Genesis 8:22

Genesis 8:22

I. Every harvest teaches the fact of God's wise providence.

II. Every harvest teaches the fact of God's definite purpose. One vast magnificent purpose has kept everything in exact order during all these years of Divine fidelity.

III. God expects every one of His creatures to be as faithful to a purpose as He Himself has been.

C. S. Robinson, Sermons on Neglected Texts, p. 258.

"While the earth remaineth... winter... shall not cease."

I. Spiritual winter is an ordination of God. The true spiritual analogue of winter is not spiritual death, not even feeble spiritual life. There is an orderly change in the soul. Unseen, yet very really, God's Spirit is at work, altering influences, changing modes. He introduces a new state of spiritual experiences, seeking to accomplish varied objects, and summoning to new modes of improving His presence.

II. The objects of spiritual winter are: (1) to confirm and strengthen faith; (2) to act as a check upon excesses; (3) to help in the training of the Christian character and the Christian Church.

III. How are we to improve spiritual winter? (1) By learning a lesson of mutual Christian tolerance. (2) By treasuring up the clear vision and calm judgment which the winter of the soul is fitted to impart, for the improvement of the season when fervour shall be renewed and emotion once more excited.

A. Mackennal, Christ's Healing Touch, p. 101.

References: Genesis 8:22 . R. W. Church, Church Sermons, vol. ii., p. 369 (see also Old Testament Outlines, p. 7); J. Van Oosterzee, The Year of Salvation, vol. i., p. 53; R. S. Candlish, The Book of Genesis, vol. i., p. 127; J. Tulloch, Sundays at Balmoral, p. 55; J. E. Vaux, Sermon Notes, 2nd series, p. 94; Spurgeon, Sermons, vol. xxxii., No, 1891.Genesis 9:1-7 . R. S. Candlish, Book of Genesis, vol. i., p. 140.