He prayed again; that is, in another strain, not by way of
imprecation, but supplication, which last is recorded in the word, 1 Kings
xviii. 42, 'He cast himself upon the earth, and put his face between his
knees,' which was an action of most humble and fervent prayer, by means whereof
God had determined to bestow a blessing.
And the heaven gave rain; that
is, the air and clouds, as peteina ouranou, 'the fowls of heaven' are by us
translated 'the fowls of the air,' Mat. vi. 26; so Deut. xi. 17, if 'the Lord's
anger be kindled against them, he can shut up the heavens that there be no
rain,' that is, the clouds. So in that climax, Hosea ii. 21, 22, 'I will hear
the heavens, and they shall hear the earth,' &c., the heavens for clouds.
And the earth brought forth her fruit. - All causes depend upon one
another, and the highest on God; before this rain there was a great famine
through the drought
From hence observe these points:-
Obs. 1.
That when God meaneth to bestow blessings, he stirreth up the hearts of the
people to pray for them. God that decreeth the end, decreeth the means: Ezek.
xxxvi. 37, 'I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel to do it
for them:' so Jer. xxix. 12, 'Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and
pray unto me, and I will hearken to you.' When the time of deliverance was
come, God would have them sue it out by prayer. Well, then, look upon the
effusion of the spirit of supplications as a happy presage; it is the first
intimation and token for good of approaching mercy, like the chirping of birds
before the spring.
Obs. 2. Though we are sure of the accomplishment of
a blessing, yet we must not give over prayer. Elias had foretold rain, yet when
he seemed to hear the sound of it he falls a-praying. Daniel had understood by
books that the date of days was expired, therefore is he so earnest, Dan. ix
1-3. When Christ had intimated his coming, - 'Behold, I come quickly,' the
church taketh hold of that advantage, 'Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly,' Rev.
xxii. latter end. It showeth that it is an ill confidence that maketh us to
neglect means. God's children are never more diligent and free in their
endeavours than when confident of a blessing; hope is industrious, and draweth
to action.
Obs. 3. Prayer is a good remedy in the most desperate cases,
and when you are lost to all other hopes, you are not lost to the hopes of
prayer. Though there had been three years' drought, yet he prayed till he
brought down sweet showers. One said of the prayers of Luther, Non dubito quin
multum subsidii ad desperatam hano causam comitiorum preces illius allaturae
sunt - that he was confident the business had some life in it, because Luther
prayed. Well, then, continue prayer with some hope, though the heaven be as
brass, and the earth as iron. When the case is desperate the Lord is wont to
come in; he sendeth Moses when the bricks were doubled.
Obs. 4. The
efficacy of prayer is very great Elias seemed to have the key of heaven, to
open it and shut it at pleasure. Nothing hath wrought such wonderful effects in
the world as prayer: it made the sun stand still at Joshua's request, Josh. x.
13; yea, to go backwards thus many degrees when Hezekiah prayed, Isa. xxxviii.
8. It brought fire out of heaven when Elias prayed, 2 Kings i. 10. Nay, it
brought angels out of heaven when Elisha prayed, 2 Kings vi. 17. Nay, God
himself will seem to yield to the importunity and force of prayer, Gen. xxxii.
24, 25; in this wrestling he will be overcome. Certainly they that neglect
prayer do not only neglect the sweetest way of converse with God, but the most
forcible way of prevailing with him.
Obs. 5. From that the heaven gave
rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. That there is a mutual dependence
and subordination between all second causes. The creatures are serviceable to
one another by mutual ministries and supplies; the earth is cherished by the
heat of the stars, moistened by the water, and by the temperament of both made
fruitful, and so sendeth forth innumerable plants for the comfort and use of
living creatures, and living creatures are for the supply of man. It is
wonderful to consider the subordination of all causes, and the proportion they
bear to one another: the heavens work upon the elements, the elements upon the
earth, and the earth yieldeth fruits for the use of man. The prophet taketh
notice of this admirable gradation, Hosea ii. 21, 22, 'I will hear the heavens,
and the heavens shall hear the earth, and the earth shall hear the corn, and
the wine, and the oil; and the corn and the wine and the oil shall hear
Jezreel.' We look for the supplies of corn, wine, and oil; but they can do
nothing without clouds, and the clouds can do nothing without stars, and the
stars can do nothing without God. The creatures are beholden to one another,
and all to God. In the order of the world there is an excellent knot and chain
of causes by which all things hang together, that so they may lead up the soul
to the Lord.
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