Those Who Will Reap with Songs of Joy (Psalm 126:1-6)
When the Jews were returning from Babylon to Jerusalem after 70 years of captivity, they thought they were dreaming.
They were filled with laughter and they sang for joy.
Peoples in many nations said "The God of Israel has done amazing things for them."
However, when they arrived at Jerusalem, they saw that the city Jerusalem was so devastated that they became disappointed immediately losing their joy and laughter. The LORD let the Jews return to Jerusalem to reconstruct the Temple of God. Yet, seeing the ruined city Jerusalem, they were so discouraged that they could not reconstruct the Temple for a while.
The psalmist asked God in verse 4, "Restore our fortunes, LORD, as streams renew the desert!"
Then, God answered him and his people in verses 5 and 6.
"Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest."
A farmer plants seeds of vegetables or transplants rice seedlings in his field in spring. Then he waters them and supplies fertilizer to them.
He takes good care of his field hoping for an abundant harvest.
However, sometimes a heavy rain and some other times a strong wind ruins his vegetables or rice plant.
Should he give up his harvest?
After a heavy rain or a strong wind, he goes out to his field, he erects the fallen rice plant or vegetables and again takes good care of them with tears and toils still hoping an abundant harvest.
When the farmer harvests abundantly after overcoming all the difficulties, his joy will be doubled.
A Christian is like a farmer who wishes an abundant harvest.
I heard about many missionaries' stories of planting the seed of the Gospel and harvesting.
A missionary in India sowed the seed of the Gospel in the mission field of India for his entire years with tears and labor, yet he could not harvest anything while he was alive.
After he died, thanks to his prayers of tears during his lifetime, several people accepted Jesus as their personal Savior. Then, the number was multiplied.
One American missionary in Japan sowed the seed of the Gospel there with tears for more than 30 years. But he could not reap anybody except his housemaid who accepted Jesus as her personal Savior.
His housemaid told the Gospel to her son who later became a dean of a seminary and educated many students to become pastors.
There are many missionaries in China and some other mission fields who are willing to sow the seed of the Gospel with tears and pains.
Some of them reap some crops during their lifetimes, yet some others cannot reap at all in their lifetimes. However, when they sow the seed of the Gospel with tears, they will harvest abundantly with a great joy in heaven.
A Christian sows the seed of faith in his field-in his heart and in his life.
He waters and cultivates it by praying to God, reading the Bible, sharing God's love and grace with other Christians, and by spreading the Gospel.
However, sometimes Satan sends a strong wind or a heavy rain to deceive and destroy his faith.
His faith may be damaged critically.
Should he give up his harvest of faith?
He should come closer to God with tears of repentance, asking for God's help.
Then, he can renew his fellowship with God and restore his faith.
He eventually can return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves of faith with him.
Furthermore, for an abundant harvest in all circumstances, a Christian as well as a farmer needs to learn how to be patient.
James in his letter to the saints scattered among the nations 5:7-8 encourages them and us: "Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near." When you are patient in your Christian life, you may harvest valuable and abundant crops.
Above all, for an abundant harvest in heaven, we need to learn how to be thankful to God. Even if you feel that your possession or your harvest in this world is not sufficient, you should give many thanks to God as He had given you His Son Jesus, salvation and an eternal life through Jesus.
Even if you are still poor and you have many difficulties in your life, you should give many thanks to God as He promises you that He will be with you all the time and He is your God as always -- the God of life, salvation, help, and of shelter and fortress.
Habakkuk in his book 3:17-19 confesses his faith: "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The sovereign LORD is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to go on the heights."
They were filled with laughter and they sang for joy.
Peoples in many nations said "The God of Israel has done amazing things for them."
However, when they arrived at Jerusalem, they saw that the city Jerusalem was so devastated that they became disappointed immediately losing their joy and laughter. The LORD let the Jews return to Jerusalem to reconstruct the Temple of God. Yet, seeing the ruined city Jerusalem, they were so discouraged that they could not reconstruct the Temple for a while.
The psalmist asked God in verse 4, "Restore our fortunes, LORD, as streams renew the desert!"
Then, God answered him and his people in verses 5 and 6.
"Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest."
A farmer plants seeds of vegetables or transplants rice seedlings in his field in spring. Then he waters them and supplies fertilizer to them.
He takes good care of his field hoping for an abundant harvest.
However, sometimes a heavy rain and some other times a strong wind ruins his vegetables or rice plant.
Should he give up his harvest?
After a heavy rain or a strong wind, he goes out to his field, he erects the fallen rice plant or vegetables and again takes good care of them with tears and toils still hoping an abundant harvest.
When the farmer harvests abundantly after overcoming all the difficulties, his joy will be doubled.
A Christian is like a farmer who wishes an abundant harvest.
I heard about many missionaries' stories of planting the seed of the Gospel and harvesting.
A missionary in India sowed the seed of the Gospel in the mission field of India for his entire years with tears and labor, yet he could not harvest anything while he was alive.
After he died, thanks to his prayers of tears during his lifetime, several people accepted Jesus as their personal Savior. Then, the number was multiplied.
One American missionary in Japan sowed the seed of the Gospel there with tears for more than 30 years. But he could not reap anybody except his housemaid who accepted Jesus as her personal Savior.
His housemaid told the Gospel to her son who later became a dean of a seminary and educated many students to become pastors.
There are many missionaries in China and some other mission fields who are willing to sow the seed of the Gospel with tears and pains.
Some of them reap some crops during their lifetimes, yet some others cannot reap at all in their lifetimes. However, when they sow the seed of the Gospel with tears, they will harvest abundantly with a great joy in heaven.
A Christian sows the seed of faith in his field-in his heart and in his life.
He waters and cultivates it by praying to God, reading the Bible, sharing God's love and grace with other Christians, and by spreading the Gospel.
However, sometimes Satan sends a strong wind or a heavy rain to deceive and destroy his faith.
His faith may be damaged critically.
Should he give up his harvest of faith?
He should come closer to God with tears of repentance, asking for God's help.
Then, he can renew his fellowship with God and restore his faith.
He eventually can return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves of faith with him.
Furthermore, for an abundant harvest in all circumstances, a Christian as well as a farmer needs to learn how to be patient.
James in his letter to the saints scattered among the nations 5:7-8 encourages them and us: "Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near." When you are patient in your Christian life, you may harvest valuable and abundant crops.
Above all, for an abundant harvest in heaven, we need to learn how to be thankful to God. Even if you feel that your possession or your harvest in this world is not sufficient, you should give many thanks to God as He had given you His Son Jesus, salvation and an eternal life through Jesus.
Even if you are still poor and you have many difficulties in your life, you should give many thanks to God as He promises you that He will be with you all the time and He is your God as always -- the God of life, salvation, help, and of shelter and fortress.
Habakkuk in his book 3:17-19 confesses his faith: "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The sovereign LORD is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to go on the heights."
No comments:
Post a Comment