The ancients seldom saw snow in the Holy Land, but they certainly knew “snow at harvest time” (March and April) hardly ever happened. Even then, the snow probably did little more than cover the groud – as it still does even occasionally today.
This snow probably brought a bit of enjoyment to the “harvest time” workers in the field, “the coolness of snow” even refreshing them. I imagine they received it as a blessing, a gift, from God.
This verse equates such an event with “a trustworthy messenger” in the service of others. This messenger would have already been known to be dependable, so the point is not be that this was an unusual event – like the spring snow. Instead, the connection was the joy and “refreshing” that comes from being able to count on someone to take care of my business in the manner I desire.
The lesson for me from this proverb is to remember the value of being a trustworthy person in serving others. It is also a good reminder for all of us to communicate and demonstrate our appreciation to all the trustworthy messengers in our lives.