Psalms 126:5-6 - Homiletics

Spiritual farming.

Our Lord told the apostles that he would make them " fishers of men ." We may hear him telling us that he will make us farmers of men; for there is much to be done in the way of sowing and reaping in spiritual husbandry.

I. THE SOIL OF THE HUMAN SOUL . That in which the sacred seed must be cast is the soul of man: not any one special part of it. Our appeal must be made to the entire nature-to the understanding , with all its powers of spiritual discernment, of reasoning, of memory, of anticipation; to the affections , which have gathered round objects that are unworthy of them, and that may be directed to the highest, even to God himself; to the will , which has, in the last resort, to determine whether or not we will choose Christ for our Savior, and his service for our portion. We fail as Christian husbandmen unless we direct our efforts to mind, heart, and will, when we work under our Master in these sacred fields.

II. THE SEED OF DIVINE TRUTH . The "precious seed" we have to sow is that truth which is distinctively Christian. We have to teach what Christ has taught us; we have to present him, himself, to the minds and hearts of men. The surpassing value of every human spirit in the sight of God; the yearning of the Divine Father over his absent children, and his longing to welcome them to his heart and to his home; the truth that Jesus Christ died for the sins of men, and now offers himself to all penitent souls as their Savior and Lord; the great fact that every one who humbles himself before God, and heartily accepts Jesus Christ for all he offers to be, is immediately and absolutely forgiven, and taken up into the loving and abiding favor of God; the promise of eternal life to those who are faithful unto death;—these are the great truths which we are charged to deliver, to implant into the soil of the human soul.

III. THE SERVICE OF SOWING .

1. The spirit in which we should sow the seed is that of our Master himself—the spirit of tender interest, of brotherly affection, of an inexhaustible faith, of patient hope.

2. The methods we adopt are various; we may converse, or we may write the friendly letter, or we may print the elaborate treatise, or we may teach the small group of boys or girls, or we may address the great congregation.

3. The conditions may be favorable or unfavorable. We may go forth hopefully, expecting great things; for we may know that the spirit of inquiry and receptiveness is prevailing. Or we may "go forth weeping;" we may "sow in tears;" we may be discouraged and disheartened, for we may feel that the hearts are hard, and the minds are dull, and the purpose is set against the truth and the claims of God.

IV. THE CERTAINTY AND THE JOY OF REAPING .

1. We have the definite promise of God: "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy," etc. (see Isaiah 55:10-13 ; 1 Corinthians 15:58 ).

2. We know that the truth of Jesus Christ is perfectly adapted to the needs and cravings of the human soul, and that the Divine Spirit has power to break the stoniest heart and to bow the most stubborn will, as well as to enlighten the darkest understanding.

3. We remember that the seed of truth may slumber in the soul for many years, and may yet prove to be fruitful of life.

4. We look forward to the hour, beyond the horizon of time, when we shall know that our labor was not in vain in the Lord. The farmer sows his seed, looking for rain and wind and sunshine, hoping for the harvest in the autumn: but he may be disappointed; there may come the blight, or the drought, or the flood, and his wagons may never "come again" laden with the golden grain. But we who labor earnestly and prayerfully in sacred fields of usefulness, shall not be disappointed. The Divine promise will certainly be fulfilled; " our work shall be rewarded;" " He that goeth forth weeping, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."