Deuteronomy 32;2: “My doctrine shall drop as rain, my speech shall distill as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass.”
We learn in Deuteronomy that God sends his doctrine as the rain or the dew. When it comes to modern translations they are split almost 50-50 with regard to the word lakach. Many of your older translations including the KJV uses the English word doctrine. Others will use the word teachings or instructions. Actually, teachings and instructions is what doctrine really is. However, in our modern concept of doctrine we relate it to a particular church or denomination. If you want a key word as to what the difference is between the Baptist and the Assembly of God it would be doctrine, or the teachings and instructions of that particular denomination or church. Doctrine is just too churchy or has too much an exclusive idea to it.
So for this reason I feel to use the word doctrine in Deuteronomy 32:2 as we generally understand it in our 21st Century concept of doctrine would not our best choice of words for lakach. Actually, the word lakach in its Semitic root really means to influence. Doctrine does influence our behavior, but so do other things. Including preachers, teachers and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, like Moses, influences us as the drop of rain. Perhaps we as teachers and preachers should learn a thing or two in how the Holy spirit teachers and instructs, I would say He would be a good role model to follow.
The word drop in Hebrew is ‘araph which means to trickle. This is not a pouring rain or a rain storm, but a gentle rain or small rain that falls on the tender herb but does not harm it. It is like the dew. The word in Hebrew for dew is katal which comes from the root word talal. It means to moisten, to be soft and tender. It is spelled Teth, Lamed and Lamed. The Teth is a picture of shedding the old and allowing the new to enter. The Lamed speaks of teachings. Indeed, dew is often used as a metaphor for the bringing in of the new in a gentle and tender way.
Moses is the one speaking here and he is saying that his teachings which are meant to influence the people to follow God are soft and gentle. Too often when we think of a prophet or teacher we think of someone preaching or teaching doom and gloom. Actually, the message of a prophet is to turn back to God. It may come as a warning of doom or gloom, but just as often it comes as a life example and tender nudging toward God. But Moses is speaking to people whose hearts are tender toward God at this time. A harsh threat or warning may not be so effective.
My study partner commented that she feels annoyed when preachers and guest speakers assume you are just a pew warmer and not really serving God. So they speak in a way that sounds patronizing as if you are not serving God and you should be out there serving God the way they feel you should serve God. Just because you are not a missionary does not mean you are not serving God. She is not saying there is no need for teaching, just that our guest speakers and teachers need to learn to use a little tact like Moses did in Deuteronomy 32:2 and not always be so condemning. You see Moses showed in this passage that a message of lakach doctrine or instruction and direction should come like the ‘araph or soft tickle of rain and the tenderness of talal or dew. A message given in such a way can have a stronger influence that the brow beating, drill sergeant talk.
I remember I worked with a young woman who was Christian but her husband wasn’t. She would preach to her husband, give him books, try to force him to go to church etc. She was totally frustrated. Her husband would just get angry and declare that he was ok with her having her religion but don’t pan if off on him. She was even saying her husband was beginning to talk divorce if she didn’t shut up.
I suggested she tell him a story. A woman I knew from my days I was working with Youth Guidance told how she came to the Lord. She grew up in the hill district of Pittsburgh, a really rough area filled with violence, gangs, drugs and abuse. She gave no thought of God nor did she even cared to talk or think about God. At the age of seventeen she ran away to California and tried to break into acting. She got small parts, enough to survive. At eighteen she had a child and at the age of twenty two it was apparent she would never succeed as an actress. One day she was up for a big part. She knew this was her last chance, if she did not get this part her dream of a career in acting was doomed. The day she auditioned for the part her little daughter who had a serious illness took a turn for the worse. The next day she was told by the doctor that there was nothing they could do for her little girl. He daughter, the only thing she had in the world was going to die. At the same time she found out that she did not get that part, her last hope of making it in Hollywood. In total despair she got into her car and drove out alone into the desert. When she was totally alone she stopped the car and for one half hour she cursed God out. She used every vulgar obscene word she could think of. She curse God, Jesus and she said if she knew there was a Holy Spirit she would have cursed him too. Then after one half hour of screaming curses to God she stopped. In that quietness, that quietness that comes only after a lot of screaming she heard a voice, a real audible voice, a voice like the gentle ‘araph trickle of rain, like the talal tenderness of dew and it said: “That is the first time you have spoken to me, I love you.”
My friend told this story to her husband and returned to work the next day all excited. She said her husband looked at her after telling this story and said: “Now that is the God I want to believe in, you can tell me more and all you want about that God.”
Moses was known as a fiery speaker, he had his moments but he also knew that when it came to lakach doctrine or influence on those who had a tender heart toward God, sometimes is can be most effective as an ‘araph trickle of rain and a talal tenderness of dew.
Recent Comments