363. The Former and Latter Rain
Joel 2:23 Be 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.
God promises rain, the former rain to germinate the seed and start growing and the latter rain To complete the ripening. Rain is a symbol for the “outpouring” of the Holy Spirit. Because Jesus has ascended into heaven as Lord He has begun to pour out the Spirit upon all flesh, beginning on the Day of Pentecost. The outpouring of the Spirit is like rain in this way: the Spirit refreshes and nourishes and causes growth for the seed of faith in the believer’s heart; He strengthens and ripens the growing plant to produce fruit and more seed; He rains refreshment and nourishment all over so that He is available to everyone.
The Holy Spirit always operates through Word and Sacrament to produce and grow faith in Jesus Christ unto salvation and life. He effectively applies the Gospel to the hearts of those who read and hear it. The gospel is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes. And the Spirit is always working through the gospel whether we feel it or not. Faith is not dependent on feelings, but on the Word, which is always efficacious and salutary. We may go through spiritual dry spells and droughts, but spiritual life (the rain) has not stopped. It is not measured by “feeling God” and the ups and down of emotions. No feeling lasts, but God’s Word endures forever.
Just as rain is vital to life, so the Spirit’s coming gives life regularly. In dry and semi-dry climates timely rain is necessary to live and grow. It is so vital that unbelievers pray for rain by worshipping idol rain gods. The Lord damned this practice. We do not need to look to other gods for what we need. The Lord promises He will never fail to send the rain in season. We have many promises of provision and supply from a good and gracious God. Our Lord will send the rain and He will send the Spirit. The Lord sends the preacher; we hear the preaching of the Gospel; we believe it; we call upon the Lord; and we are saved. Thank God for the rain! He promises to cause it to come down for you.