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I. THE CERTAINTY. The great purpose of God cannot fail.

II. THE MANNER. But, then, we read of messengers who went to the husbandmen that kept God's vineyard, and returned to Him empty-handed. "Why have ye not brought the fruit of the vineyard?" "There was no fruit, Lord, to bring. They have wasted the hours of labour, or consumed Thy fruit in their own revels." This is quite according to God's will — that men should be free to taste and try what manner of god folly is, what manner of reward sin can offer. God's messengers go once, twice, seven times. And, if needed, the Word goes forth to banish the husbandmen from the vineyard. The Word returns to God in many ways. It yields, by its operation, proofs that His charge against men is true; it yields fruits of patience in the souls of those who carry for God the rejected message; it produces, by the results of its rejection, the acknowledgment that it ought to have been accepted, and the disposition to accept it if it be again offered. If His word of mercy, on which men might rely, is not received by them, then His word of punishment, for which the rejected word has opened the way, goes forth into act; and this, by its action, may in turn prepare the way for another word of mercy, which is ready to go forth on its errand. So God's Word is always fruitful, however unfruitful we may be.

III. THE MEASURE. In one sense all God's words are effective; that is to say, none shall be without its use, none without service rendered in illustration of His power and character. But some possible effects may not result, others coming in their stead; the conversion of a sinner,, for instance, may not now result, but, in its place, there may be a display of God's forbearance toward him. And so a hundredfold may not now be the measure of success, but only sixtyfold or thirty. In measure, as in manner, God's always powerful Word returns to Him variously.

IV. THE TIME. Our time is short, and God's time long. Therefore many of the returns His Word shall make Him, returns in the abundance and glory of which we too are interested, are of necessity, and most wisely, delayed.

(T. T. Lynch.)

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KJV: For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

WEB: For as the rain comes down and the snow from the sky, and doesn't return there, but waters the earth, and makes it bring forth and bud, and gives seed to the sower and bread to the eater;