Bringing in the Sheaves: Wheat and Chaff from My Years as a Priest

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There are several verses in the Bible which refer to the harvesting of grain. Some of them are literal, some use the metaphor, and the symbolism is not always the same. Bringing in the Sheaves” is an American Gospel song by Knowles Shaw. Taking inspiration from Psalm 126, Shaw wrote the lyrics in 1874; he wrote music as well, though today a separate tune composed by George Minor in 1880 is the more commonly used tune. He was born in Ohio in 1834 and was a writer and evangelist as well as a composer.

Kalinak, Kathryn. How the West Was Sung Music in the Westerns of John Ford. Berkley, University of California Press, 2007. Bringing in the Sheaves" is a popular American Gospel song used almost exclusively by Protestant Christians (though the content is not specifically Protestant in nature). The lyrics were written in 1874 by Knowles Shaw, who was inspired by Psalm 126:6, "He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." [1] Shaw also wrote music for these words, but they are now usually set to a tune by George Minor, written in 1880. [2] Lyrics [ edit ] Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness, Sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve; Waiting for the harvest, and the time of reaping, We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves. Refrain: Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves, We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves, Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves, We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves. Sowing in the sunshine, sowing in the shadows, Fearing neither clouds nor winter's chilling breeze; By and by the harvest, and the labor ended, We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves. Refrain Going forth with weeping, sowing for the Master, Though the loss sustained our spirit often grieves; When our weeping's over, He will bid us welcome, We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves. [3] Refrain In popular culture [ edit ] A popular hymn from the 19th century called “Bringing in the Sheaves” made use of this imagery to encourage believers to share the Gospel. To bring in the sheaves refers to the idea that one day believers will come before the Lord, bringing others with them with whom they shared the Gospel. What Does “Bringing in the Sheaves” Mean? Jean, Al. (2003). Easter Egg commentary for "Bart the Lover", in The Simpsons: The Complete Third Season [DVD]. 20th Century Fox. The hymn has the lines, “Going forth with weeping, sowing for the Master, though the loss sustained our spirit often grieves; when our weeping's over, He will bid us welcome, we shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.” In Jesus’ parables, He is often portrayed as a bridegroom or a landowner for whom many wait, and one day He will arrive and embrace those who waited for Him. The hymn makes use of this imagery, as well as the picture of the harvest, to encourage believers to witness to others so they may bring others with them to wait, and then be welcomed, by God - called the Lord of the Harvest in Matthew 9. Is the Phrase “Bringing in the Sheaves” in the Bible?

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Corinthians 9:6 ~ The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. In the hymn the sheaves do not refer to actual bundles of wheat, but rather, the sheaves are people. The field to be harvested is the whole world, full of people who need to hear and accept the Gospel. Christians are supposed to go out and fulfill the Great Commission; “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” ( Matthew 28:19-20a). By obeying this last instruction from the Lord Jesus, Christians are participating in a harvest. The hymn's refrain was sung by Rod and Todd Flanders in the 1992 episode Bart the Lover of The Simpsons. [10] Charles Ives used fragments of this and other 19th-century American secular and spiritual songs in his 2nd Symphony. [7] Joseph’s dream where the sheaves represent his family: “Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf” ( Genesis 37:7).

It is encouraging to know that obeying the Great Commission will one day be a source of great joy. Being able to see others in Heaven that God used you to bring into His kingdom will be a reason for rejoicing. There are many reasons to become despondent when toiling in the harvest, praying for the salvation of others, and feeling like it is not enough. “Bringing in the Sheaves” reminds believers the most important thing they can do is work in this labor, which will be rewarded one day by the Lord of the Harvest. Sources In the prophecies of Jeremiah: “Speak: ‘Thus declares the Lord, ‘The dead bodies of men shall fall like dung upon the open field, like sheaves after the reaper, and none shall gather them’” ( Jeremiah 9:22). Church highlights hymns in films – Baptist News Global". Baptist News Global. March 29, 2009 . Retrieved April 13, 2022. The hymn's refrain was sung at church in the 2014 episode of the TV show Two and a Half Men titled "Miss Pasternak" Kalinak, Kathryn (2007). How the West Was Sung: Music in the Westerns of John Ford (illustrateded.). University of California Press. ISBN 978-0520252349 . Retrieved 2020-09-09.

'Bringing in the sheaves' lyrics

Baxter, William. The Life of Knowles Shaw, Singing Evangelist. Cincinnati: Central Book Concern, 1879.

Ruth gleaned sheaves in Boaz’s fields: “She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the reapers.’ So she came, and she has continued from early morning until now, except for a short rest … When she rose to glean, Boaz instructed his young men, saying, ‘Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her’” ( Ruth 2:7&15). LIFE OF KNOWLES SHAW THE SINGING EVANGELIST" by William Baxter, at therestorationmovement.com". Archived from the original on 2012-02-13 . Retrieved 2012-08-04. The verse from which Shaw extracted his concept was Psalm 126. The specific verses said, “He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him” ( Psalm 126:6).As a singer,reporters of the press all spoke of his singing as something wonderful. Soon after beginning to preach, he started to compose and write music. His first hymn was "The Shining Ones," which is still popular. He published at different times five singing books: "Shining Pearls,""Golden Gate,""Sparkling Jewels,""The Gospel Trumpet," and the "Morning Star.""Bringing in the Sheaves" was one of the last songs from his hand.