In the time of the Maccabees, a special promise of prosperity was foretold when the holy stones were raised high, and the works of Israel flourished to the extent that the nations began to partake of the wheat of the law, and the virgins reveled in the wine of the Holy Spirit. Now that we are in the final days of the prophets and the culmination of all things is approaching, earnestly request from the Lord the latter rain, that the promised Messiah might arrive and bestow dew and clouds upon you. The Hebrew text mentions ‘azizim’, and it’s unclear why the LXX chose the word ‘desires,’ perhaps to highlight the magnitude of grace and the wondrous gifts from God.
Thus, the Lord, who possesses the ability to provide clouds and saturate the drought-ridden earth with the rain of the gospel, will indeed send rain upon the faithful, filling all with abundance, causing the nations that believe in Christ to recognize that their previous honors were mere vanity. To put it differently: Israel itself, which once clung to idolatries, will acknowledge that their reverence toward idols was in vain and that they listened to the false predictions of diviners and dreams condemned by sacred Scripture.
As a result, the flock was led into captivity, suffering greatly because the Lord was not their shepherd, and they were devoid of the knowledge of His law. This passage may appear obscure and may bring about uncertainty, so we ask for patience from the reader as we tread upon concepts that carry dual meanings. In a spiritual interpretation, we can understand that the Lord encourages believers in Christ to petition for a late rain in the end times, when the fullness of grace will be bestowed, and greenery will flourish for everyone in their own fields, allowing them to proclaim, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
For indeed, all idols, soothsayers, and dreamers have spoken empty words and made futile exhortations. This applies to heretics who, while claiming to be Christians, lack understanding of their own words and affirmations, misled by a spirit of delusion and demonic doctrines, deceitfully fabricating lies with their seared consciences. Consequently, those lacking faith are ensnared by the empty assurances of false prophets, leading them to be delivered to Satan for the destruction of the flesh and taken captive by the king of Babylon, destined to experience suffering because they have not Christ as their shepherd, despite their unfulfilled hopes in Him.
THEOSIS