Hey Mark,
Thanks for your comments.
I want to share some scriptures with you and get your insight. I do not necessarily agree with your direct interpretation of the Holy Spirit being the 'latter and spring rains." I will break down my position into "points" just so its easier to find/read etc.
POINT ONE:
It would seem that the "word of God" ie: teaching via O.T. prophets as recorded scripture and possibly forshadowing the actual "Word" of God (Jesus) would be a better direct description of this "rain"...given the context of the passage of course.
Isaiah 55:9-11
9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
Deuteronomy 32:2
Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants.
Job 29:23
They waited for me as for showers and drank in my words as the spring rain.
Psalm72: 6 He will be like rain falling on a mown field,
like showers watering the earth.
Hosea 6:3
Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth."
1 Kings 8:35-36
"When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because your people have sinned against you, and when they pray toward this place and confess your name and turn from their sin because you have afflicted them,
then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them the right way to live, and send rain on the land you gave your people for an inheritance."
Isaiah 30:19-21
19 O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. 20 Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. 21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."
Joel 2:23
Be glad, O people of Zion,
rejoice in the LORD your God,
for he has given you
the autumn rains in righteousness.
[Or / the teacher for righteousness: (footnoted)]
He sends you abundant showers,
both autumn and spring rains, as before.
Hebrews 6:7-9
Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. 8But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.
9Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are confident of better things in your casethings that accompany salvation.
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POINT TWO:
Consider Israel is still looking for their "king" but not for the right king...he is hidden from their spiritually blind eyes for now. His words are not what they are looking for...so they are still looking. They did not acknowledge him as the anointed one from God, so they are still looking in vain for an anointed one. Remember Jesus also said,
John 7:34
You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come."
Perhaps this was prophetic of:
Proverbs 1:28-29
"Then they will call to me but I will not answer;
they will look for me but will not find me.
29 Since they hated knowledge
and did not choose to fear the LORD,
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CONCLUSION:
Since the Holy Spirit and the Word of God work together with the church (Word of God =Sword of Spirit=Part of the Amor of God for his Saints/Church in whom the Word of God dwells by his Spirit. )
Purpose on earth for Spirit is to work through his church using the word of God: to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgement then they will not be taken out of the way or 'cut off'. To cut this off would be to "cut off" hope for mankind. Several verses listed below discuss the fact that God's word endures forever etc. (you are possibly familiar with these...but it helps to consider the point I'm making. Its also good to share them with those who argue about the bible is insuffient or in error...Islam and Mormonism to name a couple.)
God's word will be available for those who humble themselves and acknowlege Jesus as the Messiah as the Holy Spirit testifies in God's Word. Those who don't are rejecting the Holy Spirit's testimony and thus condemning themselves to believe a lie that leads to utter distruction. I have a different theory as to what is removed, taken out of the way, etc.
But I am convinced it will not be the Holy Spirit, God's Word or the Church. Still to be discussed...later.
Matthew 5:18
I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
Isaiah 40:8
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever."
Psalm 12:6-7
The words of the LORD are pure words
Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever
Jeremiah 1:12
I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled."
Psalm 33:11
But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.
Proverbs 30:5
"Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
Ecclesiastes 3:14
everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.
Matthew 24:35
"Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.
1 Peter 1:23-25
For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24For,
"All men are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
25but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word that was preached to you.
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Bye for now,
Workman