Showers of blessing

What a relief to come to chapter 34! No. I haven't read every word up to there! Skimmed is probably the right definition.

Someone must have been listening to all that prophesying from Ezekiel. Was it the humble shepherds? God uses their methods of seeking and finding the sheep - the ones willing to be obedient to God's law. In Ezekiel, we hear echoes of Psalm 23, the Psalm of David; even a direct reference to him: 

“And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd” (Ezek 34:23). 

Sounds like a prophecy about the Messiah, the Christ.

Oh! Here is a lovely promise for our country (and others) when having to cope with drought conditions: 

"I will cause the shower to come down in his season: there shall be showers of blessing” (Ezek 34:26).

This reminds me of an old hymn. According to one online source, it was written in 1883 by Daniel Whittle (1840-1901). Here are the words.

Showers of blessing

1. There shall be showers of blessing:
   This is the promise of love;
   There shall be seasons refreshing,
   Sent from the Savior above.
   • Refrain:
     Showers of blessing,
     Showers of blessing we need:
     Mercy-drops round us are falling,
     But for the showers we plead.
2. There shall be showers of blessing,
   Precious reviving again;
   Over the hills and the valleys,
   Sound of abundance of rain.
3. There shall be showers of blessing;
   Send them upon us, O Lord;
   Grant to us now a refreshing,
   Come, and now honor Thy Word.
4. There shall be showers of blessing:
   Oh, that today they might fall,
   Now as to God we’re confessing,
   Now as on Jesus we call!
5. There shall be showers of blessing,
   If we but trust and obey;
   There shall be seasons refreshing,
   If we let God have His way.

Joyce Voysey