Sing to the Lord of the Harvest
This is a presentation delivered at the LWML-C Central Region meeting in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, on June 7th, 2019. This was my first experience as a keynote speaker in North America.
Sing to the Lord of the Harvest[1]
(Opening Hymn: LSB #827 “Hark, the voice of Jesus crying”, 3 verses) – Paulo, keyboard
THE LORD and THE HARVEST
The Greek term Therismos indicates the ingathering of the crops, which was a vital part of Palestine’s agrarian culture.[2] The sickle was the main instrument used for that purpose. Some of the Harvest cycles in Palestine in Jesus time were: Barley - April and May; Wheat – May, lasting 7 weeks; Summer fruits – August and September; Olives - September through November. As we know from the Old Testament, portions of the harvest should be left in the fields so that the poor and the sojourners could have something to eat. Heat was a major features of harvest time, which was also a highlight of the year.
Some of the ideas and teachings connected to the harvest: “You reap what you sow”, be it righteousness (Ho 10:12) or wickedness (Pv 22:8), echoed also in Galatians 6:7. It is connected to the joy of returning from the captivity. The wielding of the sickle during the harvest is a recurrent picture of the judgment upon the nations. In Mark chapter 4 we see the kingdom of God being compared to it, and Jesus used the harvest as an illustration of “the world is souls which is ready to be reached with the Gospel. (Matt 9:37)”[3]
Some other passages in which harvest is used as an illustration: Job 24:6; Ps 10:5; Jer 8:20; Joe 3:13; Matt 13:39; Lu 10:2; Re 14:15.
Matthew 9:37-38
In Matthew chapter 9 Jesus talks about “pray to the Lord of the Harvest.” We are thinking here of “singing to the Lord of the Harvest”, so let’s have a closer look on what that Harvest is about.
Matthew lets us know that Jesus was compassionate about the people, because they were like “Sheep without a shepherd”. How could that be, since there were so many religious leaders at the time, from different orders (Pharisees, Sadducees, masters of the Law, priests, rabbis, etc…)? When we read through the Gospels, especially St. John, we realize what type of “shepherds” they had. The religious leadership of Israel had the tendency of focusing always more on exterior things, like ceremonials, rituals, unending lists of commandments and duties; the interior of the people, their hearts, was not being properly nourished then. The food was there – the Scriptures -, but it was not being properly prepared and served.
In chapters 5-9, Matthew shows us that Jesus’ ministry of preaching, teaching and performing miracles was constant.[4] The Lord is compassionate from his very deep interior. The Greek word employed by Matthews, splanxnizomai, means “to have the viscera moved”, that his, bowl, liver, stomach, where by the time they thought were the place of emotions and feelings.[5] As he sees them like sheep without a shepherd, Jesus wants to shepherd in the right path. Then He tells his disciples – not only the 12, but a larger group – to pray to the Lord of the Harvest to send labourers to it. The commitment is both for ministers and for royal priests. We are to pray to the Lord of the Harvest for more labourers.
What will this labourers do? They will proclaim, they will preach and teach, they will share and SING to the Lord of the Harvest and about Him. The purpose of Christ’s appeal is to have us draw our energies as labourers to point to the Lord of the Harvest as the One who has accomplished the Work of Salvation and as the one who is the Real Good Shepherd of souls. One of the ways we can do it is by singing. An old adage goes “To sing is to pray twice”. It is not a biblical verse, but is a neat way to point to the fact that singing brings together words and sounds, heart and mind, before the Lord, and it is a beautiful and effective way to share about the Harvest with the World.[6]
Now, I mentioned “Share about the Harvest”. Jesus doesn’t mention preparing the soil, planting, cultivating, etc… He sees the Harvest and he encourages us to pray for labourers. The Harvest here doesn’t refer only to those people in front of Him, but “all those I whom the work of God’s grace succeeds”.[7]
How does this saving Grace come to people in order to make them a part of the Harvest of the Lord? It happens through the means he has designed for it: His Word and Sacraments. As God calls his labourers into his harvest, he sends them to proclaim, to share, to Sing His Grace in Christ, so that many will become a part of it.
(song: “Thy Word”) Paulo, piano
SINGING
Singing is not the only way of doing music, but is a part of it. For us Christians, it may be called the most important form of music, because it carries the words which proclaim the Good News from the Bible. You might object, “but instrumental versions of hymns may be missionary too”. That’s right, because we already know their content. If you hear a brand new hymn only instrumentally though, it is very hard to guess what message it is conveying.
In the Church I don’t think we need to make the mistake of either underemphasizing or overemphasizing the importance of music for the Church Mission. It is not that it is THE way to bring people to the Lord, nor that doesn’t matter how you play or sing, or what you play or sing, as long as you play “to the Lord” it is all good. “Music has its relevant role in the edification of the Church and its mission. It contributes to it by keeping alive the Word of God in our hearts with good melodies, rhythms and harmonies that emphasize and underline the Biblical content in our minds and hearts. Also, in evangelism contexts it has a relevant role to draw attention and at the same time to touch hearts of the people in a different way. Music is the language of emotion; it facilitates the gospel to reach people's hearts more quickly than other means. In all cases it is important the balance of good and adequate content with a good execution, especially in the spaces outside the congregation.”[8]
In the Early Church, and for several centuries after it, singing was the only form of music allowed in the Church gatherings allowed and developed in Church meetings. One of the reasons many historians give to it was the persecution Christians suffered under different Roman Emperors. They had to hide away in catacombs, and the only resource for praise, in most cases, was singing - it was their voice. Another reason was that instruments were considered by many not suitable for singing to the Lord because of the secular contexts where they came from or were used at, among other reasons.[9] The organ, for example, or its grandfather hydraulis was used in places like the Roman Circus. It came into a Church for the first time only around the 700’s.[10] Gradually, over the centuries, other instruments from various cultures have been added. Christians understood that not only the organ, but many instruments are suitable to accompany singing to the Lord.[11] In the book of Revelation, we see instruments being used along with singing to praise the Lord.[12] This type of tension comes up every so often, especially when new instruments are created, but we understand today that no instrument itself is a problem as long as context, adequacy and suitability are observed.
What is exactly Christian music? We don’t seem to have a way to point out what essentially is The Christian Music apart from the text itself, which carries the message. Different forms, styles and preferences have been both picked up and left behind in Church History.[13] Usually, we tend to associate it with what we grew up with, or what our cultural context has passed down to us. What we do know though is that context, adequacy and sensitivity are very important aspects to be considered when we are using music in the worship, in the mission, in the World.[14] We want to sing to the Lord of the Harvest and about Him to the world in the most appropriate way we can find for every circumstance.[15]
In our presentation today, we will take Ephesians 5 (Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs)[16] and use it symbolically standing for what Pastor Brum uses in his paper about “Biblical foundation for the Proclamation of the Gospel through music: It is the old (psalms), the current (Hymns) and the new (Spiritual songs), all coming together for one and only purpose: Sing to and about the Lord of the Harvest. The Christian Church was always open to many different forms of singing, playing, praising, as long as they were focused in the One and Only Lord of the Harvest.
SINGING TO (OF) THE LORD OF THE HARVEST
Our theme today is Sing to the Lord of the Harvest. We are called to sing from Him, to Him and about Him. To Share this saving Grace to reach people with the Gospel of Hope. It would be a tremendous task to try to sum up here what are we to sing so that many people will be reached with the Gospel. So I’m glad someone did it before me. Martin Luther. Yes, His Small Catechism is a great summary of the essence of what we proclaim about the Lord of the Harvest. Whenever someone asks you “what do you Lutherans believe and teach?” or. “What is after all the essence of what you believe and practice?” If you know your Catechism by heart, you can tell them in less than 30 minutes.
So let’s sing The Lord of the Harvest. Let’s sing the Catechism.
Now, even being a short summary of our Christian faith, I still can’t go through all the details of the Catechism’s 6 parts. So in each of them we will have one or two topics of comment, and, of course, singing.
1. THE BIBLE
Here is where the Lord of the Harvest teaches us about His preparation, seeding, growth and maturing. It is there we know that there is a Harvest, and that we should sing/pray to Him for more workers.
You might have seen, or even experienced situations, in which people would tell you: “Why would I believe the Bible? It is a human book written by imperfect people. How would I be sure of its content as the work of God? I can’t trust it.” From a human point of view we can understand it. Humans wrote it, so it must be imperfect. Now, from a purely human point of view, we could say: “hum, ok. So now, the book you read and trust to bring you meaning for life…who wrote them?” Sometimes we are suggested to reconsider our biblical teachings and remodel them in the light of what human beings bring forth as the truth from their field of knowledge. The Bible may contain errors and imprecision, so we are in need to fix it. Now, we are supposed to fix biblical imprecision… with human imprecise and ever changing findings and discoveries?
We know however that above human reason is God’s inspiration. The Holy Spirit moved the biblical authors to write God’s word, and we know and believe it is the Truth for our lives.
(Hymn: Holy Bible, source of joy) – Lucas, accordion
2. 10 Commandments
This is the Law of the Lord of the Harvest. Here we learn what to do. Also, we learn what we can’t do.
“You shall not”. Have you ever noticed the wisdom behind those 10 shall nots? What if God would write all and every single “shall do”? It would take forever for us just to read it. Now by putting for those 10, he sums up the main things we should avoid. From there, with the Biblical teaching, and the Christian freedom we have, we are free to love, serve, obey and share.
(Song: The 10 Commandments) Lucas, guitar
3. The CREED
It tells not only who God is. It tells you who you are.
The Father
– The Creator. We are his creatures, work from His hands. This makes a world of
difference compared to be in a random world as a result of chance.
(Hymn: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty)
Lucas, accordeon
The Son – The
Redeemer. We sinners who need a Saviour. Sheep that need a shepherd. Wanderers
that need a home.
(Song: Phillipians 2:6-11) Lucas, guitar
The Holy
Spirit – The Comforter. We are temples of the Holy Spirit, called to live with
Christ. By His action, our faith becomes practice through love.
(Hymn: Holy, Holy, Holy) Paulo, keyboard
4. The Lord’s Prayer
This is the “perfect prayer”, since Jesus himself taught it to us. Today I’ll underline one of the petitions: “Thy Will be done”.
First, we have to remember that whenever God’s will is done, it brings not only peace and prosperity, but also fierce opposition and great risk. The devil, the world and our flesh oppose to it, trying to cause us to fall.[17] That’s why this is our constant prayer, because when God’s will is done we are protected under His wings of Love and Grace.
When we pray, and we are answered the way we asked, we tend to say “God is good, he answers our prayers”. Do we do the same when things don’t go the way we asked them to be? Usually not, we are sinners who have a hard time dealing with problems failure, and deception. God’s will still is done in our life when he “doesn’t answer” our prayers; for He always knows what is the best answer, whether we agree with it or not. It is always the best. We can always say, if not from the top of our lungs, at least from the bottom of our quiet hearts; “God is good, He is always with me. His will is always perfect for my life”.
God’s will is done even without our prayer. But he wants us to be praying ceaseless. Pray! Ceaseless!
(Song: The Lord’s Prayer) Paulo, acapella
5. Office of the Keys
In John 20, Jesus gives us the content of what the Lord of the harvest wants his workers to do: To announce forgiveness of Sins. To Forgive. To live a life of forgiveness.
Do you want to be happy for a moment? Avenge yourself.
Do you want to be happy for life: Forgive - As you are forgiven.
(Hymn: Just as I am) Paulo, accordeon
6. Holy Baptism
(Hymns: LSB #590, 2 verses) Paulo, keyboard
Holy Baptism is our Christian Photo ID, SIN number, Identity. It makes us citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Whenever you feel in doubt about your worth, remember your Baptism. The life of the Son of God was laid out on a cross, and now is applied to you. You belong to Him.
(Song: “Water and Word”, with composition notes. The tune, music and arrangement as co-proclaimers of the message.) Playback
7. Holy Communion
(Hymn: LSB 318, 2 verses) Paulo, keyboard
What would you think if the Queen would be attending our Convention today? I am rather sure we will all feel honored, and we would provide her with a special place. We all would desire the opportunity to be close to her. The presence of the Queen would change everything, but the main thing is that it would make this convention special and unforgettable.
In Divine Service someone greater than any Queen or King comes to be with us. Jesus is present in the altar, in the Church under and with the bread and wine. He comes not to be served but to serve us. He gives himself for us. The King of kings comes to every Service that is celebrated in our church, no matter how big or small it is. I am rather sure we will all desire the chance to be close to Him, to be with him, to receive Him in us as frequently as we can.
Also, in Holy Communion, time collapses into itself and we are gathered together with angels, archangels and all the company of heaven.
(Song: Real Presence, with composition comment: The tune, music and arrangement as co-proclaimers of the message) Paulo, keyboard
CLOSING: Singing in every Season
When we think about Singing to the Lord of the harvest, I would bet all of us are thinking mostly of good times. That is not wrong, that is actually good, for the Lord provides us with many good, excellent times in life. From the day of our Baptism, the first beautiful time in our spiritual life, to many other days of blessings that are out poured from His Gracious hands into our walk of life. Those are days in which we sing: (Joyful Joyful we adore thee)Lucas, ukulele
We are called to sing to Him in difficult times too though. Sometimes they are more that we would like them to be but they are there. We live in a sinful world, with a sinful nature surrounded by people who are in the same condition. The Lord of the Harvest is still the same in those days, bringing the comfort of His gracious love. (Illustration: The Sower)
As a personal illustration to this, I share the personal experience going on in my family at this time.
In a few lines: We had Charles in Nov, 2016, after 19 years married. Charles came after two losses – the day of the “birth” itself falling in Djenane’s two consecutive birthdays (2014 and 2015). We came to Canada in Feb, 2017 and last summer, late August, we found a lump in her breast. The exams showed it was a cancer. On Oct 11th, the day we had the appointment with the surgeon Dr. Meyers, a pharmacy test shows the result of the second (Actually fourth) pregnancy). That was the news we carried into the doctor’s office and the mastectomy was scheduled for November. The surgery went well, so went the pregnancy. Then chemotherapy weighs in. Along the way results of Down syndrome exams puts the baby inside the red zone. Six sessions of chemo during the pregnancy. C-section scheduled to May 17th, Rachel decides to come earlier, mother’s day, May 12th. Last Monday, Djenane resumed chemo for another 12 sessions once a week. Such a roller coaster, isn’t’ it?
I share this story to bring the focus not to us, because from our own strength we could do nothing. It is to sing to the Lord of The Harvest, for bring us through all of this. Djenane’s word, at some point of our walk in the lasts months said: “I cannot be selfish as to thank and praise the Lord only in good times. He is good all the time. And if He loved me to the point of dying for me, I cannot complain if I have to as well.” Christ has promised to be with us is everything that comes ahead, which we don’t know. That’s why we said with (attributed to) Luther: “I don’t know where I am going, but I do know who my guide is”.
Almost 15 years ago Djenane and I wrote a song together which is tailor made for this situation; to any situation that perhaps you yourself may be going through right now. I’ll ask Djenane to come up on the screen to sing to us – to sing to the Lord of the Harvest the assuredness the faith he has given us brings to our hearts every step of the road.
(Video: Preenche o ser)
https://youtu.be/IS4qoHJy6ao
Dear friends: Sing to the Lord of the Harvest, always and in every season. No matter what may happen, no matter what will come, he always guides our steps towards the eternal home.
Final Hymn: Amazing Grace, my chains are gone (2 verses + My chains are gone + 2 verses + My chains are gone) Guitar (flute)
________________________
REFERENCES
CONCORDIA, The Lutheran Confessions (Book of Concord). Reader’s edition. St. Louis, CPH, 2009.
LENSKI, R.C.H. The Interpretation of St. Matthew’s Gospel. Minneapolis, Augsburg Publishing House, 1943.
LUEKER, Erwin L., ed. Lutheran Cyclopedia. Saint Louis, CPH, 1954.
LUTHER, Martin. Small Catechism. St. Louis, CPH, 2005.
TENNEY, Merrill C., ed. The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible. Grand Rapids, The Zondervan Corporation, 1976.
https://www.spectator.co.uk/2017/04/luthers-music-had-an-even-greater-impact-than-his-words/ Visited May 30th, 2019
https://www.britannica.com/art/musical-performance/The-Middle-Ages Visit: June 3rd, 2019
LENSKI,
NOTES
Jesus says the words of the motto as he was looking to the multitudes who came to him
_Splanxnizomai – He was compassionate. Not only he had pity, or His heart was stirred. He not inly sympathized with their pain and need, but He had a strong desire to heal them
_The causal observer of the multitudes would never have seen what Jesus saw (Lenski, p.383).
_Sheep without a shepherd are like instruments without tuning, Soon they are not able to do what they should anymore.
V. 38 and 39
Jesus commissions the apostles.
We must note that
_Jesus sees the harvest, not the whole process. God is the worker, he prepares,
seeds and makes it grow. We are reapers, we go and reap the fruits He provides
_We pray that GOD would provide. It is not up to us to provide them. God is the one doing the action. We will sing to the tune he has composed.
_We sing/pray for the Lord of the Harvest to send workers to His harvest. Like in the Lord’s Prayer, God’s will is done even without our prayer. But God wants us connected to Him in prayer, as he strengthens us in our faith, and we learn every day to be connected to Him.
_We sing to praise, adore, teach and confess the harvest that the Lord has already prepared.
_2 Thes 3:1 “Pray for us that the Word of the Lord may speed
ahead”. Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs are written to speed ahead the Word
of the Lord. The teach, they confess, they promote adoration.
Second part of the verse: “that we may be delivered from the wicked and evil
men”.
_Connection with the second petition in the Large Catechism
“The Second Petition.
Thy kingdom come.
49] As we prayed in the First Petition concerning the honor and name of God that He would prevent the world from adorning its lies and wickedness with it, but cause it to be esteemed sublime and holy both in doctrine and life, so that He may be praised and magnified in us, so here we pray that His kingdom also may come. 50] But just as the name of God is in itself holy, and we pray nevertheless that it be holy among us, so also His kingdom comes of itself, without our prayer, yet we pray nevertheless that it may come to us, that is, prevail among us and with us, so that we may be a part of those among whom His name is hallowed and His kingdom prospers.
51] But what is the kingdom of God? Answer: Nothing else than what we learned in the Creed, that God sent His Son Jesus Christ, our Lord, into the world to redeem and deliver us from the power of the devil, and to bring us to Himself, and to govern us as a King of righteousness, life, and salvation against sin, death, and an evil conscience, for which end He has also bestowed His Holy Ghost, who is to bring these things home to us by His holy Word, and to illumine and strengthen us in the faith by His power.
52] Therefore we pray here in the first place that this may become effective with us, and that His name be so praised through the holy Word of God and a Christian life that both we who have accepted it may abide and daily grow therein, and that it may gain approbation and adherence among other people and proceed with power throughout the world, that many may find entrance into the Kingdom of Grace, be made partakers of redemption, being led thereto by the Holy Ghost, in order that thus we may all together remain forever in the one kingdom now begun.
53] For the coming of God's Kingdom to us occurs in two ways; first, here in time through the Word and faith; and secondly, in eternity forever through revelation. Now we pray for both these things, that it may come to those who are not yet in it, and, by daily increase, to us who have received the same, and hereafter in eternal life. 54] All this is nothing else than saying: Dear Father, we pray, give us first Thy Word, that the Gospel be preached properly throughout the world; and secondly, that it be received in faith, and work and live in us, so that through the Word and the power of the Holy Ghost Thy kingdom may prevail among us, and the kingdom of the devil be put down, that he may have no right or power over us, until at last it shall be utterly destroyed, and sin, death, and hell shall be exterminated, that we may live forever in perfect righteousness and blessedness.
55] From this you perceive that we pray here not for a crust of bread or a temporal, perishable good, but for an eternal inestimable treasure and everything that God Himself possesses; which is far too great for any human heart to think of desiring if He had not Himself commanded us to pray for the same. 56] But because He is God, He also claims the honor of giving much more and more abundantly than any one can comprehend,-like an eternal, unfailing fountain, which, the more it pours forth and overflows, the more it continues to give,-and He desires nothing more earnestly of us than that we ask much and great things of Him, and again is angry if we do not ask and pray confidently.
58] All this is the fault of the shameful unbelief which does not look to God for as much good as will satisfy the stomach, much less expects without doubt such eternal treasures of God. Therefore we must strengthen ourselves against it, and let this be our first prayer; then, indeed, we shall have all else in abundance, as Christ teaches [ Matt. 6:33 ]: Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. For how could He allow us to suffer want and to be straitened in temporal things when He promises that which is eternal and imperishable?”[18]
[1] Presented at the Central Region LWML Convention, in Yorkton SK, on June 7th, 2019.
[2] Zondervan Cyclopedia, p.36
[3] Id.Ibid.
[4] Lenski, p. 382.
[5] Lenski, Id, Ibid.
[6] Further textual notes (based on Lenski):
Jesus says the words of the motto as he was looking
to the multitudes who came to him
_The casual observer of the multitudes would never have seen what Jesus saw
(Lenski, p.383).
_Sheep without a shepherd are like instruments without tuning, Soon they are
not able to do what they should anymore.
V. 38 and 39: Jesus
commissions the apostles.
We must note that:
_Jesus sees the harvest, not the whole process. God is the worker, he prepares,
seeds and makes it grow. We are reapers, we go and reap the fruits He provides.
_We pray that GOD would provide. It is not up to us to provide them. God is the
one doing the action. We will sing to the tune he has composed.
_We sing/pray for the Lord of the Harvest to send workers to His harvest. Like
in the Lord’s Prayer, God’s will is done even without our prayer. But God wants
us connected to Him in prayer, as he strengthens us in our faith, and we learn
every day to be connected to Him.
_We sing to praise, adore, teach and confess the harvest that the Lord has
already prepared.
_2 Thes 3:1 “Pray for us that the Word of the Lord may speed ahead”. Psalms,
hymns and spiritual songs are written to speed ahead the Word of the Lord. The
teach, they confess, they promote adoration.
Second part of the verse: “that we may be delivered from the wicked and evil
men”.
_Connection with the second petition in the Large Catechism
[7] Lenski, p. 384.
[8] Rev. Paulo C.F Brum, message by email. June 5th, 2019.
[9] Christian Music, p.30
[10] http://www.classichistory.net/archives/organ Access: June 3rd, 2019. “It is not clear how the organ came to be a such a standard church instrument in western Europe starting around the year 900. A key to this puzzle no doubt lies in the development of the Benedictine order. New abbeys were cultural centers in and of themselves, and large churches gave the opportunity to advance music in general. Amongst all branches of Christianity at this time, the Benedictines were perhaps the only community to develop organs and polyphonic music, and to do so as a part of their church service.”
[11]For example: “Instruments, such as the vielle, harp, psaltery, flute, shawm, bagpipe, and drums were all used during the Middle Ages to accompany dances and singing. Trumpets and horns were used by nobility, and organs, both portative (movable) and positive (stationary), appeared in the larger churches. In general, little is known of secular instrumental music before the 13th century. It is doubtful that it had a role of any importance apart from accompaniment. Yet the possibility of accompanied liturgical music has not been eliminated by modern scholars.”
https://www.britannica.com/art/musical-performance/The-Middle-Ages Visit: June 3rd, 2019
[12] for example, Rev 5:8-10; 14:2-3; 15:2-3
[13] History of Christian music, p.4
[14] Psalm 150 stands out as an example of musical variety in the Service of the Lord.
[15] About styles of music and their gradual acceptance inside the Christian Church, and abridged overview would show us that in the beginning, Early Church Music was traditional, and Medieval/Gregorian came along as the contemporary of its time. Even though it was basically coded by one person only (St. Gregory), the Church made wide use of it, and kept both. ECM and Gregorian were traditional, then Polyphony and Renaissance came along as the contemporary of its time. The Church (including Martin Luther) made use of that style of music, and kept the others (+ their instruments). ECM, G, and R were traditional, then Baroque came along as contemporary. The Church made use and kept all (plus their instruments); ACM, G, R, B were traditional. Then Classical music came as contemporary; same story. ACM, G, R, B, C were traditional. Romantic came as contemporary Same story. ACM, G, R, B, C, R were traditional. Along came Century XX-XXI Music with its diversity(rhythms, styles, instruments, even atonal music). And the Church can make use of and keep them with their possibilities whenever their are suitable to provide a way of Praising, Teaching and Witnessing the Love of God in Christ.
[16]Ephesians 5:15-20
[17] Concordia, The Lutheran Confessions, Large Catechism, p. 592.
[18] Small Catechism. Book of Concord, p.413-4)
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