Psalm 67 (Gathering in God’s Family, Part 3)

The land yields its harvest. God, our God, blesses us. May God bless us still, so that all the ends of the earth will fear Him. (Psalm 67:6-7)

This post builds on Psalm 67 (Gathering in God’s Family, Part 1) and Psalm 67 (Gathering in God’s Family, Part 2)

A Thanksgiving Hymn

This ending to Psalm 67 reminds me of a hymn by Henry Alford (1810–1871).

Here is the first stanza:
Come, you thankful people, come, Raise the song of harvest home.
All is safely gathered in, Before the winter storms begin.
God, our Maker, does provide, For our wants to be supplied.
Come to God’s own temple, come, Raise the song of harvest home.

And the last stanza:
Even so, Lord, quickly come, To Your final harvest home.
Gather now Your people in, Free from sorrow, free from sin.
There for ever purified, In Your presence to abide.
Come, with all Your angels, come, Raise the glorious harvest home.

Like Psalm 67, Alford’s hymn sees the agricultural harvest pointing ahead to Jesus Christ gathering in a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language. We will stand in front of God’s throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes and holding palm branches in the paradise of God.¹

Jesus’ Parable of the Weeds

Christ said: The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who planted good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy (the devil) sneaked in and scattered weeds among the wheat seeds.

Eventually when the good crop came, then the weeds also appeared. The owner’s servants asked, “Where did these weeds come from?” The Master replied, “Satan did this.” The servants asked, “Should we pull up all the weeds?” The Owner answered, “No, because while pulling the bad weeds, you may uproot the good wheat also. Let both grow together until harvest time. Then my harvesters will bundle the weeds to be burned. And only then will they gather the good wheat and bring it into my barn.”²

Comment: I’m no farmer, but my ancestors were. Some weedy rye grass with poisonous seeds looks like wheat in its early stages of growth, but can be separated easily at harvest time. Uprooting the weeds before harvest would endanger the wheat because the roots of weeds and wheat get tangled.

Jesus’ Interpretation of the Parable

Christ said: I am the Son of Man who sowed the good seed. The field represents the world, and the good seed stands for My followers in My kingdom. The weeds are followers of the evil one. And the enemy who mixed them in is the devil.

Christ continued: At the end of the age (God’s Final Judgment), the weeds will be pulled up and burned in the fire. The Son of Man will send out His angels to remove all causes of sin and all evil doers (law-breakers) who never repent. The angels will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth. Then the righteous (Jesus’ followers) will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. Whoever has ears, let them hear.³

Comment: Jesus showed and told God’s good news of light, life, and love all during His earthly ministry. And He continues spreading His good news through His servants right up to the present day. Satan tries to counterfeit God’s good work. The devil fills the world with people who seem to look, talk, and walk like Christ’s disciples. But they are false, not genuine followers of King Jesus.⁴ At Christ’s Second Advent, His angels will round up all God’s enemies and throw them into the Lake of Fire, which is the second death.⁵

Christianity Still Growing

Despite the gloom and doom-sayers who have written off Christianity because of church scandals, erroneous teaching and behavior, infighting, proud and domineering leaders, abuse, and financial wrongdoing, Jesus says: “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it….For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”⁶

John MacArthur said: Every sinner who repents and turns to Christ adds another spiritual stone to God’s spiritual temple, another member to His Body, and becomes another forgiven and cleansed sinner who is eternally joined with every other forgiven and cleansed sinner.

The early Christians devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, to sharing the Lord’s Supper, and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together. They also broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47)

Prayer

Lord Jesus, grow Your churches in all the world. Gather in all Your sheep, Your family, Your followers. Use us as Your instruments to rescue the perishing, care for the dying, and snatch them in pity from sin and the grave. Help us to weep over erring ones, not condemn them. Help us to lift up the fallen ones, not beat them down. Help us to tell others about You, the mighty Savior.

Lord, help us who are already believers to grow in loving You with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. Help us to love our neighbors and our brothers and sisters in Christ. Help us to serve You without grumbling or arguing. Make us blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Make us shine for You among them like stars in the sky. Help us to hold firmly to Your word of life and to offer it to others. Amen.⁸

Notes (various Bible translations): ¹ Rev 7:9.     ² Matt 13:24-30 paraphrase.     ³ Matt 13:37-43 paraphrase.     ⁴ Matt 7:21-23.     ⁵ Rev 20:11-15; 2 Thes 1:5-10.     ⁶ Matt 16:18; Hab 2:14.     ⁷ Adapted from several sources.  ⁸ Prayer alludes to Phil 2:14-15.