Hymns Part 5 – Showers of Blessing

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One would think that somewhere in the Bible, God had described himself as a nice, hot shower ready to rain on the faithful.  Yes, there is one instance where God said he would send showers of blessing to Israel.  This was in the middle of a warning to stop oppressing the “lean sheep”, the downtrodden, because those are the ones that God would protect and give good land to.

However, as soon as people hear the word “blessing” they seem to assume it must be for them.  Then comes the sense of entitlement.  “God has promised me showers of blessing – now then, God, DELIVER!”  The reality is, God never promised any such thing no matter how many times you sing it.

This attitude is reflected in many hymns.

Great God, a blessing from Your throne
Grant us who lay this cornerstone,
To build a church in which Your Word
Is purely taught and gladly heard.

The work is Yours and not our own;
Oh, come, and make Your presence known;
Our prayers accept, our off’ring bless,
Our labors crown with due success.

And:

Open the windows of Heaven,
Send showers of blessing just now;
Look on us, Lord, in Thy mercy,
While humbly before Thee we bow.

Showers of blessing,
Fresh showers of blessing we need;
Showers of blessing,
For showers of blessing we plead.

Then there is this similar but more well-known one that I sang many times myself:

There shall be showers of blessing;
Send them upon us, O Lord;
Grant to us now a refreshing,
Come, and now honor Thy Word.

Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need:
Mercy drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.

Admittedly, the Pentecostal movement has managed to grab this concept with both hands and run off gleefully into the sunset, even birthing entire prosperity and “name it and claim it” movements and writing songs to match, so some of the newer choruses are even worse than the old hymns, constantly begging for the Holy Spirit to “rain down” and “fall afresh” and disguising it as worship.  However, that is another issue entirely.  In another post I will talk about some more Pentecostal-influenced so-called “Jesus is my boyfriend songs”.

And before anybody gets the idea I don’t like Pentecostals, I was one for my entire church life pre-deconstruction, and I believe the movement has much to offer despite its few failings.  Just thought a disclaimer might be required there