At the end of the growing season, the harvest is the day of reckoning, the process of collecting mature crops from fields. Once complete, farmers will be able to calculate their bounty and compare it with previous seasons. The harvest festival, the celebration of the end of the growing season, has evolved into a national holiday Americans call Thanksgiving. Like a child waiting to unwrap their first present on Christmas morning, the harvest is an adult version of collecting the fruits of hard labor throughout the Spring and Summer. However, the toughest part remains the waiting.
The Bible speaks to farmers throughout the New Testament, relaying analogies of farming to illustrate biblical truth. Matthew 9:37-38 refers to the struggles of finding good help. Either people are too busy or lazy to lend a helping hand, forcing more responsibility upon a few dedicated individuals. Jesus relied on parables like Matthew 20:1-16 to urge citizens to get involved before the day of harvest is over. While some can take more credit than others, the pay is the same for everyone. As farming communities continue to search for reliable workers, Jesus is waiting on his followers to become participants in a spiritual harvest.
Yet, it took a music director from the Old Testament to reveal the secret to experiencing this type of harvest. According to Psalm 67:3-5, spiritual harvests are conceived through the praise of mankind. As individuals, families and nations begin to shout for joy, a foundation is established. This sets the stage for Psalm 67:6, yielding a spiritual harvest like Moses’ promise to Israel in Deuteronomy 28:2. Therefore, if you find yourself waiting for the harvest, let the praise of the Lord commence.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 