PLOWMEN AND REAPERS -- Monday:
" Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed . . . " (Amos 9:13)
Through the prophets, the reign of Jesus in this great "day of salvation" was declared. That is what was pictured in the elaborate ceremonies of the law. It was the underlying message behind everything the Prophets proclaimed. This is the condition to which Peter referred when he wrote, "Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you" (1 Pet 1:10). It is also what Jesus referred to when He said to His critics, "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me" (John 5:39). When Jesus met the discouraged pair on the road to Emmaus, He started with Moses and "all the prophets," and "expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself" (Lk 24:27). This is why the Prophets remain of such value to those who are in Christ Jesus.
Amos reached back to some language employed by Moses, then reached forward to our day, speaking of the abundance that would be realized under the administration of Jesus. Moses used language almost identical to that of Amos. "And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time" (Lev 26:5). It was the language of supernatural abundance, when the harvest would be so copious that reaping it would last until the time to again sow the seed.
There is another view of this text that is, in my judgment, valid. It indicates the ordinary laws of sowing and reaping would be suspended, as extraordinary fruitage occurred. There would be no time to cultivate the ground to receive the seed–no requirement for the preparation of the soil. The sowers would follow on the heels of the reapers, casting the seed into the ground for another rapid and abundant harvest.
All of this began to take place in unprecedented ways after Jesus returned to heaven, being enthroned in glory. The great harvest was reaped instantly, as soon as the seed was sown. Three thousand souls seized the Kingdom with violence, convicted of sin, and desirous for remission. No sooner had that harvest been reaped, than another was brought in with the number of men alone coming to "about five thousand" (Acts 4:4). Expressions of great harvest are recorded throughout the book of Acts. "The disciples were multiplied . . . the number of disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem . . . the churches...were multiplied . . . the Word of God grew and multiplied" (6:1,7; 9:31; 12:24). The whole city of Samaria believed, "with one accord giving heed" to the Gospel (Acts 8:5-9), and "all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks" (Acts 19:10). In Ephesus, those who sold idols said of Paul, "almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands" (Acts 19:26). What a harvest there was!
All of this indicated there had been a great overthrow of Satanic forces that had long held men captive. The powers of darkness were pushed backward, as a great spiritual harvest took place. The plowman was overtaking the reaper, and the treader of grapes he that soweth seed. The normal laws of spiritual harvest were suspended, and most unusual ones took over. Noah, Moses, and all of the Prophets never realized results like those recorded in the book of Acts–and they were all holy men declaring God's powerful word.
Should the people of God expect such harvests today? Indeed, is there any reason to suspect that the word of Amos has become obsolete, or that no more extraordinary harvests can be realized? Has Isaiah's word, quoted by Paul, passed away? "I was found of them that sought Me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after Me" (Rom 10:20)? We do well to hear the word of the Lord, spoken from His own mouth. "Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver?" (Isa 50:2). Be strong in faith, expecting supernatural harvest under the administration of King Jesus.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in Jesus' name, help my unbelief! Help me to belief more fully that You still multiply the seed sown and increase the fruits of righteousness.