Deuteronomy 11:14Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Spiritual and divine comfort nourishes the soul of the righteous, akin to rain nurturing a lush and fruitful terrain, bringing immense joy as it enables the soul to yield endless and diverse results of piety before God. This peace envelops them, granting continual prosperity. As Paul writes, “and the peace of God, which is above all understanding, shall keep your hearts and your thoughts” (Philippians 4:7). Thus, those who have received such generous gifts from God will experience a life free from strife and filled with tranquility, as the adversary will relent—every opposition will falter and be rendered ineffective, the assaults of the devil will hold no sway, and all fear will be easily dispelled.

In this context, what can we interpret as rain if not the words of the sacred sermon? This refers to the holy teachers who preached in Judea, as noted, "And I will command the clouds not to rain upon him" (Isaiah 5:6). Through their divinely inspired preaching, we are nourished when we truly acknowledge the dryness of our hearts with genuine humility. Hence, the Psalmist aptly declares, "My soul is to Thee as the thirsty earth" (Ps. 142:6). To partake in this life-giving doctrine, the prophet invites us, saying, "Thirsty, come ye all unto the waters" (Isaiah 55:1). And we, at the end of days, experience the words of the sacred sermon as if we were refreshed by the late rain.