Clouds, Lightning And Rain

Educens nubes ab extremo terrae... Nubibus Dominus praecepit, ne super spinosam et infecundam vineam pluerent: Mandabo, inquit, nubibus ne pluant super eam. Cognovi et nubem in qua locutus est Deus: In columna, inquit, nubis loquebatur ad eos. Et testatur mihi Paulus in hac nube non hoc solum quod legitur intelligendum, dicens: An nescitis quia patres nostri sub nube fuerunt, et in Moysen baptizati sunt? Nubes haec itaque significat doctrinam apostolicam: quae inumbrans,et a calore defendens, aestum omnem futuri judicii excludit. Quod autem a novissimis terrae sint, audiamus Apostolum dicentem: Puto autem Deus nos apostolos extremos ostendit sicut abortivos. Dominus ipse, cum de loco et dignitate inter discipulos sermo esset, ait: Qui voluerit in vobis esse primus, sit omnium novissimus. Has ergo nubes Deus, omnia quae vult faciens, a novissimis terrae educit: et hanc inumbrantem doctrinam terrae humilia exhalant. Fulgura in pluvias fecit... Fulgur est virtutis coelestis agnitio: et hoc ipse Dominus testatur, dicens: Sicut enim fulgur exit ab Oriente, et paret usque ad Occidentem; ita erit adventus filii hominis. Et hoc quidem ita in Domino, qui non in locus ut corporalis, sed ubique, adveniens cernetur. Caeterum in singulis hodie quicumque virtutem Dei annuntiabunt, qui cognitionem ejus per doctrinam praestabunt, fulgura in pluvias facti sunt: fulgore primum ipsi scientiae coruscantes, tum deinde verborum imbrem profundentes. Et hujus pluviae ex se profundendae Moyses non jam spiritaliter per doctrinam, sed corporaliter per gloriam fulgens ita meminit: Attende coelum, et loquar: et audiat terra verba ex ore meo. Exspectetur sicut pluvia eloquium meum, et descendant sicut ros verba mea, et sicut pluvia super gramen, et ut nives super foenum. Illa fulgura in has pluvias facta sunt, verba sciliet vivificantia, et potantes irrigantia. Sanctus Hilarius Pictaviensis, Tractatus super Psalmos, Tractatus in Psalmum CXXXIV Source: Migne PL 9.759c-760c

Leading the clouds from the ends of the earth... 1 The Lord commanded the clouds, that they not rain on the thorn bush and the unfruitful vine. I shall command, He says, the clouds not to rain on it. 2 And I am aware that God has spoken in a cloud: 'In a column of cloud He spoke to them,' it says. 3 And Paul gives witness to me by this cloud that not only the literal sense should be understood, saying, 'Do you not know that our fathers were under the cloud, and they were baptised in Moses?' 4 These clouds thus signify the Apostolic teaching, which giving shade, and sheltering from heat, wards off every flame of future judgement. And that they are from the far reaches of the earth, hear the Apostle say: 'For I think God reveals us as the last of the Apostles, as one untimely born.' 5 The Lord himself, when He spoke concerning place and dignity among the disciples, says, 'He who wishes to be first among you, let him be the last of all.' 6 These, therefore, are the clouds that the God who makes everything leads from the ends of the earth, and the humble things of the earth breathe forth this shade of teaching. He made lightning in the rain... Lightning is the knowledge of heavenly power, and this the Lord Himself gives witness to, saying, 'For as the lightning comes from the east and reaches even to the west, so shall be the coming of the Son of Man.' 7 And this is certainly so for the Lord, who not being a body in space, but everywhere, so His coming shall be seen. Otherwise, in each one today who announce the power of God, who bring forth His knowledge through teaching, they make lightning in the rain. And with lightning first comes the flash of knowledge and then pours down the rain of words. And concerning this pouring rain, Moses, not yet by spiritual teaching, but in the body blazing in glory, so reminds us: 'Look to heaven, and I shall speak, and let the earth hear the words of my mouth. Hope for my speech like rain, and that my words fall like dew, even like rain on the grass, and like snow upon the crops.' 8 The lightning in these rains are the life giving words, and they give water to those who thirst. Saint Hilary of Poitiers, Homilies on the Psalms, from Psalm 134 1 Ps 134.7 2 Isaiah 5.6 3 Ps 98.7 4 1 Cor 10.1-2 5 1 Cor 4.9 6 Mk 10.44 7 Mt 24.27 8 Deut 32.1-2