The Early And Latter Rain
by Pastor Andrew Wolfenbarger
10/07/2023
James 5:7-8 – “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.”
The Palestinian farmer was absolutely dependent upon the blessings of the Almighty to water his crops. Unlike the well-watered plains of Sodom and the irrigated fields of Egypt, Israel had no auxiliary means for watering their precious crops. Charles Spurgeon noted this when he said, “In Palestine, the agriculturalist must have the rain. He must receive the first rain soon after the corn is put into the ground, otherwise it will rot or be blown away with the dust, as his fields become turned into a kind of impalpable powder by the summer’s sun; he must have the latter rain just before the time of harvest, otherwise the ears lacking the moisture that should fill them out, will become thin and lean, barely worth the ingathering; in fact, they will yield no flour for the food of man. The husbandman depends entirely upon the early and the latter rain, and if these do not fall pretty plenteously in their season, a time of famine will ensue.” Since their culture depended so heavily upon agriculture, their language evolved with idioms that related to the farmer and his field. As we might say, “under the weather” or “biting off more than you chew”, they would say, “until ye receive the early and latter rain”.
Some interpret this literally and supply some spiritualized meaning to it. This may be appropriate, but I see no reason to believe that is necessary. The Scripture uses this phrase aforetime in Jeremiah 5:24 where it says, “Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the Lord our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.” In that passage, it is used to condemn the people who had continually ignored the faithful and gracious hand of God upon them.
In James, we see this practical phrase used in reference to the Lord’s return. I think it is used to remind us of a few very important characteristics of our Savior’s return:
1. The Lord Assures Us Of Its Reality
The return of Jesus is not merely the invention of naïve Christians who used it to pacify their discouragement. The second coming of Christ is a promise of the Holy Scriptures. While many have argued the timeframe of this event, most every faithful Bible teacher will agree the coming of the Lord is an absolute certainty.
2. The Lord Anticipates A Harvest
When the Lord does return, He expects to receive the “precious fruit of the earth”. He sent His faithful servants into the harvest fields many years earlier, but now He returns to reap the harvest he sent them to prepare. He even referred to Himself as “the Lord of the harvest” (Matt. 9:38) which reminds us it is His and no one else’s.
3. The Lord Anxiously Awaits The Day
There is such a palpable excitement in these verses. This is a “precious” harvest that He cherishes and loves. He will not grow impatient as to pluck them out of their season. He knows the day and the hour that the trump will sound and I assure you He is watching intently. As a patient husband waits to receive his lovely bride, Jesus is waiting until His bride has been purified and beautified in the way that He is pleased with.
Ephesians 5:27 - “That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”
10/07/2023
James 5:7-8 – “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.”
The Palestinian farmer was absolutely dependent upon the blessings of the Almighty to water his crops. Unlike the well-watered plains of Sodom and the irrigated fields of Egypt, Israel had no auxiliary means for watering their precious crops. Charles Spurgeon noted this when he said, “In Palestine, the agriculturalist must have the rain. He must receive the first rain soon after the corn is put into the ground, otherwise it will rot or be blown away with the dust, as his fields become turned into a kind of impalpable powder by the summer’s sun; he must have the latter rain just before the time of harvest, otherwise the ears lacking the moisture that should fill them out, will become thin and lean, barely worth the ingathering; in fact, they will yield no flour for the food of man. The husbandman depends entirely upon the early and the latter rain, and if these do not fall pretty plenteously in their season, a time of famine will ensue.” Since their culture depended so heavily upon agriculture, their language evolved with idioms that related to the farmer and his field. As we might say, “under the weather” or “biting off more than you chew”, they would say, “until ye receive the early and latter rain”.
Some interpret this literally and supply some spiritualized meaning to it. This may be appropriate, but I see no reason to believe that is necessary. The Scripture uses this phrase aforetime in Jeremiah 5:24 where it says, “Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the Lord our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.” In that passage, it is used to condemn the people who had continually ignored the faithful and gracious hand of God upon them.
In James, we see this practical phrase used in reference to the Lord’s return. I think it is used to remind us of a few very important characteristics of our Savior’s return:
1. The Lord Assures Us Of Its Reality
The return of Jesus is not merely the invention of naïve Christians who used it to pacify their discouragement. The second coming of Christ is a promise of the Holy Scriptures. While many have argued the timeframe of this event, most every faithful Bible teacher will agree the coming of the Lord is an absolute certainty.
2. The Lord Anticipates A Harvest
When the Lord does return, He expects to receive the “precious fruit of the earth”. He sent His faithful servants into the harvest fields many years earlier, but now He returns to reap the harvest he sent them to prepare. He even referred to Himself as “the Lord of the harvest” (Matt. 9:38) which reminds us it is His and no one else’s.
3. The Lord Anxiously Awaits The Day
There is such a palpable excitement in these verses. This is a “precious” harvest that He cherishes and loves. He will not grow impatient as to pluck them out of their season. He knows the day and the hour that the trump will sound and I assure you He is watching intently. As a patient husband waits to receive his lovely bride, Jesus is waiting until His bride has been purified and beautified in the way that He is pleased with.
Ephesians 5:27 - “That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”
Posted in End Times, Living for God, The Great Commission
Posted in James 5, coming, harvest, Return, reality, anticipation, anxious
Posted in James 5, coming, harvest, Return, reality, anticipation, anxious
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