Psalm 65:11 says, “You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; Even the hard pathways overflow with abundance“.
The first time I read that verse, I got a surge of excitement. It is a beautiful verse and we are going to look at it in a little more detail. This is part 1 of 2.
“You crown the year with a bountiful harvest”
1The first thing I thought of is that a crown is an ornamental headdress. It is something someone wears in addition to something. Well, except for in the story of the “Emperor’s new clothes”! However, a crown is usually something that is worn in addition to other things. If we look at chapter 65 of the Psalms, we will see that it starts off by praising God for He answered prayers of the people (see verses 1-2). Psalm 65 is a Psalm declaring God’s goodness in all the Earth. So, why did king David say that God crowns the year with a bountiful harvest? I think the word crown was used to symbolize that in addition to what God is already doing, He crowns the year with a bountiful harvest. In addition to answered prayers, rain in due season, rescuing them from the storms of life by calming the raging waters, God provides a bountiful harvest (see verses 3-10).
What I like about verse 11 is that king David didn’t say, “You crown the harvest season with a bountiful harvest”. He said, “You crown the year with a bountiful harvest”. That symbolizes harvest in and out of season. That Gods goodness flows like a river that knows no beginning and no end. Throughout the year, God continues to lavish His people with love and goodness. He doesn’t just give you a harvest during harvest time. All throughout the year, He will make sure that you are continually harvesting.
John 15:4 says, “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me”. For as long as we remain in God, for as long as we are walking with Him and we are connected to Him, we will continue to bear fruit. We will be partakers of the bountiful harvest that God gives to His people. God is an endless supply, for as long as we are connected to Him, the harvest will keep on coming!
How else do I know that the bountiful harvest comes in addition to other things? John 15:7 says, “But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!” How awesome is that? Jesus was excited when He said that, the sentence ends with an exclamation point! So, I am excited about that verse too. That is why this year I am adamant about getting God’s word in me. I am getting it in me whichever way I can. I am reading it, sometimes though not often I listen on audio Bible. I am writing it out and meditating on it, I am putting it on sticky notes everywhere I am.
I believe the word works for those who work the word. Meaning, you have to do what the word says to get what the word promises. In addition to answered prayers, because we abide in Christ and His words abide in us, 2017 is crowned with a bountiful harvest. I hope you receive that in your spirit because when we have faith and we believe God’s word, we attract His promises towards ourselves.
What is a bountiful harvest? Is it just enough? No. Bountiful means there is an abundance, an overflow. One of the synonyms for the word bountiful is, “Open handed”. That sounds a lot like God, doesn’t it? He does not hold anything back when He blesses us. His word says in Psalm 84:11, “For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right”.
We looked at Hebrew 8:10 last week and God said, “I will embed my laws within their thoughts”. We saw how God teaches us to live life the way He intends us to. He teaches us His ways and His precepts. If we continue to yield to the voice of the Holy Spirit living inside us, we are those people that God is talking about in Psalm 84:11. A people who do what is right and we will be sure to receive every good thing from God in this year. I believe 2017 is a good year. Catch me next year, I will be saying the same about 2018 why? God is an unlimited resource. He says He doesn’t change. If I abide in Him and I have a bountiful year this year, that means if I continue to abide in Him I will continue to have years full of bountiful harvest. That is the goodness of our God!
Have a blessed day. Part 2 is coming tomorrow 🙂
Heavenly Whispers Blog 
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