CHRISTIAN CHURCH >> Mission of the church
SDAH 366
O where are the reapers that garner in
The sheaves of the good from the fields of sin?
With sickles of truth must the work be done,
And no one may rest till the “harvest home.”
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For Worship Leaders
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Hymn Spotlight: O Where Are the Reapers?
This 19th-century gospel hymn by Eben Rexford captures the urgent call of Jesus to labor for souls in the spiritual harvest field. Originally phrased “Are there no reapers?”, evangelist D. L. Moody requested a revision to avoid exclusivity, resulting in the familiar “O where are the reapers?” we sing today. Set to music by gospel composer George F. Root, the tune energizes the call to seek the lost, whether in “highway or byway.” A prolific writer and passionate gardener, Rexford’s most lasting blooms may be his hymns, including “A Song of Heaven and Homeland.” This hymn reminds us that the Lord of the harvest still seeks willing laborers—will you answer?
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Introductions for Sabbath School Song Service (based on specific lesson quarterlies):
This hymn was written by Eben Eugene Rexford (1848-1916), whose original first words were “O we are the reapers.” These words were acceptable to G.F. root and Ira D. L. Moody asked for them to be revised to the present “O where are.” He wished to avoid the implication that there were no other soul winners than those in the Moody-Sankey evangelistic team. The omitted stanza is:
2. Go out in the by ways and search them all,
The wheat may be there, though the weeds are tall;
Then search in the highway, and pass none by;
But gather from all for the home on high.
Born July 16, 1848, at Johnsburgh, New York, Eben moved with his parents to Wisconsin, where he spent the rest of his life. At the age of 16, his literary talent became evident when a magazine sent him a check for a piece he submitted. Entering Lawrence University, Appleton, Wisconsin, he paid his way by writing poems and stories for several Eastern magazines. Composer H. P. Danks saw and liked his “knack” for writing song lyrics, and wrote him, offering three dollars for each song that was good enough to be accepted. Rexford sent him nine, and soon received a check for $18 in payment of six. One of this lyrics was “Silver Threads Among the Gold,” which Danks set to music; it became a worldwide favorite. A number of Rexford poems were also set to music by well-known gospel song composers Root, Excell, and Gabriel; and this one by Ira d. Sankey.
Writing song lyrics was secondary; floriculture articles were Rexford’s first love. For 14 years he was editor of the Gardening Department of Ladies’ Home Journal, and served in a similar capacity for several other magazines. His five books about growing beautiful flowers were best-sellers.
He was organist at the Congregational church of Shiocton, Wisconsin, for more than 20 years; in 1912, in recognition of his literary work, his alma mater conferred upon the degree of Litt. D. He died in 1916. He also wrote SDAH 472, “A Song of Heaven and Homeland.”The tune, unnamed, was composed by George Frederick Root (1820-1895; see Biographies). He also composed SDAH 88, VARINA; SDAH 218, JEWELS; and SDAH 692, QUAM DILECTA.
📖 Reference: Companion to the Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal by Wayne Hooper and Edward E. White. Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1988.
Text
1
O where are the reapers that garner in
The sheaves of the good from the fields of sin?
With sickles of truth must the work be done,
And no one may rest till the “harvest home.”
Refrain
Where are the reapers? O who will come
And share in the glory of the “harvest home”?
O who will help us to garner in
The sheaves of good from the fields of sin?
2
The fields all are ripening, and far and wide
The world now is waiting the harvest tide:
But reapers are few, and the work is great,
And much will be lost should the harvest wait.
3
So come with your sickles, ye sons of men,
And gather together the golden grain;
Toil on till the Lord of the harvest come,
Then share ye His joy in the “harvest home.”
Hymn Info
Biblical Reference
(a) Joel 3:13 (b) Matt 22:9 (c) Matt 9:37, 38 (d) Ps 126:6 (r) Matt 13:30
Author
Eben E. Rexford (1848-1916)
Metrical Number
10.10.10.10.Ref.
Composer
George F. Root (1820-1895)
