Like the Dew
Montreal/Cornwall
August 28, 2004
Hot, clear, and sunny days can be quite a blessing to those in a farming community. Particularly, during haying season, at the end of June and beginning of July, and during harvest, in mid-to-late August and beyond, to have numbers of days like that can really have the work go on very well. I know that farming operations are, generally, larger, now, than the 640 acre farm that I grew up on, but even then, and ‘back then’ the time to do the work, sometimes in cooperation with a neighbour or two, in order to share equipment and lower the overhead cost for all the farms involved, could be two to three weeks.
With those hot, clear, and sunny days, often came comparable nights, with clear skies, the temperature hardly dropping from the daytime highs, so sleep was not all that easy to come by. So, the cycle of hot days, and hard work, were followed by hot nights and fitful sleep. But, sometimes, normally at the changing of the moon, there would be a cool night, even with temperatures approaching the freezing point (yes, in July or mid-August- in harvest), and we would wake up to a sparkling silver of dew on the grass. As the air and the ground met, the dew formed, leaving not only something beautiful, but bringing various blessings to us.
Because dew means that the grass is wet, it gave a bit of respite, where we couldn’t start as early in the morning as we might have otherwise. Of course, there were always other things to do, but that offered, at least, a change of pace- maybe even an opportunity for a quick trip into Brandon to get a needed part or to do some needed grocery, or school, shopping.
The dew gave a bit of water to gardens, too, and we could see the refreshing of the plants and flowers that were parched and wilting under the incessant sun of the past few days.
The dew gave us some refreshing, too, in the simple manner of better rest in the later hours of the night or early morning, as the temperature dropped to a more comfortable level, and this increased our energy for the work at hand, when we could get to it.
Dew is a blessing on the prairies of Canada. However, there are areas of the world where the dew is even more of a blessing, and where the blessing of it is more apparent. In fact, dew is used in a way to point to miraculous happenings, which carries lessons for us, today.
Please turn to Psalm 133, and we’ll read it together. This is a familiar psalm, which speaks of the blessing of the unity of God’s people. The images used here are incredible, though, and present a picture that we might miss, or simply intellectually give assent to, but which demands something a bit more.
Read. We read of God’s feeling, through David, of the fact that this is good. There is no question about it- this is good! Then, the picture of oil is given, which tells us something about the blessing and commissioning or setting aside that is involved in such fellowship. I want us to focus on the next image a bit, today, and think about what it tells us about something that we, sometimes, take for granted, or simply don’t give enough thought to. We come to the image of dew, which I introduced, but which God speaks of in a particular way.
Unity is like the refreshing dew. This image speaks of a heavy dew. As you know, sometimes, you can go out, in an autumn morning, and find that the grass looks like there has been a fairly substantial rain on it, and it is simply dew. The dews that fell on Mount Hermon, in the summer, were very heavy, and the image of their falling on Zion- on Jerusalem and, by extension, God’s people- speaks of all that I outlined above, and more. It speaks of refreshing, above all. The main idea of dew expresses the idea of divine refreshment, in God’s gift of life and fruitfulness. There’s a small picture of this in:
Psa.110.3- that speaks of life and energy tied with dew.
The linking of Hermon, which was located far away from Jerusalem- about 100 miles away, in fact, indicates that God gives His gift to His people when they are in fellowship.
Look at the map here to get an idea of the distances involved. There is really no chance for the dew of Hermon to fall on Jerusalem, yet the picture is of its happening. What is this saying? The message is that the falling of Hermon’s dew on Zion would be a miracle, and fellowship is a miracle of divine grace, wherein individual blessings are shared with mutual profit for all.
So, we have the ideas of the miracle of dew tied with the miracle of the fellowship of God’s people. The apostle Paul writes of this miracle:
Eph.2.11-22- let’s read this together and ponder the miracle that is involved, and appreciate this miracle.
v.11-13- describes the historical situation for those who were gentiles, compared with those who were Jewish. For us, the same is true as a comparison between those who were unbelievers compared with those who are believers. There is a separation- there was one- and each one of us has been part of that separation, in the flesh. There is no unity in the flesh, and this is the focus, here.
The key, here, is the beginning of verse 13- the ‘but now in Christ’- this is a vital key for all to remember. Something happens, in Christ that can happen no other way. There is a bringing together of parties who, otherwise, would not be near. We think we aren’t far apart from those who are unbelievers, if we are believers. However, that is not the case. There’s a world of difference, even between us an ‘nice’ and ‘good’ people. We can recognize that some of God is in each individual we meet. However, scripturally, there is a difference- one is heading to the kingdom, and one is not heading to the kingdom of God- that’s a big difference. Romans 8.1 gives a fundamental difference- there is something different for those who are believers. And, even here, in Ephesians 2.13, the ‘and now’ emphasizes that something is different now than what was the case previously. Let us not forget this. Each person we meet might be the most wonderful person. Each might, in some ways, be ‘better’ than we are in many aspects of their lives. Each might demonstrate a measure or level of love better than we do and might be part of a lifestyle we cannot endorse, even, but what we see is not what God sees. His standards are different than humanity’s (Isa.55.8, 9). This is a hard concept for us, and all the more in this post-modern age and in this area of the world. But it is the biblical reality. And, again, here in Ephesians, we see that those who were ‘far off’ are brought near- there’s a miracle that happens. When we look at the subject of fellowship and unity of us together, we have to appreciate this incredible miracle- just like dew from Hermon falling on Jerusalem- it doesn’t happen- for it to happen would require an incredible miracle.
Eph.2.14- the miracle continues- there’s a partition that’s broken down- a wall that gets torn down.
v.15- laws, that kept apart and separate, are banished. This includes the purity and separation laws of when to meet, what to eat, what to wear or not, and the like. The whole body of laws that kept Israel separate is gone, in Christ, to whom it all pointed and now, in Christ, all are brought near and, with Christ alive inside, all can live with the same standard and ability. The Holy Spirit is equally available to believer and former believer, to Israel and to gentile.
v.16- reconciliation comes through the cross- not through any other means. And when you have the cross, you do not need anything else. You do not need ‘the law’. You need what the cross brings. That’s hard, but we have to have confidence in God’s wisdom in this. Again, his ways are higher and different from ours. There’s a benefit that comes from not having to obsess over the law anymore and from not having to worry about sunset or what might be in the meat pie, or what kind of oil might have been used to fry the fries, and the like. What liberty, even in such unimportant things or trivial things that we might have been concerned about in the past.
v.17- same message to all. V.18- miracle of the cross for all- it’s the same for all.
v.19- no longer are people ‘unbelievers’ or anything that represents a different status. The newest member of our congregation, who is newest baptized, is no less or no different, than those of us who have been here longer- oh, we have more experience, perhaps, but we have equal standing with God. I’m not of higher standing, or necessarily closer to God, than someone who walks off the street, is convicted of the truth, and commits himself or herself to God, through Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit, today. We’re all members together. Remember that concept of ‘miracle’. It IS a miracle. People go looking for miracles and I worry about Christians who put out so much energy to see or experience miracles-normally with regard to physical healing, and the like. The greatest miracles are before us as people are converted- this is the level that God is most concerned about now. What a miracle!
I thought of this after last weekend. Last Saturday night, one mother asked me for a bonfire for the children. I’ve never made a fire at Vendee before. I leave that to others who are ‘better at it’. But, this time, the fire makers were doing other things, so I did it and, with Erich’s help, we got a great fire going. But this gave rise to some of the most wonderful fellowship. We were looking at the sky- and the milky way- and the Big Dipper and looking for the Little Dipper and the North Star. Four of us decided to go to the canoe dock where there’d be less light and an even better view, so a man who grew up in this area and who used to go farther north to visit, with his daughters, and watch stars sometimes, a man from Colombia and several Canadian points, a man born and raised in Montreal and of Italian background, and myself, from the prairies of Canada, went down, in the dark. And, there we were, beside the water, being amazed together at God and His creation, evident in the sky. That is fellowship at this highest levels, for guys, at least, and represents a miracle that we, four, would be together, at all. That’s like the dew of Hermon falling on Zion!
v.20-22- we’re built together. We don’t come together except through the miracle of God, and when we come together, the ongoing miracle is so incredibly profound and continuous.
Conclusion
Our fellowship is a miracle. In Scripture, dew symbolizes the incredibly beneficial power of God, which revives, enlivens, and invigorates the objects of nature when they have been parched by the burning heart of the sun.
Likewise, fellowship, among the people of God, arising through the miraculous work of God, revives, enlivens, and invigorates those who have been parched, hurt, and made tired by the normal activity of living in 2004.
Today, I want you to appreciate what a miracle is before each of us as we’re here together. This could happen only through Christ. I want you to commit to fostering closer fellowship and to know the benefits of this miracle- like the dew- more than you have. But, that’s too general- to let you off that easily is not good, is it? Let me be more specific.
I want you to do two things, from appreciating the miracle of the fellowship of the saved:
1. Talk to 1 other WCG person between weekend services each week- in person or by phone- not by email.
2. Initiate- that means to be the one stirring, starting- fellowship with others at least once/month. This means invite someone or arrange with someone to be together. Maybe this will mean inviting to your home, or inviting yourself, gracefully, to someone else’s. This might mean arranging to have coffee together. This might mean initiating a situation where you’re together and where you can even pay your own way or potluck it. This applies to all- those who are ‘alone’ can initiate this every bit as much as anyone else.
We need to live within the miracle of fellowship and to appreciate this incredible miracle. Both in Psalm 133 and Ephesians 2- both in the OT and NT- God shows this reality of the miracle of fellowship. May we understand, appreciate, and live from appreciation for this and seek participation, with greater zeal than some who focus so much on physical healings! May we all know the miracle of fellowship in our lives with greater regularity as we go forward to the latter part of 2004!
