Bringing in the Sheaves

 

“Bringing in the Sheaves” is a popular gospel song. 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.”

Many Christian just sing away with no understanding to the meaning of this hymn; but it’s actually a great hymn once you understand what it is all about – the gospel! Shaw was known as the singing evangelist. As a preacher, he used the Scriptures to compose and write music. The hymn is an anthem for evangelism. We should go out and compel the lost to come to Christ.

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.

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.

Going forth with weeping, sowing for the Master, tho’ 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.

Chorus: 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.

Bringing in the sheaves is the result of a life filled fully for the Lord. If we can appreciate what God’s Word says about the seed and reaping the harvest in Psalm 126, then we should be able to understand this hymn and the importance of bringing in the sheaves. May each of us sow the seed in all we do and say for the harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few (Matthew 9:37).