The Essential Element Of Great Blessing
“Until the Spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest.” Isaiah 32:15
In the book of Proverbs, we read a remarkable statement, which is both a command and a promise. The author states the Lord’s words: “Turn you at My reproof: behold, I will pour out My Spirit unto you, I will make known My words unto you.” (1:23) Why is this statement so very important, and at the same time, so powerful as it applies to a single life and that of a nation and world? It is because of God’s ways, which are immutable, always the same, without variableness. If an individual would know the blessing of God, primarily spiritual but having its expression in the physical world also, there must be a turning to Him, and a willingness to hear and abide by what He says.
Habakkuk the prophet had such an attitude when he wrote: “I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what He will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.” (2:1) Habakkuk understood the ways of God, which God had established since the foundation of the earth. He knew that if he conformed to the ways of God in seeking Him, and if he responded believingly in obedient faith, he was sure to be received by God, with God revealing to Him His will, i.e. would speak to Him in such a way, and at such a time, as would be clear, concise, and convicting. The willingness of Habakkuk to honestly seek the Lord, and believe Him to respond by speaking to him, is seen in Habakkuk’s willingness to receive correction, and instruction, then to answer the Lord when he was reproved. In other words, Habakkuk is open to receive the word of the Lord regardless of what the Lord might say, and then to obey it. When the Lord did answer him, he wrote down the Lord’s words: “Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” (2:2,3) What is so very important about the Lord’s words here? First of all, they are clear and simple, not complicated, and meant to be understood. Though God may hide certain things from us because we are not ready to receive them, or it is simply not the time for us to know them, He never seeks to keep the believer in the dark concerning His will and purposes. He will fulfill His word as He expresses it in the book of James when he writes: “If any of your lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to ALL men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.” (1:5,6) What then is the great the way to true blessing, and what is the highest blessing which we are to know, and by which we are to live?
In the book of Isaiah, the author speaks much about judgement, that working of God against the people because of their rebellion, and rejection of Him and the blessings He desires to bestow. We see a parallel to this thought when the Lord Jesus stands looking over the city of Jerusalem, but laments: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not.” (Matt. 23:37) Christ’s words, like the words of Isaiah, speak of the will and desire of God to save all men, to reveal His glory, and to bless greatly not only a city, but a people and families. The outpouring of the Spirit is the believer’s great blessing.
Dear Father, Pour out thy Spirit today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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