Ezekiel 34:26

New International Version (NIV)

I will make them and the places surrounding my hill a blessing. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing.

For Meditation

That’s what we need in our time – showers of blessing – abundance of rains in its season. We need a refreshing from our Savior and Lord; for we are oppressed and robbed by the leaders He has set over us to feed and care for us. They have become greedy and fattened themselves on the best of the land and left us impoverished. They have cared for themselves and never given thought to our deplorable condition.

Our leaders have become fat and sleek with careless abandon. In the name of being current and relevant, many so-called shepherds have adopted the ways of the world, ignoring the leading of the Holy Spirit. They mimic the marketing gimmicks of Madison Avenue, and live glamorous lives typical of the stars of Hollywood. The rape, typical of Wall Street, has tagged along very well and sunk families into financial crisis. Our leaders have heaped upon themselves titles as statement of status and rank, distinguishing themselves from each other by head count and the number of branches of their establishments. Excusing the excesses of today, one Archbishop remarked, “Jesus wore designer cloths and lived in mansions.” May God help us!

Our situation has become like that of Israel as pictured in the prophetic utterance of Ezekiel against the bad shepherds of God’s flock (Ezek. 34). But God is good! He encouraged His flock, the people of Israel, who had been deceived, taken advantage of, and led astray by those leaders. “I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I the Lord have spoken” (24). God promised them a new covenant of peace, and with it, the promise of a refreshing time in His Millennial Rule. “I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing” (35-36).

We have been blessed by the Messiah’s ministry of redemption that has made us partakers of His covenant of peace. In Christ our Redeemer, we can look forward to perfection in eternity. But as we wait for this day, we can use God’s refreshing time – showers of blessing to revive us.

That’s our plea today, Lord. Look upon us with compassion and give us leaders who have your heart like David, to shepherd us to your pasture. Shepherd of our soul, let there be showers of blessing raining over us today, for we are dry and thirsty. You who will never deny your children any good thing (Lk. 11:13; Jn. 1:14), pour your abundance upon us and revive us in your Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, our Good Shepherd, who knows us, just as you know us, and laid down His life for us (Jn. 10:14).

May the showers of blessing from above, pour on you in abundance in your particular season of need; and according to His divine mercy and grace, Amen!

 Shalom