Even the land needs to rest.

“Six years thou shall sow thy land, and shall gather in the fruits thereof, but on the seventh year thou shall let it rest that the poor of my people shall eat and what they leave the beast of the field shall eat. In like manner shall thou deal with thy vineyard and thy oliveyard.” (Exodus 23:12)

What the Lord seems to be talking about here is to let the poor have access to the land to harvest the dropped seeds that spring up the following year. I grew up on a farm in Southern Illinois and it was common practice to allow a field go fallow from time to time. It’s hilly in those parts and the top soil has washed down the steep hills to the bottom land.  Generally the hills are clay and allowing the fields to rest puts down a layer of dead weeds in the fall. When plowed in the springtime humus and nutrients are added to the soil. Many farmers in those days also practiced crop rotation. Corn is a heavy feeder pulling nitrogen out of the soil. The following year corn fields are planted with soybeans or clover to recover the nutrients. The Lord, of course, knew these things from the beginning and gave a law to covered it.   

I understand why a field needs to rest, but why do I? I hate going to bed when I’m on a roll and words flow easily. I also hate getting up once I’m warm and comfortable even if it is approaching 9 or 10 A.M. Nevertheless; he has promised us health in the navel and marrow to the bone, (Proverbs 3:8) that we may find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge ( Daniel 1: 16-17) and shall run and not be weary and walk and not faint.