Moses the servant of the Lord

 Christ in all the scriptures

The rain and the dew  Deuteronomy 32v2

"My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as showers upon the grass".

The call to universal attention, makes this chapter of utmost importance in the revelation of God.  Constructed in the form of a song, there are four stanzas, each one proclaiming the character of God, the major topic of the Bible:

The greatness of God  32v3/4   The unrivalled majesty of His person

The goodness of God  32v5-14  His faithfulness to Israel, despite their unfaithfulness

The government of God  32v15-25  Judgment must begin at the house of God.  He chastises His people but mingles it with mercy

The glory of God  32v26-43  Ultimately He will suppress all enemies.

With such dignified subject matter in mind, Moses was concerned with the manner of his presentation.  Just as our lives should "adorn the doctrine", to use Paul's phrase, so thought should be given to the manner in which preachers and teachers present Divine truth.  This aspect is developed in scripture, as we are entrusted with sacred things that require reverential publication.  As always, our Lord Jesus was the supreme example.  Never had the people heard such ministry as came from His lips:

"They wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth"-Luke 4v22.

"They were astonished at His doctrine: for His word was with power"-Luke 4v32.

"Never man spake like this man"-John 7v46.

He spoke the truth of God with grace, as Psalm 45v2 says, "...grace is poured into thy lips". God is not in the business of alienating or repelling people, rather He is drawing all men to Himself (John 6v44 with John 12v32).

Those of us who are divine communicators today should follow His example:

"And moreover because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge: yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.  The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth"-Ecc. 12v9/10.  Paul wrote the following:

"The servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth..."-2nd Timothy 2v24/25.

The manner of preaching is important if we are to enhance the understanding of the hearers.

Moses likens the doctrine to the raindrops on the plants and grass, and as the distillation of the dew to refresh the earth.  A close inspection of these reveal a very apt description of the action of the word of God.

Firstly we think of the dew distilling in the early morning light.  The process is of water vapour condensation as the warm air contacts the cold surfaces of earth.  The purpose is to heat up the cold surface and hydrate it for moisturisation.  This benign process of distillation falls silently upon the ground and aids the nourishment of plant life.  There is no sound, just gentle therapeutic provision.  How like the word of God!  It comes in silence, almost undetected until it begins to revive us from sleep.  I recall my late uncle William Neilly say, "The word of God does not burst upon us, it dawns upon us".  For those who have an ear for God's word it is a very real experience.  There is no need for loud mouth preaching, just gentle, powerful, transforming words.

Then he likens it to the raindrops.  God's word is similar to the rainfall upon earth.  Isaiah, in chapter 55v10/11, says, "For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it".

The rains that fall are sent for production for the earth to deliver necessary food.  We, often have a negative attitude toward it, and, at times, it can be really uncomfortable and inconvenient.  However it produces necessary food, without which we would die.  Also, after a sustained period of rainfall, the earth is cleansed and the atmosphere is noticeably refreshed.  Like Moses, we are to see the word of God as vital to spiritual life, as the rain and the dew is to natural life.  That is how he viewed his doctrine, and so must we.

Yes, God's word can be challenging, but it is benign, and gentle, and productive, if we receive its wisdom, and adapt to its ways.  The doctrine is not for self glorification, but for the glory of God; it is not for self vindication but for the benefit of God's people