2 Kings 3:16,17

The armies of the three kings were famishing for lack of water: God was about to send it, and in these words the prophet announced the coming blessing. Here was a case of human helplessness: not a drop of water could all the valiant men obtain from the skies or find in the wells of earth.

Thus, the people of the Lord are often at their wits’ end; they see the futility of human efforts and learn through experience where their help is to be found. Yet the people were to make a believing preparation for the divine blessing; they were to dig the trenches in which the precious liquid would be held.

The church, by her varied agencies, efforts, and prayers, must prepare herself to be blessed; she must make the pools, and the Lord will fill them. This must be done in faith, in the full assurance that the blessing is about to descend. Eventually, there was a singular bestowal of the needed blessing.

Unlike in Elijah’s case, the shower did not pour from the clouds; instead, in a silent and mysterious manner, the pools were filled. The Lord has His own sovereign ways of acting: He is not tied to manner and time as we are, but does as He pleases among humankind.

Our role is to thankfully receive from Him, and not to dictate to Him. We must also notice the remarkable abundance of the supply—there was enough for the needs of all. And so it is in the gospel blessing: all the needs of the congregation and of the entire church will be met by divine power in answer to prayer, and above all this, victory will be quickly given to the armies of the Lord.

What am I doing for Jesus? What trenches am I digging? O Lord, make me ready to receive the blessing which You are so willing to bestow.