It's Beginning To Rain

[dave c]

simpletruth #138az Revisited 11 DEC 10 salicart@msn.com

HOSEA 10:12—Part Fifty Two: It’s Beginning To Rain

by rev. dave c

Hosea 10:12, Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the LORD, Till He comes and rains righteousness on you (NKJV).

Whether in regards to God’s very nature, or as it pertains to believers through Divine grace, the issue of righteousness is at once specifically fundamental to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and it is elusive to the grasp within the broad scope of the position, the purpose, and the practice of Christianity. The Apostle to the Gentiles says in Romans 5:16 Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. 18 Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. 20 The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus (NIV).

In the last discussion we read: "You heavens above, rain down righteousness; let the clouds shower it down. Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up, let righteousness grow with it; I, the LORD, have created it (Is 45:8; NIV). In Isaiah 55 we continue: 6 Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. 7 Let the wicked [“the unrighteous”—NAS] forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. 8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. 9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it (NIV).

This metaphoric image of God’s Word watering the Earth so that there might be an abundance of grain is picked up by Paul in Second Corinthians Nine beginning with verse 6: Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; 9 as it is written, "HE SCATTERED ABROAD, HE GAVE TO THE POOR, HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ENDURES FOREVER." 10 Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; 11 you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God (NASV).

“Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.” Second Corinthians 6:10 can be interpreted two ways: As we are obedient, God increases the opportunities and the resources for future ministry; and, God will increase the fruit of our righteousness—that is, we will witness the growth of the Church as individuals, and as the corporate body. Within our Creator’s sovereign wisdom, the law of the harvest manifests both. As we plant good seed, more seed grows, which yields an increase of seed to consume, to share, and to plant. And so the glory of God grows exponentially in the world of right here and right now as He simultaneously meets our present needs and prepares His Church for tomorrow. Just as Hosea 10:12 indicates, however, firstly, we are to plant the seeds of the Gospel [that is, sow the message of the Good News and provide the water of righteousness, while remembering that it is God who brings about the miracle of growth (1Co 3:6&7)]. Secondly, and ultimately, all of the water everywhere is of Him and from Him as the powerful and empowering presence of the Holy Spirit in both His Word and in deeds done in the name of Jesus. This process will continue until God pours out His Spirit in a deluge of glory and the harvest of the saints is begun (1Th 5:13-18).

“Through His mercy and grace, righteousness brings peace with God. The ground of righteousness is faith. The seed of righteousness is obedience. The fruit of righteousness is love. Love is the glory of, from, and to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.” Lord, please set Your word in our lives like a fire in our bones—help us to prepare our hearts, our heads, and our hands for the work You prepared in advance. “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near (Is 55:6; NIV). Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded (Ja 4:7&8; NAS). Amen.