"AS THE DEW"

HOSEA 14:5

A. "I WILL BE AS THE DEW UNTO ISRAEL"
  1. Here we have the prophet use a simile drawn from nature:
    1. To illustrate what God means to his children, "I will be as the dew unto Israel"
    2. One can imagine what these words meant to a country like Palestine where the heat of summer is intense and for months together no rain. If it were not for the dew vegetation would perish.
  2. Thus our text is another:
    1. Portrayal of God's love and care for His people - Ps. 103:13-14
    2. Here is food for prayerful meditation upon the Fatherly care of those who trust themselves under the shadow of his wings
B. "AS THE DEW"
  1. Nature and influence of the dew:
    1. The dew is unseen in its coming--we see its effects when every leaf and flower glitter in the early sunshine; but the dew came unperceived during the dark hours of the day
    2. Probably the most powerful forces are those unseen--The noblest part of man is hidden from human gaze, and of Him, who is the moving Power in the universe, it is said: "No man has seen God at any time."
    3. And so it is with the evidences of the work of the Holy Spirit---It is to be found in its effects - Is. 32:15-17
  2. The dew is silent in its fall:
    1. We can hear the pattering of the rain or the rippling of the stream, but the dew fall does not disturb an insect
    2. Elijah, who had experienced a lot of excitement in his contest with the priests of Baal, learned that God was not in the wind, nor was He in the earthquake, nor in the fire, but in the still small voice - I Kings 19:11-13
    3. Wrote the prophet, "In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not - Is. 30:15; 7:4
C. NOTE, PLEASE, THE FURTHER AFFECT OF THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT UPON ITS RECIPIENT, AS ILLUSTRATED BY THE DEW
  1. The dew is exceedingly gentle upon the plant it affects:
    1. God who knows the frailty of plants serves them in the gentlest way--the dew has a healing influence upon the plant--says the Lord: "I will heal thy backsliding" - Hosea 14:1-6
    2. Even so God knows the frailty of our being and blesses us in a quiet and gentle way
  2. Secondly, the dew is reviving to vegetation:
    1. In fact that was the method of God to water the earth before the flood - Gen. 2:5,6
    2. How mysterious and wonderful are all the works of God--past finding out - Ps. 111:1-4
    3. Said Jesus to Nicodemus, "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, or whither it goeth: so is every one that is born again." - John 3:8
  3. The dew is repeated and abundant in its fall:
    1. Its departure, as well as its fall is rapid and secret
    2. It comes night after night, and it is in accordance with the Divine method
    3. Thus the people were taught the constant dependence on God--"For without me ye can do nothing" - John 15:5
    4. Israel could not live on yesterday's manna, so the Christian needs the refreshing of the Holy Spirit day by day--"As thy days so shall thy strength be" - Deut. 33:25
  4. Conclusion: If God is prepared to give, are we prepared to receive?
    1. This is the heart-searching question to everyone of us, who profess to be God's children
    2. Each one must seek the answer in his own life
    3. Why are we so weak and destitute of the energy-giving life of the dew of heaven?
    4. A compassionate God is ready and willing to bless us with the dew of the Holy Spirit, and the question is--are we ready to receive it?


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