Edges of Your Field

Leviticus 19 was in our Bible reading this week. Verses 9 and 10 intrigue, convict and compel me. This is a law that was put in place as a protection for the poor.

When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the Lord your God.

This law is repeated in Deuteronomy 24:19-22.

When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless and the widow. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt. That is why I command you to do this.

The spirit of this law is this: God is generous, openhanded and extravagant toward us. His people are to reflect His character. God was instructing the Hebrews to provide for those in need. He instructed them to do this by leaving the edges of the fields unharvested and to NOT go back over their fields a second time to collect the harvest they missed. It's a picture of not using up every ounce of provision on ourselves.


I'm fascinated by the fact that because the people of God were obeying this "law of the second gathering" (called gleaning), the poor had a way to provide food for themselves. Interestingly, years later, Ruth obtained food for herself and Naomi by gleaning what the reapers had left behind. Specifically, because Boaz was obeying this law, he was able to provide food for Ruth - the Ruth that was to become a part of the lineage of Christ!!!

And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.' Matt. 25:40

Most of us do not harvest fields today. We receive pay checks. But the principle is still the same. Be generous, lavish, openhanded with what you have received. Do not use up every ounce, dollar, crumb, piece, article, etc. on yourself. Use what you NEED, and use LESS than was provided SO THAT you have some to give away, share, supply, donate. In what ways can we all leave the "edges of your field" for those in need? And I wonder, who might the "Ruth" be that God puts in our path to provide for; and how might that "Ruth" be used by God in the future? You never what the ripple effect might be of the life you touch.

May the Spirit enable our hearts to be overcome with love for God and love for others so that we might continue (or begin) to find ways to spare so we can share.