Harvest

“The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. . . . All your saints shall bless you! They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power” (Psalm 145:9, 10b-11, ESV).

When the bountiful harvest has already come in, the farmer does not fear the late frost that had come. Nor does the week of drought past present a threat. The farmer has the harvest, and rejoices in the ripe fruit and plenitude.

 

But at that day--the frost had seemed dire.

At that time--the drought was formidable.

The LORD is good to all. There is common grace poured out. Mercy on all.

Even in light of the headlines. Even in light of the individual stories that are never retold, the hidden faces behind the big bold titles.

Juxtaposed just a few chapters earlier,

“By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept…. How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a foreign land?”  (Psalm 147:1, 4).

Both are true, and our Lord God is not reluctant to engrave in his word the untouchable tension that weightedly hangs. Both are a hymn to his immanent care for creation: he heeds, listens, to the times of silent weeping and proclaimed praise. Both.

The Gardener has the harvest in his hands already. Our day of frost is overcome. Our drought is not the final story.