light. But trials assail, temptations allure, persecutions
affright, and they are gone. Scripture finds their portrait in the Dew: "O
Ephraim, what shall I do unto you? O Judah, what shall I do to you? for your
goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early Dew it goes away." (Hos.
6:4)
But as stars fade before the rising sun, lesser
similitudes must now give place. The Lord appears and claims this emblem as
His own. He thus proclaims, "I will be as the Dew unto Israel." What
evidence of condescending grace! There is no holier bliss than constantly to
gaze on Him. Therefore He selects as His image these tiny drops, obvious in
every place, familiar to each eye. The lordly owner of the spacious park,
the humble inhabitant of the hut alike may see, and equally may learn. Let
Gospel-lessons now be sought. Let us consider the properties of Dew, and
mark its mode of visiting the earth.
I. Dew moistens. It falls in penetrating
drops upon the surface of the soil. When the ground is dry and parched, it
is not ready to admit the seed, or quicken it to life. But hardness relaxes
when thus sprinkled from above. Then softened beds give nurturing shelter.
The birds of the air no more can bear the grain away. The opening soil gives
a protecting covering. Thus the Dew causes vegetation to commence.
What is man's heart by nature? Is it not harder than the
nether-millstone, and more obdurate than adamant? Is it not more congealed
than ice, more unimpressible than iron? Hence, if not touched by softening
influence, it will resist the entrance of the Word. What multitudes are thus
unmoved! They may frequent the house of God; they may listen to the voice of
faithful pastors and enlightened friends; Christ may be set before them in
all the glories of His person and His work; glad tidings may sound around,
telling of pardon and of peace through His atoning blood. His perfect
righteousness may be displayed, beauteous as our covering. The brightness of
the eternal day and all the pleasures at God's right hand may be announced.
Thus the good seed may abundantly be scattered. But without saving grace no
saving entrance will be made. The heart of stone will continue to be stone.
Earthly passions will rage unsubdued. The world will still be loved and God
be shunned. There will be no vital change. Darkness will remain dark. The
chains of Satan will not be broken. Christ will be still ignored.
Such, alas! is the picture too often seen of man not
softened by grace. But when Christ by His Spirit works, there is
preparedness to receive the Word. Hardened conscience ceases to resist.
Obduracy rejects not the need of pardon. Christ is admitted as
all-sufficient to redeem and save. Faith takes root. The seeds of salvation
vivify in the heart. The Word no longer falls upon a resisting surface. The
melting Spirit has prepared the soil. Heavenly Dew has infused moisture.
Thus, as Dew softens the arid earth, so Christ by His Spirit melts the stony
heart.
II. Dew invigorates. The seed may sink into
the yielding soil, and quickly show some signs of life. But vegetation will
not thrive if plants or herbs rise on a hardened bed. The infant plant
requires nurturing care. It must be helped to become vigorous and strong.
The Dew by constant watering works this result. Hence shoots are
strengthened, vigor becomes more vigorous, and growth is secured. But if Dew
falls not, the infant crop will droop. Its absence leads to sterility.
David, when he would banish blessedness from the spot where Saul and
Jonathan were slain, thus calls down barrenness: "You mountains of Gilboa,
let there be no Dew, neither let there be rain upon you." (2 Sam. 1:21)
Absence of moisture prevents all growth. When Elijah in dreadful mission
appears to tell of Israel's coming woe, he thus predicts the misery of the
land: "As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not
be Dew nor rain these years but according to my word." (1 Kings 17:1) Unless
the clouds drop fatness, leanness settles on the earth. Unless the Dew gives
growth, pastures soon lose their verdure.
It is so with the soul. Incipient life may commence
favorably. But at first it raises a slender head. Its weakness needs
refreshing nourishment. But every grace, aided by congenial influence, will
rapidly expand and grow. The tiny child may gradually become a full-grown
man. The early dawn may brighten into midday light. The little rivulet may
swell into an overflowing flood. How earnest should each believer seek to be
enabled thus to put forth strong shoots! The prayer is placed upon his lips,
"Lord, increase our faith." (Luke 17:5)
Of the Thessalonians it is testified that their "faith
grew exceedingly." (2 Thess. 1:3) Love, at first cold and weak, may warm
into a perfect blaze, pervading every word and work. Hope, whose prospect
may at first be limited, may stretch into full assurance, and bring all
heaven before enraptured gaze. The weakness of young converts may advance
with strong stride to the "perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the
fullness of Christ." (Eph. 4:13) But where this growing power? It is the
result of Christ by His Spirit giving energy. "Your fruitfulness comes from
Me." (Hos. 14:8) His invigorating presence causes this fertility. Let then
His presence be the one desire of the soul, and the little sapling will
"grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall
spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive-tree, and his smell as
Lebanon." (Hos. 14:5, 6) The head shall tower as the giant oaks of Bashan.
The fruits shall cluster as the grapes of Eshcol. Christ gives fertility to
the soul, as the Dew to Israel.
III. Dew revives. Fields sometimes
languish. Winds may be keen. The sun may scorch. The vegetation is blighted.
The plants show downcast heads. The freshness of the leaves declines. The
meadows are swept with desolating blast. But sweet is the change if
refreshing Dew falls copiously. Then vegetation re-assumes its beauty, and
lovely verdure again robes the fields.
Thus is it with the fields of grace. Instances of decline
abound. The holiest men are not above temptation's reach. An artful snare
may be laid. They stumble and fall. A sudden dart may be aimed, and a
rankling wound be given. Conscience accuses, and spiritual power dwindles.
The case is wretched, until the grieved Spirit re-visits the heart. In deep
depression David cries, "Renew a right spirit within me; restore to me the
joy of Your salvation." (Psa. 51:10, 12) There is no peace or comfort until
the liveliness is restored by the Spirit's renovating power. Then freshness
re-visits the soul. Through lack of watchfulness, restraint of prayer,
neglect of ordinances, infrequent study of the Word, the soul may become
barren. Internal dreariness prevails. There is no help but from the stores
of heaven. When celestial windows open, and streams of blessing come,
revival cheers, and sweet fertility returns. Sometimes the believer walks in
darkness, and has no light. Bright shinings of God's smile are withdrawn.
This is a season of disconsolate distress. There is no remedy until heavenly
Dew descends. "I will be like the Dew to Israel" is the sole relief.
Many apprehensions sometimes vex the soul. Fears of
desertion cause alarm. The feeling, "I shall now perish one day by the hand
of Saul" is not uncommon. (1 Sam. 27:1) Death in prospect shows a relentless
hand. Then terrors trouble, and peace is banished, until the Spirit
whispers, "Fear no evil; my rod and my staff shall comfort you." (Psa. 23:4)
"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the
rivers, they shall not overflow you: when you walk through the fire, you
shall not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon you." (Isa. 43:2)
The fainting soul speedily revives when Jesus comes as
the Dew. "When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their
tongue fails for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will
not forsake them." (Isa. 41:17) They "shall be like a watered garden, and
like a spring of water, whose waters fail not." (Isa. 58:11) "They shall not
hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for He who has
mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall He guide
them." (Isa. 49:10)
IV. Its descent. Dew falls before the
shades of night depart. Its period is earth's gloom. When daylight dawns, it
descends no more. So when the everlasting day shall dawn, the work of Christ
shall cease. Souls shall no more be born again, and quickened and revived.
The manna ceased when there was no more need; and grace shall terminate when
glory shines forth.
Dew moves on noiseless wing. No boisterous wind, no
strife of elements, no pelting sounds are harbingers of its visits.
Unconscious earth receives insensibly its presence. It feels the influence,
but hears not the approach. It is refreshed without perception of the soft
arrival.
Such often are Christ's visits to the soul. He conquers
without force. No battle rages, but the field is won. Without resistance a
willing captive yields obedience. Doubtless He is not limited to any mode of
dealing. All creatures own His power and fulfill His will. Sometimes a
sudden hand arrests the sinner in his maddened course. Saul of Tarsus lies
prostrate under an astounding shock. The jailor at Philippi suddenly is
convinced, and in terror cries for guidance to salvation. The dying thief is
conquered with no earthquake of the soul. In one moment he looks, and sees
the Savior, and prays to be remembered. He begins to die a criminal, and
death lands him in Paradise.
But Christ's usual entrance is gentle, sweet, and
noiseless. Thus it is said, "The kingdom of heaven comes not with
observation." (Luke 17:20) It is written, "He shall not cry, nor lift up,
nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall He not
break, and the smoking flax shall He not quench." (Isa. 42:2, 3) Lydia's
heart opens to gentle touch. Faith gains admission with an unconscious
effort, and without struggle conquers all for Christ. Thus many become
Christ's by power working with no crude assault.
It is sad, that when the Dew so plenteously falls, the
heart is often as the parched sand. It may be that hindrances check the
fertilizing work. Obstructions may interpose. If some covering is spread
across the lawn, the soil beneath receives no moisture, and the softening
Dew descends in vain. When neighboring fields show freshness, the covered
spot is dry. Gideon's fleece may lack what falls around it. Neglect of
Christ, ungodly passion unrestrained, cares of the world, the lust of
earthly things, may ruinously impede. Thus when fruitlessness prevails, the
cause should be most diligently sought, and the prayer be frequent, "Search
me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there
be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psa. 139:3,
4) Let it be remembered that Dew comes only from above. In times of earthly
drought prayer should crave the descent. So in spiritual need, on the bended
knee refreshing streams of grace should be implored. "Ask of the Lord rain
in the time of the latter rain." (Zech. 10:1) If there should be delay, let
prayer grow stronger, and let not hope fail. "The husbandman waits for the
precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receive
the early and latter rain." (James 5:7)