The harvest moon will rise this year on September 26th. It's called the harvest moon because it rises very soon after the sun sets, thus allowing additional light to help give farmers more time in the day to harvest their crops. It is the first full moon closest to the fall equinox. Sweet potatoes, okra, pumpkins, and squash are some of the crops harvested from the ground this time of year.
Even if you are unfamiliar with farming, you likely understand that the harvest is a time of joy. Under the old covenant, the harvest was a time of great rejoicing, as the people thanked God for providing for them, both physically and spiritually. You shall observe the Feast of Tabernacles seven days, when you have gathered from your threshing floor and from your winepress. And you shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant and the Levite, the stranger and the fatherless and the widow, who are within your gates. Seven days you shall keep a sacred feast to the Lord your God in the place which the Lord chooses, because the Lord your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you surely rejoice (Deuteronomy 16:13-15, NKJV).
The harvest was used as a metaphor in the New Testament to describe the time when the Lord will appear at the end of the world. John the baptizer said of the Lord, His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire (Matthew 3:12). As a farmer brought his wheat stalks cut from the field to the threshing floor, he would toss up the wheat with a fork. The kernels would fall back to the ground, while the chaff would be blown away by the wind. When Jesus comes again, there will be a harvest, that is a resurrection of all souls: Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation (John 5:28-29, KJV). It will be a time of great joy for the righteous, while there will be great sorrow for the disobedient.
The harvest metaphor was also used in connection with teaching others the gospel. While in Samaria, Jesus said to disciples, Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. (John 4:35-36, NKJV). The Samaritans were coming out of the city to them at the well. Jesus had planted the seed with the Samaritan woman, and she was planting that seed with her people (cf. Luke 8:11). If the teaching would be continued, because the Samaritans were ready to listen, then the souls of the Samaritans would be won (harvested) for the Lord (cf. Proverbs 11:30). It is truly a time of great joy when such a time occurs (cf. Acts 8:39).
So as we reflect upon this season of agricultural harvest, let us look also look inward, and inspect the condition of our souls using only the word of God. Are we ready for the day of harvest when the Lord will appear? Great is our joy if such is the case! But if not, let us not delay a moment longer to be at peace with God through repentance and full obedience. Then we can look outward at our neighbors and sow the seed of life in their hearts. For they will also stand before our Lord on that day. The harvest is coming! Are you ready? Is your neighbor ready? They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him (Psalm 126:5-6, KJV).
Brotherly, Jamie
