Charles Spurgeon Commentary Zechariah 10:1

"Ask ye of Jehovah rain in the time of the latter rain, [even of] Jehovah that maketh lightnings; and he will give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field." — Zechariah 10:1 (ASV)

The atheistic philosopher of the present day laughs at such a verse as this, and sneeringly asks, "What possible connection can there be between men and women praying to God and the showers of rain which fall upon the earth?" "Why!" he says, "according to the laws of nature, showers fall at such-and-such seasons; and if the atmosphere should not happen to be in such-and-such a state, all the praying in the world cannot produce a single drop of rain." But faith can clearly see where reason is blind; and the prayer of faith moves the arm of God, and the arm of God controls what the philosopher calls the laws of nature, and so the rain descends. Let us learn, from this precept and promise, the power of believing prayer. Prayer has the key of nature as well as the key of heaven hanging at her belt.

Observe also that, when we have received one mercy from the Lord, we are to go on to pray for another. These people must have had "the former rain," yet they were to ask for "the latter rain" also; and if you, dear friends, have had "the former rain" of conversion, go on to ask the Lord for "the latter rain" of sanctification. If, in our church-fellowship, we have had "the former rain" of gracious additions to our numbers, we must ask for "the latter rain" by praying that God would continue to bless us in this way. When we cease to pray for blessings, God has already ceased to bless us, but when our souls pour out floods of prayer, God is certain to pour out temporary floods of mercy.