King Solomon’s Mines – Part 21

by | Jun 6, 2014 | 2014 | 0 comments

“I’m leaving my car with you” said Tom to a local storeowner. “If I am not back in eight weeks, I’ll probably be dead.”

The storeowner looked at him as if he were insane, “Eight weeks?  You’ll probably be dead in two!”

Tom Brown Jr is a passionate adventurer and his goal was to see if he could endure the desert of Death Valley – the lowest and driest area in North America, and the hottest in the world. He later wrote that the desert was more demanding than anything he had ever experienced. He had never been so thirsty in all his life. His main source of drinking water was dew. Every night, he would lay out a dew-catching device, and in the morning he would have collected enough for a fresh drink. Soon Tom lost track of time, and after nine weeks, he decided it was time to return home. He had achieved his goal, but he admits that if it hadn’t been for the dew he wouldn’t have survived.

How often do you think about dew? If you are like me, not too often – unless you have to wipe your hand over your windscreen in the mornings! But dew is so much more than something that fogs up our windscreens (or causes havoc on a cricket field)! It is a life bringer. It refreshes, nourishes and revives. It transforms fields into works of art.     

Many of my school holidays were spent with my family on farms. Often I would wake up early and go hunting with my father. I have never forgotten those fresh mornings when the sunlight would cause the dew on the trees, the grass and plants to shimmer and sparkle like diamonds. Spider webs hung like jeweled necklaces and yesterdays wilted flowers seemed to dance with new energy in the morning light.  

Refreshing and regenerating   

I hadn’t thought much about dew until I recently pondered on the words in Proverbs 19:12.  

“A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion,
but his favour is like dew on the grass.”

My first reaction? “This proverb is not for me. I am not a king and I don’t live under a king.” But upon reflection I saw another level within this proverb. It’s not too difficult to understand how a king’s rage can be like the roar of a lion. To incur the anger of some people (especially those in authority) can be frightening – not unlike facing an angry lion. But how is favour like dew on the grass?  

In the writings of the prophet Micah we read about certain people who had responded faithfully to God. They were “like the dew sent by the Lord or like rain falling on the grass” (Micah 5:7).  Their influence among those around them was as refreshing and regenerating as the effect of dew and rain on vegetation.

In the same way, you and I are God’s dew in the lives of those we come into contact with. Just as a plant absorbs life-giving dew through its leaves – enabling it to flourish – we are God’s method of bringing God-life to the world (1 John 4:17). God is the source of this dew (Hosea 14:5) and he has chosen you and me to be distributers of it.   

How can we be God’s dew in the lives of others?  An alternate translation of Proverbs 19:12 is helpful: “An angry king is like a roaring lion, but his kindness is like the dew on the grass” (NCV). Kind words can be like droplets of dew that cling to people and bring life (Deuteronomy 32:2). Sometimes a small act of service, a smile, a hug, a touch, a thumbs-up or a nod of approval can refresh and enliven someone. We can also pray for others and share the hope we have with them. We are God’s means of being his presence at work, in our family, in our church  – and at play. My friend Jack, recently shared his story with me:   

“About three years ago I joined our local bowling club. Most players arrive at 1pm and the game starts about 40 minutes later. During that interim period  players sit around chatting but for the first few years I chose to sit in my car and do a little Bible study. When the players picked up their bowls I would appear and walk to the greens. Some months ago I decided to serve instead of study. I looked for a gap and found one in the club set-up. Dozens of glasses need to be taken from the washing-up sink to the serving hatches and water, ice, cold drinks and beer to the club. It took me a good half-hour but I really enjoyed my ‘job’. Bowling greens are places where you can make or break a friendship. Sadly I had a head-on collision with a gentleman and we kept our distance after that. However, you can imagine my surprise and great delight when just recently he approached me and said, ‘Your joining has made a difference to this club!’”  

Just ordinary people

So simple, yet so meaningful. Like the early morning dew on our lawns we can quietly and gently make a difference in the lives we touch. Never underestimate the impact you can have.  On the Day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit fell on 120 believers. They were just ordinary people like you and me and yet they were the same people who later “turned the world upside down.” Less than two hundred droplets of dew soaked the world.

There is also an indirect lesson in this proverb. If you are in a position of authority, be mindful of the impact your words and actions have on your subordinates. An employer should be merciful, kind and fair (Proverbs 20:28). A husband should never treat his wife harshly (Colossians 3:19) and parents should avoid discouraging their children by being critical and overbearing (Colossians 3:21). Instead, be like the dew – nourish and refresh. Let the beauty of the love of God be seen in your life-style.  

One final thought. Dew does what it is created to do – refresh, beautify and bring life. But a dewdrop doesn’t sweat trying to be a dewdrop! You are God’s dew just by being you in Jesus Christ. This is not about projects and strategies. It is spontaneous. It is natural. The Holy Spirit is producing the life of Jesus in our lives. Pray that his life will flow through you. Just be you – a droplet of dew.

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