O the psalmist there was given a true vision of soul winning. In his day there was little evangelizing. Wars, continual wars, were ever eating up the resources of the people and thinning the ranks of the able-bodied men. But in the face of these unfavorable surroundings, the psalmist uttered a prophecy which has rung clear and true through the ages, and is recorded in the one hundred twenty-sixth psalm and the sixth verse: "He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."
The first specification of this prophecy is that a man must go forth. The bearer of seed is not the man who remains at home. There must be a going forth in seed sowing before there can be any gathering of sheaves; in other words, there must be earnest and genuine activity in planting the seeds of truth in order for souls to be won to Christ.
Much will be lost if the seed sower delays to go forth into the field. Of course, temperaments vary; but too many hours spent in the library, too many social functions, too many trips with the auto just for pleasure during seedtime, will not tend to a rich harvest. A visit is delayed because of inclement weather—cold or hot, rain or snow. The Holy Spirit brings to mind the opportunity for going forth with the seed, but trivial personal matters are allowed to hinder. Thus the harvest which might have been reaped is to some degree lost through the unwillingness of the worker to respond to the leadings of the Spirit and to cooperate fully with Him. "He that goeth forth" is not lying in bed, nor sitting at his ease in a study; he is equipped and ready to go to the front in the field of service, and is ever on the march in search of the lost and perishing.
But more than merely going forth is involved in this prophecy. Note that the seed sower is in earnest, even to tears. "He that goeth forth and weepeth." No lightness nor frivolity is suggested here; tremendous seriousness must possess the worker who fulfills this scripture.
The earnest zeal of the minister moves upon hearts. Eloquence and logic may please, but intense conviction, born of the Holy Spirit, is needed to move men to repentance. The speaker must have actual experience in the truth he would have his hearers receive. The gospel seed sower must ever bear in mind that it is not merely adding members to the church which counts in the harvest, but that the all-important part of his seed sowing is that his hearers shall be "born again" and thereby adopted into the heavenly family. Children are to be born into the kingdom of God, and it is this "new birth" travail that drives the worker to his knees to wrestle with God in the intense earnestness which is accompanied by weeping.
The culmination of the prophecy points to rejoicing because of an abundant harvest. But the joy and comfort of returning with rejoicing are contingent on going forth in tears. We all desire to share in the rejoicing, but we must not expect the joy without the labor and agony of bringing souls into the kingdom of God. All the sorrow and sacrifice, all the toil and tears, are forgotten in the joy of seeing souls born into the kingdom. There is no joy equal to that which will be experienced by the redeemed when they see souls for whom they have labored, saved in the kingdom of God; and even in this life, earth holds no pleasure that equals the supreme moment when the minister sees those for whom he has labored yielding to the influence of the Holy Spirit. Who would not share in this joy now and throughout eternity?
I. H. E.
