Blight and Mildew and Hail
The sermon highlights the destructive power of blight, mildew, and hail, and the need for dependence on God and prayer to prevent spiritual calamities.
C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes the destructive nature of blight, mildew, and hail as divine chastisements that can ruin the fruits of our labor, both physically and spiritually. He illustrates how these forces, beyond human control, remind us of our dependence on God's mercy and the necessity of prayer for daily sustenance. Spurgeon warns that spiritual mildew can hinder our efforts in ministry, leading to apathy and worldliness, and calls for vigilance against spiritual pride and sloth. Ultimately, he urges believers to seek God's intervention to protect their hearts and work from these destructive forces.
Text
"I smote you with blight and mildew and hail--to destroy all the produce of your labor." Haggai 2:17
How destructive is the hail to the standing crops--beating the precious grain down to the ground! How grateful ought we to be when the grain is spared so terrible a ruin! Let us offer unto the Lord thanksgiving.
Even more to be dreaded, are those mysterious destroyers--blight and mildew. These turn the corn into a mass of soot, or render it putrid, or dry up the grain--and all in a manner so beyond all human control, that the farmer is compelled to cry, "This is the finger of God!" Innumerable minute fungi cause the mischief, and were it not for the goodness of God, the rider on the black horse would soon scatter famine over the land! Infinite mercy spares the food of men; but in view of the active agents which are ready to destroy the harvest, right wisely are we taught to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread." We have constant need of God's blessing!
"I smote you with blight and mildew and hail--to destroy all the produce of your labor." When blight and mildew come--they are chastisements from God, and men must learn to hear the rod, and Him who has appointed it!
Spiritually, mildew is a common evil. When our work is most promising, this mildew appears. We hoped for many conversions, but instead--a general apathy, an abounding worldliness, or a cruel hardness of heart! There may be no open sin in those for whom we are laboring--but there is a deficiency of sincerity and holiness, sadly disappointing our desires.
We learn from this--our dependence upon the Lord, and the need of prayer that no blight or mildew may fall upon our work. Spiritual pride or sloth will soon bring upon us the dreadful evil--and only the Lord of the harvest can remove it.
Mildew and blight may even attack our own hearts--and shrivel our prayers and pious exercises! May it please the great Gardener to avert so serious a calamity. Shine, O blessed Sun of Righteousness, and drive the blights away!
Sermon Outline
- I. The Destructive Power of Hail
- A. Its effect on standing crops
- B. The importance of gratitude for spared crops
- II. The Mysterious Destroyers - Blight and Mildew
- A. Their ability to turn corn into soot or render it putrid
- B. The need to pray for God's blessing
- III. Spiritual Application of Blight and Mildew
- A. Chastisements from God
- B. The need to hear the rod and Him who appointed it
- IV. Dependence on the Lord and Prayer
- A. The need for prayer to prevent blight or mildew
- B. The danger of spiritual pride or sloth
Key Quotes
“I smote you with blight and mildew and hail--to destroy all the produce of your labor.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“Mildew and blight may even attack our own hearts--and shrivel our prayers and pious exercises!” — C.H. Spurgeon
“Shine, O blessed Sun of Righteousness, and drive the blights away!” — C.H. Spurgeon
Application Points
- We must recognize our dependence on the Lord and pray for His blessing to prevent spiritual calamities.
- Spiritual pride and sloth can bring about the evil of blight and mildew, and only the Lord can remove it.
- We must learn to hear the rod of God and Him who appointed it, even in times of chastisement.