Showers of Blessing

In evangelical churches when I was growing up, a favorite hymn was “Showers of Blessing”, written by Daniel Whittle and first published in 1883. He was greatly influenced by D.L. Moody’s ministry and became an evangelist. The song was the signature tune and name of a weekly radio broadcast (1945-86) of the second denomination I joined, and I was the radio secretary for our state, sending out printed copies of the sermon and answering listener’s letters.

The chorus goes…

And the third verse says…

The song is presumed to be based upon Ezekiel 34:26, a prophecy given to Israel, “And I will make them and the places all around my hill a blessing, and I will send down the showers in their season; they shall be showers of blessing.” The problem is that I’m not living in Ezekiel but in Acts 29, and in the current administration of God’s grace He tells me that I am “blessed… in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:3). Can you see the problem?

God will honor His word to Israel, but His word to me is that I’m already blessed! So why sing a song that contradicts what God says about New Testament Christians? “Pick a verse and write a song” is still a favorite method with today’s praise and worship groups, regardless of whether it fits with who we are and what we have in Christ.

In one hymnal I found an attempt by an unnamed author to bring the song into present-day reality…

Now that’s more like it! — Peter Wade.