Scatter Seed In Bad Weather

“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.” (Ps 126:5-6 AV)

Psalm one hundred twenty-six is in a series of Psalms called the Psalms of degrees.  These Psalms were sung as the Jewish worshippers ascended or descended the steps of the temple.  The were going either up or down.  Hence, the degrees.  In this particular Psalm, the idea is a hope and realization of God’s rescue from captivity.  In verse one, the writer speaks of God bringing Israel from captivity in the past.  Perhaps from Egypt.  In verse four, the writer asks the LORD to bring again the captivity of Israel.  Perhaps speaking of the time of the Judges.  In this, we see that captivity was a regular experience for the Jewish people.  Sometimes due to a lack of faith, as in Egypt, or immature rebellion or persecution as in the time of the judges.  Either way, captivity or hardship is a regular experience of life for the believer.   The point to the above verses is hope of fruit even in the midst of adversity. They go into captivity with seed so they come out from captivity with fruit.  Their seed is sown in less than perfect conditions so they may have some joy in the midst of those difficult times.

We life is perilous times.  Not since the days of Noah has the world hated God as much as they do now.  Gone are the days when one could hold a tent meeting and have thousands come to Christ.  Those occurrences are rare and most are mere emotional showmanship resulting in shallow and ignorant decisions vacant of any real conviction of sin resulting in true conversion.  More times than not, our altars are empty of converts.  The real tragedy is adversity is cooling our desire to help the lost.  We have become adversarial rather than ministerial.  Yes, there are times to stand for what one believes in.  However, there is a balance.  In standing, we must still minister.  Anyway, the point of the above verses is sowing in hope, even though times are not in the best situation to do so.

The world will always hate the believer.  The world will always persecute the church in hope that it will either cease to exist, or become a non-factor.  There are always more slammed doors than open ones.  There will always be insults, ridicule, and abuse.  There will always be a double standard.  One for the lost.  And one for the saved.  Since the days of Abel until now, the saints of God have never had it easy.  We are in captivity until the day of our home-going.  However, we are to bring with us precious seed.  This precious seed is to be sown.  Most of it will not come to harvest.  Most of it will fall by the way side, on the stony ground, or along the path where it will get trodden under foot.  But there will be sheaves.  There will be fruit.  And that fruit is what makes the captivity tolerable.  Let us not expect a perfect return.  Rather, let us hope for a fruitful one.  The only way to do this is to sow the seed of the gospel in less than perfect conditions, waiting upon the Husbandman to and His Spirit to give the increase!