Contemplative Bible Reading

Leviticus 23:22 (New International Version)

‘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. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God.’

I first recall reading this page some 25 years ago. I puzzled over this word glean, and hence researched it in dictionaries. Below is a common definition:

glean |gl?n| verb [ trans. ]

historical gather (leftover grain or other produce) after a harvest : [as n. ] ( gleaning) the conditions of farm workers in the 1890s made gleaning essential.

—from the Apple, Inc. dictionary in OS X

The farming technology of Biblical times was not efficient as edible crops were left in the fields. It was common that the farmers would harvest their fields a second time to ensure they gathered all the food possible in the field. This is where the phrase “reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings” originates in the verse.

God here tells His people not to be so efficient in the harvesting of food. He wants them to leave some in the fields so that the poor and the alien can harvest something for themselves.

I think this principle applies to me today. I don’t need to be super efficient in my life when it comes to harvesting money and possessions. I should leave some for others.

Also notice that God does not ask His people to harvest everything and give food to the poor. He asks His people to leave some in the fields so that  poor and alien can gather for themselves. He wants the poor and alien to work for their harvest.

I am not sure how to do this in all aspects of my life. I am not sure how to do this at all. I do, however, try to keep this in mind. I like to do things myself; I like to do things for other people. Sometimes, thinking of this passage helps me to leave some work for others to do, so that they too can have the satisfaction of self-reliance.

God help me to understand gleanings and see where I can apply this concept in my life.