SHOWERS OF BLESSING
Blessings are bestowed liberally upon God’s people. Psalm 24 describes the character of the people of God who receive blessings from the God of their salvation.
The Psalm opens with a statement of fact . . . “the earth is the Lord’s . . . the world, and they that dwell therein.” We are reminded that the earth only exists because of God. He is the Originator of all we see. He made every being who has ever existed.
The question is . . . Who of these created beings can know God closely, come into God’s presence, and be showered with blessings from the Lord?
Psalm 24 answers, “he that hath clean hands, and a pure heart, who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.”
What does all that mean in 2017 (or any year) — to have clean hands, a pure heart, not lift up his soul unto vanity, or swear deceitfully?
Having clean hands and a pure heart means to have been washed from a guilty conscience through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1 Peter 3:21). This person is not trying to make himself in good standing before God by pulling up on his spiritual bootstraps. He is not aspiring to ways that will lead to empty outcomes.
It is only once the person has been cleansed and made pure that he can be aligned with the description of those who receive blessings from the Lord and a right standing with God. Then, and only then, would he be able to long for, to look to, and to seek after the King of Glory, the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord of hosts.
For the one who seeks emptiness and false promises, the yield is no blessings of the Lord. But for the one who seeks after the King of Glory, the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord of hosts; then he fits the description of the one who “shall receive blessing from the Lord”.
The prerequisite for showers of blessings is a clean hand and a pure heart.
May God make us all pure and clean before Him. May we then seek Him always! May God always have First Place and Final Say in our hearts and hands. Then, we would fit the description of those who receive blessings from the Lord.
LET THE SHOWERS OF BLESSINGS FALL!
Additional Thoughts
The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. Psalm 34:17-19
I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing. Ezekiel 34:26
Anything is a blessing which makes us pray. ~ Charles Spurgeon
Christian, let God’s distinguishing love to you be a motive to you to fear Him greatly. He has put His fear in your heart, and may not have given that blessing to your neighbor, perhaps not to your husband, your wife, your child, or your parent. Oh, what an obligation should this thought lay upon your heart to greatly fear the Lord! Remember also that this fear of the Lord is His treasure, a choice jewel, given only to favorites, and to those who are greatly beloved. ~ John Bunyan
