Perhaps it is because of having been a school teacher for so many years that summers were always special. Sometimes it meant going back to school to keep up ones certificate. Other summers were a time of respite from the responsibilities of many school days. The Scriptures speak of summer as a time that can be fruitful or barren. Solomon speaks of God’s provision for His creation, even the ants. They instinctively gather food in preparation for a time when it may be scarce.
... “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.”(Prov 6:6- 8)
Again, Solomon wrote --
…“he that gathereth in summer is a wise son; but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.”(Proverbs 10:5)
Then at another time he stated --
… “as snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not seemly for a fool.”(Proverbs 26:1
The prophet Isaiah used the analogy of the early figs of summer to prophesize the demise of Samaria as God brought judgment on the Northern Kingdom for its rejection of the Word of God (see Isaiah 2:5 ff). Finally the prophet Jeremiah used summer to express the despair of the citizens of Jerusalem in the Southern Kingdom --
… “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.”(Jeremiah 8:20)
Their city had been under siege for two years; the people thought that deliverance surely would come, but God did not deliver for the nation had turned to idolatry. God’s judgment against the nation would be carried out by Nebuchadnezzar. It would result in seventy years of enslavement in the land of Babylon. How much better to experience summer as a time of great enjoyment and refreshment as was true for King David. The prophet Samuel writes --
… “Now when David had passed a little beyond the summit, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him with a couple of saddled donkeys, and on them were two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and a jug of wine.”(II Sam 16:1)
Here was bounteous provision for David and his wearied men. There was great joy in the camp that evening, God had provided the fruitfulness of summer. We should have the same gratitude as a people, for God has blessed us with the harvest of summer, the best of fruits and grains.