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In Christ, Mark
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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
"For six years you are to sow your fields and harvest the crops, but during the seventh year let the land lie unplowed and unused. Then the poor among your people may get food from it, and the wild animals may eat what they leave. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove." Exodus 23:10-11
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
As I prepared for this message, I ran onto a word I haven’t seen in some time. In fact, I have to admit that I had to look it up to make sure I understood its full meaning.
The word in question was “fallow”.
In regard to the scripture passage for today, it explains the state of the fields, vineyards and olive groves during each seventh year as commanded by God in this passage. For we read where God commanded the people of Israel not to sow, prune, plow, or cultivate the land in “the seventh year”, a year that would come to be known as the “Sabbath year” (see Leviticus 25:1-7). Just as God rested on the seventh day as He created everything, so too would His people be expected to allow the land to rest every seventh year.
Now, you’ll also recall that when the Israelites had begun their exodus from Egypt to Mount Sinai, they became hungry and cried out to the Lord who answered their petition with first quail and then daily manna in the mornings with the exception of one day, the seventh day which we know was the Sabbath. You’ll remember that the Israelites were directed to gather enough manna on the sixth day so to have enough for the Sabbath as well and this was the only instance that the manna would not spoil if held overnight (for review, see Exodus, chapter 16).
With this supporting background, we see where this command from God was not without some precedent. It was consistent in God placing special significance and honor on the Sabbath and there were also some underlying intentions which included the following:
1. It gave the land rest.
Constantly farming land over time can eventually deplete soil of its nutrients and so by allowing the land to go untended every seventh year would ensure that the harvest would continue to be plentiful in the other six.
2. It provided for the poor and the wild animals.
Without the land being worked, it still would provide food and although it was not as plentiful a harvest as when the land was worked, the land would still produce a yield that could provide food, especially to the poor and the wild animals. This was just one of many ways that God showed how He cared for all creation.
3. It taught the people to have faith and dependence on God.
It would be a natural inclination for people to want to be in control of their sustenance, making sure they grew and harvested the crops needed to survive and make a living. But God wanted His people to see that the land, the Holy Land that He created, would produce food without the farmers doing anything. They would learn of God’s providence and goodness as He provided for their needs, even when they were doing nothing but resting.
And that truth leads to the final underlying intention:
4. It made the people rest from their labors.
Working the fields year after year was hard work. Ask any farmer and they will tell you how much time goes into working the land, planting the seed, and reaping the crops. God’s prescribed Sabbath year would give the farmers a year off from doing anything to the land, therefore giving them more time to focus on Him.
More time to focus on God.
Isn’t that something we all could use today?
God commanded the seventh day to be kept holy solely for that reason but He also expected His people to give Him their attention and devotion every day. He gives His people all things to use for His glory and that includes time, and yet, we treat that time like it belongs solely to us. This includes scheduling our days in such a way that we don’t give the Lord any time or if we do, we give Him a token amount rather than our first fruits.
Friends, our God is fully attentive towards us. He loves each of us dearly and is always ready to give us His best. The least we can do is give Him the same dedication and consideration in return.
Today, let’s all make a renewed vow as believer to place our fullest focus on God and in Him alone, each and every day, making time to have communion and union with Him through prayer and the study of His holy Word such as this message you’re reading today. Trust me when I say that it’s a commitment you’ll never regret.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.
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