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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comJamieson Fausset Brown Commentary - Zechariah 10:1 - 10:1
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Zec 10:1-12. Prayer and promise.
Call to prayer to Jehovah, as contrasted with the idol-worship which had brought judgments on the princes and people. Blessings promised in answer to prayer:
(1) rulers of themselves;
(2) conquest of their enemies;
(3) restoration and establishment of both Israel and Judah in their own land in lasting peace and piety.
Ask ... rain - on which the abundance of “corn” promised by the Lord (Zec 9:17) depends. Jehovah alone can give it, and will give it on being asked (Jer 10:13; Jer 14:22).
rain in ... time of ... latter rain - that is, the latter rain in its due time, namely, in spring, about February or March (Job 29:23; Joe 2:23). The latter rain ripened the grain, as the former rain in October tended to fructify the seed. Including all temporal blessings; these again being types of spiritual ones. Though God has begun to bless us, we are not to relax our prayers. The former rain of conversion may have been given, but we must also ask for the latter rain of ripened sanctification. Though at Pentecost there was a former rain on the Jewish Church, a latter rain is still to be looked for, when the full harvest of the nation’s conversion shall be gathered in to God. The spirit of prayer in the Church is an index at once of her piety, and of the spiritual blessings she may expect from God. When the Church is full of prayer, God pours out a full blessing.
bright clouds - rather, “lightnings,” the precursors of rain [Maurer].
showers of rain - literally, “rain of heavy rain.” In Job 37:6 the same words occur in inverted order [Henderson].
grass - a general term, including both corn for men and grass for cattle.