161. The Word Produces
Deuteronomy 32:2 My 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.
God promises that His Word will produce growth and fertility. The teaching (doctrine) of the Lord is compared to rain. See Isaiah 55:10-11: “As the rain and snow come down from heaven and…water the earth making it bring forth and sprout…so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth…it shall accomplish that which I purpose.” The Teaching and Speech of the Lord is like the rain, the dew, the small rain, and the showers. It makes things grow.
The promise is spiritually true for us: The Word of God grows spiritual life within. The Word does return empty. It does something. It makes life grow. We need to believe the promise: going to church, attending Bible study, reading the Bible in private, and discussing it in groups will cause spiritual growth. The Spirit of God grows stronger in us and He has greater influence on our living. Believe that it makes a difference.
The obverse is also true: despising, ignoring, and neglecting preaching and the Word causes spiritual dryness, emptiness, and death. The choice is clear: “going to church” makes a difference. “Staying home” dries up the spiritual life within.
Every farmer knows the life and death difference that rain or drought makes for his livelihood. We take God’s word and promise to heart because it really does make a difference in our lives. We grow closer to God and life flourishes, or we drift further away and dry up.
We need to hear Law and Gospel, for “repentance (Law) and forgiveness of sins (Gospel) should be proclaimed in his name to all nations. [Luke 24:47].”