What is the importance of harvest for Christians?

During the beginning of autumn, it’s common that British churches hold a Harvest Festival. The type of the trendy Christian harvest festival dates to Victorian times, however the principle behind it has a biblical basis. This is the story …

Harvest Festivals

The word harvest comes from the Old English word “haer fest” which meant autumn. The modern British Harvest Festival as an annual event dates from practices in Devon and Cornwall within the 1840s, rooted in traditional Anglican Thanksgiving services. For some, Harvest Festivals are a nostalgic rural custom. However, the thought of celebrating harvest is deeply rooted within the story of Israel and in ancient and modern Jewish tradition. 

Harvest Festivals within the Bible

The phrase “Feast of Harvest” or “Festival of Harvest” or “Harvest Festival” is just present in Exodus 23:16 and 34:22, Numbers 28:26, Deuteronomy 16:10-16 and a pair of Chronicles 8:13, depending on the interpretation. Only the Contemporary English Version (CEV) and within the Good News Bible (GNB) use the precise term “Harvest Festival.” The term is well understood and is utilized in English-speaking churches to seek advice from Thanksgiving services for harvest inspired by the Old Testament harvest feasts. 

Harvest Festivals have a transparent biblical foundation within the agricultural rhythms of the holy land depicted throughout the Bible. In the Jewish Scriptures (Old Testament) there are three agricultural festivals linked to the harvest. Firstly, the Feast of Firstfruits involved offering the primary of the barley harvest, which was the primary harvest. Secondly the Feast of Weeks involved offering the primary of the wheat harvest. Thirdly the Feast of Tabernacles involved offering the primary of the grape and olive harvests, which was the ultimate harvest.

Feast of Firstfruits

The Feast of Firstfruits was a festival which occurred through the Passover celebration. The Feast of Firstfruits was celebrated within the Jewish month Nisan, which is roughly late March to early April. At this feast, the Israelites were to bring the primary sheaf of barley to the priest (Leviticus 23:10). They weren’t allowed to eat any of it until the primary portion was taken to the priest, since the first fruits belonged to God (Leviticus 23:14).

Pentecost

Then the Feast of Weeks celebrates the primary fruits of the wheat harvest firstly of the harvest (Exodus 23:16; Deuteronomy 16:10). Today Jews call this Shavout. In the New Testament it is named by its Greek name of Pentecost, although some Christians have also traditionally called it Whitsun. The term ‘Pentecost’ is Greek for fiftieth and refers to it being held the day after every week of weeks (i.e. 7 weeks) which makes it the fiftieth day after the Passover. Shavout lasts two days and takes place the sixth and seventh of the Jewish month of Sivan, which falls in late May or early June, which is about when the Christian Pentecost occurs.

Feast of Ingathering

Later got here the Harvest Festival or Feast of Ingathering. This can be called the Festival of Tabernacles or Shelters or Booths. Today Jews call it Sukkot. It marked the top of Israel’s annual harvest cycle at the top of the agricultural yr. Depending in your Bible translation it is named by various names, nevertheless it is named the Harvest Festival within the Good News Bible and the Festival of Harvest within the New Living Translation.  

The feast began five days after the Day of Atonement, when the autumn harvest was over. It was a time for celebration because the Israelites celebrated God’s continued provision for them in the present harvest and recalled his protection and provision through the forty years within the wilderness. During these celebrations, people brought offerings to God, recognising that each one provision comes from His hand. The Bible states: “Celebrate the Harvest Festival, to honour the Lord your God, by bringing him a freewill offering in proportion to the blessing he has given you” (Deuteronomy 16:10). 

The Feast of Tabernacles is on the fifteenth of the Jewish month of Ethanim, later called Tishri, which falls late September to mid-October, which can be about when Harvest Festivals happen in Britain.

Jesus and Harvest Imagery

Jesus himself attended the Harvest Festival as recorded in John 7:1-13. In the New Testament we discover that Jesus often uses harvest imagery in his teaching concerning the Kingdom of God. He draws on agricultural scenes which were familiar to his hearers. So, we discover the parable of the sower (Matthew 13:24), and the parable of wheat and tares (Matthew 13:24-30). These drew on agricultural life to elucidate spiritual truths.

Spiritual Harvest

Jesus took the thought of harvest to speak of the spiritual harvest of individuals. He told his disciples that “The harvest is plentiful, however the labourers are few” (Matthew 9:37-38 and Luke 10:2). The spiritual harvest in ourselves is named the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). In Revelation he talks of reaping the ultimate harvest with sharp sickles (Revelation 14:14-15), which were tools used for cutting corn.  

Conclusion

Harvest Festivals remind us that from the primary sheaf to the ultimate ingathering all is a present from God, meant to be shared and a cause for thanksgiving. Harvest is a co-operation between the creative force of God through nature and human work in harvest, whether on the farm, within the vineyard, or on fishing boats. 

Additionally for Christians the thought of harvest has the thought of Christian mission and evangelism to reap a spiritual harvest, sometimes called the Great Commission. 

The classic hymn “Come Ye Thankful People, Come” by Henry Alford is widely sung at Harvest Festivals. It connects the agricultural harvest with the spiritual harvest. Verses speak about “all of the world is God’s own field, fruit unto His praise to yield” and “Come, with all thine angels, come, raise the fantastic harvest-home,” which explicitly refers back to the final harvest of souls at the top of time.