My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil
as
the dew
Which some, as Aben Ezra, take to be a prayer or wish, that the
doctrine spoken by him might fall upon men like rain and dew on
the earth, penetrate into their hearts, and influence them, and
produce good effects there; but the words rather seem to be a
prophecy of what would be: and by his "doctrine" and "speech",
which signify the same thing, is meant, not his law, which was
fiery, this cooling, like rain and dew; that was like a storm,
this as a gentle rain; that was terrible, this desirable; that
was distressing, this refreshing, this no other than the Gospel,
the speech of God, the doctrine of Christ, the doctrine of grace,
and mercy through him, and of life and salvation by him: it has
its name from a word, which signifies to "receive" F6; for it
was received from God by Moses, and by the prophets after him, by
Christ himself, as Mediator, and by the apostles from him, and is
worthy of the acceptation of all: this is comparable to "rain",
because, like that, it comes from heaven, is the gift of God,
tarries not for man, but comes without any desert of man, and
often without his desire; falls by divine direction in places and
on persons, as the Lord's will and pleasure is, and that in great
plenty, with a fulness of spiritual blessings, and precious
promises; and for its effects, it cools the conscience, filled
with fiery wrath and indignation, moistens and softens the hard
heart, like the dry and parched earth, refreshes and revives the
drooping spirit, and makes barren souls fruitful in grace and
good works: and it is like "dew", which also is from heaven, and
of God, fell in the night of the world; and as that falls in a
temperate air, so this, when the stormy dispensation of the law
was over; and though but a small thing in the eyes of the world,
is of great influence, the power of God unto salvation, very
grateful and delightful, and of great moment and importance;
hereby the love and favour of God is diffused, the blessings of
grace dispensed, the heavenly manna communicated, and the Spirit
and his graces received: and this, like rain and dew, "drops" and
"distils" silently, not in a noisy manner as the law; insensibly,
falling on persons at an unawares, in great abundance, like the
drops of rain and dew; and effectually, working in all that
believe: dew was a symbol of doctrine with the Egyptians
F7: this is further illustrated:
as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers
upon the
grass:
the first of those words for "rain", according to Jarchi, has the
signification of a stormy wind, but that seems to contradict the
gentle dropping and distilling of it; rather it signifies "hairs"
F8, and denotes, as our version, the
smallness of the rain, being as small, thin, and light as hairs;
and the latter word F9 has the signification of millions
and thousands, there being such vast, numbers as those in a
shower of rain: the "tender herb" and "grass" may denote the
multitude of persons to whom the Gospel would come, and be made
useful; and may describe sensible sinners, tender consciences,
such as are weak in themselves, with whom it is the day of small
things, are newborn babes, little children; who are just
springing up in grace, as among the grass, and as willows by the
water courses: now all this is said by Moses, to recommend his
doctrine, as well as what follows.