Distill as the Dew

After struggling forty years as leader of the Israelites, Moses shared final thoughts with them before his death. Then he prayed a poetic prayer that many identify as the Song of Moses. (Deuteronomy 32) He said, Let my teaching drop as the rain, My speech distill as the dew, As raindrops on the tender herb, and as showers on the grass. (v. 2a NKJV )

We might have expected something different from Moses at this point—something harsh or judgmental. After all, the Israelites were the source of many trials for their leader. But at the close of his long and fruitful ministry Moses had nothing but gentleness in his heart. He didn’t ask God for lightning and thunder—for a display of power to set the people straight. He asked only that his words be received—and that they give life-sustaining nourishment to the people.

Ascribe greatness to our God, Moses said. He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice . . . Righteous and upright is He. (v. 3b,3c)

Originally published September 26, 1986.

Prayers from the Bible

The Bible contains many prayers. There are the prayers of Jesus, including the familiar Lord’s Prayer. There are prayers or songs of praise and worship. There are prayers that changed the course of history. There are prayers for insight and wisdom.

Jesus said the Lord’s Prayer is a pattern. It contains all types of prayer—praise, petition, etc. We cannot go wrong when we pray the Lord's Prayer—as long as it does not become vain repetition. We are not truly talking to God unless we pray from the heart.

God gave us additional prayers as well. Some are in Paul's letters. They encourage us to pray for specific needs, and they also provide patterns that help us when we pray.

One example of a prayer from Paul's letters is found in Ephesians. It reads, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation . . . your understanding . . . being enlightened’ that you may know what is the hope of His calling. . . . (Eph. 1:17,18 NKJV)

Originally published April 24, 1987.
Picture: Commercial display, West Fargo, 2009. Photo by Solveig.

A Spring of Water

Water is a unique feature of planet earth. Wherever it flows, thirsty lands and people are refreshed. Our bodies can survive prolonged periods without food, but abstaining from water is dangerous. As a cleansing agent, we used it both internally and externally—to flush impurities from our system and to wash dirt from our skin.

Jesus said, “But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (Jn. 4:14 RSV)

Jesus used water as a symbol of His Words—and of His Word, our Bible. When activated by the Holy Spirit the Word becomes a cleansing agent. It purges secret sins of the thought life as well as obvious external vices.

The Word also satisfies spiritual thirst and generates spiritual health. It becomes that “spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Originally published March 12, 1982.