Why Celebrate Harvest

‘Take care that you do not forget the Lord your God, by failing to keep his commandments, his ordinances and his statutes. When you have eaten your fill and have built fine houses and live in them and when your herds and flocks have multiplied and all that you have multiplied, then do not exalt yourself forgetting the Lord your God… Do not say to yourself, ‘My power and might of my own hand have gotten me this wealth’’. But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth…’’ (Deuteronomy 8: 11-18)

Harvest Thanksgiving is a very prominent feature in many churches today. It is such a prominent feature that these days churches depend on harvest proceeds for execution of major projects in the church.

In some churches people come with animals, crops and vegetables etc while in some others, people come with cars, buses or give large sums of money.

In the euphoria of harvest celebration we need to stop and ponder on the essence of Harvest Thanksgiving
God himself commanded harvest thanksgiving as a reminder that all things come from Him and that all we have is sourced from God’s provision. Our offertory prayer curled from David’s prayer of thanksgiving as he received overwhelming donations from the people for the building of the temple sums it up. “Yours Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the splendour and the majesty. For everything in Heaven and on the earth is yours. All things come from you and of your own do we give you’’ (I Chronicles 29: 11ff).

Three major harvest seasons  are identified in Deuteronomy 16: 16. ‘Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God in the place he chooses: at the Feast of Unleaned Bread, at the Feast of weeks, at the Feast of Tabernacles and they shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed’’. The entire family generally observes the festivals of God, including women and children (Nehemiah 8: 1-12).

God’s seven biblical festivals (Feasts of remembrance) are also contained with the three major harvest seasons:-
1.Passover (PESACH) Exodus 12: 1- 4; Leviticus 23: 5; Numbers 9: 1- 14.
2.Unleavened bread (HAG HAMATZOT) Exodus 12: 15 -20; Deuteronomy 16: 3, 4, 8.
3.First Fruits (YOM HABIKKURIM) Exodus 23: 16, 19; Leviticus 23: 9 -14. 4.Deuteronomy 26: 5, 9 -10
5.Weeks (HAG SHAVOUT Greek: Pentecost) Exodus 34: 22b; Leviticus 23: 15-21; Acts 2: 14.
6.Trumpets (ROSH HASHANA) Leviticus 23: 23 -25; Numbers 29: 1-6.
7.Day of Atonement (YOM KIPUR) Leviticus 16: 1-34; Numbers 29: 7-11
8.Tabernacles also called Feast of shelter (SUKKOTH) Leviticus 23: 33-38, 39- 43.

These feasts were commanded to be regularly and diligently observed as a constant reminder of man’s tiny place in creation and that his whole being is dependent on God’s mercies and goodness.

Israel as a chosen and model nation was particularly commanded to observe these feasts as a continual reminder of God’s mighty acts in their affairs.

In realization of this fact, David sang in Psalm 103, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul and do not forget all his benefits. Who forgives all your iniquities. Who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good as long as you live, so that your youth is renewed like the eagles…’’

As we reflect on the words of the psalmist and our daily experiences of God’s mercies and goodness, it is pertinent for us to come before the Lord with praises and gifts, for He is our Maker and we are graciously the sheep of His pasture.

Have  a refreshing celebration of His goodness, mercy and bountiful care with a grateful heart demonstrated with the quality of what  you bring to Him at this Harvest Season.

Your brother, Vicar & Archdeacon
Igein Isemede