Devotional: Bringing Our Sheaves

Bringing Our Sheaves

When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them." The Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad. Bring back our captivity, O Lord, as the streams in the South. Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. (Psalm 126:1-6).

I suppose as we read this passage, there could be many interpretations. There is the literal, based on history, and there is the figurative, based on the prophetic. When I read it, I see the prophetic - both past and present - past deliverance and present revelation!

"When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion, we were like those who dream." For centuries, God's people called out for deliverance. They did not fully understand their bondage. Historically, I am sure many blamed it on their present situation (like the Israelites in bondage to Pharoah). Many today do the same thing. They are oblivious to the fact that they are actually in bondage to so much more than their current "situation" or circumstance. Like the babies of the Israelite slaves, we were all born into bondage. "You know the story of how Adam landed us in the dilemma we're in—first sin, then death, and no one exempt from either sin or death" (Romans 5:12, Message).

But WHEN the Lord redeemed us, when the Lord set us free, "...we were like those who dream." We asked ourselves, "Could this be true?" We questioned God's messengers who told us the Good News. We didn't mean to, but it was too good to be true, what we were hearing. But because of what we were hearing, faith was birthed because "...faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17). And the more we heard and had faith to believe, the more we became like those who dream. We realized that it may be too good to be true, but it is true nonetheless! We have been set free.

"Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, 'The Lord has done great things for them.'" Oh, it was joy unspeakable and full of glory! And those who were still in bondage looked upon us, and although some thought we were radical, it wasn't long until they saw and had a glimpse of understanding that we were free! Our response? "Oh YES! The Lord has done great things for us! And we are glad!"

But wait. It didn't end there. As glad as we were, our joy turned to sorrow when we looked at our brethren who were not free. How could you walk away? How could you run in your freedom and not be moved with compassion for your brothers and sisters who were not yet free? Yes, the Lord had paid one great price for everyone but not everyone understood that it was for them as well. Some had not been told. Some thought they were not deserving. Some thought it was too good to be true. But it was true; Freedom had come to all.

Our mouth had been filled with laughter and our tongue with singing as we journeyed down the road of life, getting closer and closer to our final destination... until one day. One day, we realized that we were walking past the half-dead everyday on every side. Like in the parable of the Good Samaritan, there's a road we journey on to our destination, but there are those on the sidelines who are broken and beaten down. They are half-dead, because they have oxygen in their lungs but lack eternity in their hearts!

What will we do? Will we be like the statistics? Jesus' example in His parable insinuates that two-thirds of all people walk by the half-dead, avoiding them, as if they are a plague and not worthy of being set free from their captivity! Or will we be like the one who took the cost upon himself to help and assist? No, it won't be easy. But compassion moves within us to DO something. Jesus said, "Freely you have received. Freely give" (Matthew 10:8b).

The Word of God planted in our hearts is our seed. And we are promised that those who "...sow {their seed} in tears shall reap in joy." Just as the Good Samaritan in Luke, Chapter 10, took what he had and used it to nourish and care for the one who was half-dead, we too have something to give; something to plant in thier hearts. We know some plant and some water, but we are promised that it is "...God who gives the increase" (1 Corinthians 3:6). The planting process is not always easy. The ground can be hard, the watering can be sparse, the need for patience as the seed takes root can be discouraging! But nevertheless, we cling to the promise: "...those who planted their crops in despair will shout hurrahs at the harvest" (Message).

Can you picture it? At the end of this life, when mortality meets eternity, there will be a great parade! And he who continually and consistently went forth weeping, bearing the seed of God's Word to sow into the hearts of those who were still captive, will get to march through Zion with a former sinner in each hand, "...bringing his sheaves with him." And that's not all. As this message goes forth, then those that we bring, in turn they will bring others, and in turn they will bring others... until the harvest of redeemed souls is greater than the sands of the sea!

And our King will rejoice because hell was not created for people. Hell was created for the devil and his demons. Our God never intended for those He created for relationship to be eternally damned to a place of separation. This revelation strikes at our core and is the reason our laughter and joy in our redemption turns to sorrow - not sorrow for ourselves who are saved, but sorrow and compassion for those who are not... yet.

May we all be eternally minded as we live among the half-dead. May we not be like those who walked past and did not care. May God prick our hearts with His compassion. May we not be able to lie down at night and sleep peacefully if we failed during the day to sow our seed into the heart of the lost.