Often the hymns that stand the test of time are those that relate the great stories of God's salvation to our experience. "Come, Ye Thankful People, Come" accomplishes this by recalling the Old Testament feasts and festivals that celebrated the harvest.
This hymn by Henry Alford recalls the blessings God has showered on us and points to the great harvest feast we will celebrate someday in heaven. Praise God today for the many gifts he has given us.
Come, ye thankful people, come; raise the song of harvest home.
All is safely gathered in ere the winter storms begin.
God, our maker, does provide for our wants to be supplied;
Come to God's own temple, come, raise the song of harvest home.
All the world is God's own field, fruit unto his praise to yield,
Wheat and tares together sown, unto joy or sorrows grown.
First the blade, and then the ear, then the full corn shall appear,
Lord of harvest, grant that we wholesome grain and pure may be.
For the Lord our God shall come and shall take his harvest home,
From his field shall in that day all offenses purge away,
Give his angels charge at last in the fire the tares to cast,
But the fruitful ears to store in his garner evermore.
Even so, Lord, quickly come to your final harvest home,
Gather all your people in, free from sorrow, free from sin,
There, forever purified, in your presence to abide.
Come, with all your angels, come, raise the glorious harvest home.
(from the Praise and Worship Study Bible by Tyndale House)