Lyrics
Verse 1
LORD of the harvest, hear
Thy needy servants cry;
Answer our faith's effectual prayer,
And all our wants supply.
Verse 2
On thee we humbly wait,
Our wants are in thy view;
The harvest truly, Lord, is great;
The labourers are few.
Verse 3
Convert, and send forth more
Into thy church abroad;
And let them speak thy word of power,
As workers with their God.
Verse 4
Give the pure gospel word,
The word of general grace;
Thee let them preach, the common Lord,
The Saviour of our race.
Verse 5
O let them spread thy name,
Their mission fully prove,
The universal grace proclaim,
Thy all-redeeming love!
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Meaning & Inspiration
Lord Of The Harvest, Hear is a hymn text by Charles Wesley that prays for workers to be sent into the harvest. The first verse asks the Lord of the harvest to hear the cry of needy servants and answer their prayer of faith. The second verse waits humbly, acknowledging that the harvest is great while the laborers are few.
The next verses ask that more be converted and sent to the church abroad, that they speak the word of power, preach the pure gospel and spread the Savior's name, and that universal grace and all-redeeming love be proclaimed. The language is drawn from Matthew 9:37-38 and Luke 10:2 on the harvest and laborers, with Mark 16:15 and Romans 10:14-15 on preaching. The formal language is typical of eighteenth-century hymnody and the hymn works as a prayer for missions.
Related Scripture
- Matthew 9:37-38 Jesus says the harvest is plentiful and the laborers few, and asks for prayer for workers.
- Luke 10:2 The Lord of the harvest is asked to send out laborers.
- Romans 10:14-15 Hearing requires preaching and preachers must be sent.