What is the meaning of bringing in the sheaves?

Answer 1

This is an analogy between harvest time in the fields of grain and the spiritual harvest of souls, to be had as a result of diligent sowing. The harvest time for the Christian is also joyful as it is for the farmer as he sees the fruit of his labors.

The song "Bringing In the Sheaves" finds its roots in the 126th Psalm which is a promise of restoration to Israel after their captivity in Babylon. It reads, in part, "Bring back our captivity, O Lord, as the streams in the South. Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." The promise was that those who wept for the return of God's people to their homeland and left the security of their captivity to return would ultimately reap the harvest of their investment. The American hymn, written in 1874 by Knowles Shaw, combines this Old Testament truth with the New Testament principles of reaping and sewing taught by Christ, including phrases like "sowing seeds of kindness" and "labor for the Master." Jesus taught quite a bit on the subject, with his parables on the soils, wheat and tares, and Mustard Seed. He also used the illustration of the harvest a number of times to represent the end of the age, a time that should be prepared for by living in anticipation of His return and in going out to the "highways and hedges" and compelling as many to come to His "wedding feast" as possible before time ran out.