Article September 14, 1946 Issue

Rain in Due Season

CORA E. WILLIAMS

"The one important interpretation of Scripture is the spiritual." So writes Mary Baker Eddy on page 320 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." Seeking this "important interpretation" by studying the Bible in the light of Christian Science is profitable for spiritual progress and brings to the student rich reward for the effort.

In her search for inspiration, the writer was led to these words by the prophet Joel (Joel 2:23): "Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month." What an inspiration to find "rain" translated "teacher of righteousness," and "moderately" as meaning "according to righteousness"! From there her search for more light on the spiritual meaning of the text was most interesting. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible indicates that the word "rain" in many Old Testament citations means, in the Hebrew translation, "teacher," and in the verb form "to instruct, to point out."

When God spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, instructing him what to say to the children of Israel. He gave them this prophetic promise: "If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them; then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit" (Lev. 26:3,4). In the song of Moses (Deut. 32) is set forth God's promise of a doctrine and a speech which were to come from heaven as the rain and the dew. The prophets also voice this promise. They bid us be glad and rejoice for the coming of this precious rain; showers of blessings are promised.

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