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Day 104: Signs of the Harvest 2 (SoS 2:12a&b)

 The flowers appear on the earth; The time of singing has come, And the voice of the turtledove Is heard in our land. (Song of Songs 2:12)

Yesterday, we looked at the first and second signs of harvest that marked the end of winter. Today let's look at the third and fourth signs of harvest. These signs are visible, undeniable signs that spring has come.

     3. The flowers appear on the earth:

The first true sign of spring after the rain stops is the appearance of flowers. They bloom, sprout, and barren branches come back to life. The fields become colorful and vibrant. The result of the long months of rain and the labor of the plowmen becomes visible for all to see.

Flowers in the scripture are sometimes used to refer to men. Jesus compared Solomon in all His splendor to the lilies of the field in Matthew 6:28-29. In many other scriptures, it depicts man's mortality. One such example is Psalm 103:15. It says:

 As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. 

In Acts 2, on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came down and the disciples in the upper room were heard magnifying God in different languages. When men gathered together wondering what was going on, Peter addressed them and three thousand people were saved. That was the birth of the Church of Christ.

Psalm 104:30 in the Message translation says:

 Send out your Spirit and they spring to life— the whole countryside in bloom and blossom. 

And Isaiah 32:15 says:

 Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, And the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, And the fruitful field is counted as a forest. 

The rain of the Spirit on Pentecost produced flowers in the barren fields of the earth. Jesus said in John 16:8 that one of His duties was to:

 ...convict the world about [the guilt of] sin [and the need for a Savior], and about righteousness, and about judgment (Amplified Version)

He did just that and still does that to this day.

Flowers have been appearing in the field since Pentecost over two thousand years ago. As some mature and sleep in the Lord, more spring forth. The cycle has continued and will continue till the end of this world as we know it.

Flowers beautify the earth. They bring color and fragrance to their surroundings. Jesus said in Matthew 5:14 that we are the light of the world. The Message Translation says we bring out the God-colors in the world. We bring beauty to the barren landscapes of the earth. 

For the individual Christian, the Holy Spirit from time to time revives dormant graces and gifts, gives new ones, and revitalizes and refreshes us. When it's time to step out into the harvest field, God supplies us with His Spirit as we go. Men see His Spirit working in and through us and see His beauty. And as flowers bring forth a pleasing fragrance, men perceive the fragrance of Christ through us.

In a previous lesson, we said worship is our fragrance to God. This ties to the fourth sign of harvest:

     4. The time of singing has come:

From the early days of the Church until now, believers gather to sing the Lord's praises. We sing not just in the congregation of believers but also individually in and out of our closets.

David in Psalm 51 mentions the joy of salvation. This joy cannot be faked. When we truly have a revelation of what it means to be saved and righteous, joy is inevitable. Isaiah 61:10 says:

 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 

Salvation beautifies us and when we see our beauty in Christ, we cannot help but sing praises to God.

Our songs are not just to pass time and they are not just to praise God, though that is most significant. In Colossians 4:6, Paul said they are also for admonishing (teaching, instructing, and encouraging) one another.

Seeing the gifts and graces of the Lord in our lives and knowing and enjoying the benefits of salvation (most importantly righteousness) fills our hearts with joy. 

A quick summary:

The first sign of harvest is the Lord's voice calling us to higher ground. The second is the supply/outpouring of the Spirit (and His anointing) upon us. The third is the salvation of men all around us and evidences of the work of the Spirit in our personal lives. The fourth is the joy of salvation in our hearts bursting out through our songs of praise and worship both in congregation and individually.

PRAY WITH ME:

Dear Father, thank you for saving my soul. Thank you for counting me worthy to bring Your color and fragrance to the earth. Fill my heart afresh with the joy of the Holy Spirit and grant me a vision of the harvest. Amen.

REFLECT & ACT:

  • Have you received a revelation of what it truly means to be saved? 
  • Does the thought of belonging to Jesus fill you with joy regardless of the situation or challenges around you?

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