The Stranger Within Thy Gates. Part [4] 08/01/2025 (Evening thought)

Leviticus 19:And when you reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest. 10 And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the Lord your God.

These items and these sums should not be given based on feelings, and emotion, which tend to fluctuate with the high cost of living, and tariffs. A percentage of whatsoever is our increase should be laid aside for benevolent purposes, and should be a deliberate and well thought out pledge that is made for the advancement of God’s kingdom upon the earth, as it pertains to the exercise of kindness.

In other words, we should never entirely glean our fields, nor gather every grape for our own personal use. There is no support for that mode of thought and action in the Scriptures. That’s what Boaz did, when Ruth the stranger came by looking for food and grain for Naomi and herself. Boaz did not leave it up to chance or feeling, neither did he inquire up front about where she was born.

All he asked was whose damsel is this, and when he learned that she was an immigrant who had come in with Naomi, it was enough to trigger the humanity in Boaz, since she needed food and drink. Those basic needs touched a corresponding chord in the heart of Boaz, because the Christian must never be blind, or tone deaf to the plight, and suffering of his fellowmen, whoever they may be and thus, Boaz was deliberate in his instructions to the reapers.

Ruth 2: 8 Then said Boaz unto Ruth, hear thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens.

May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!

The Stranger Within Thy Gates. Part [3] 07/31/2025 (Morning thought)

Leviticus 19: 9 And when you reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest. 10 And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the Lord your God.

The Lord caused instructions to be written in His word, for the treatment of strangers, foreigners and those persons who had come to live within the borders of the Hebrews. The instructions were not meant for the Hebrews only, for they represent a gold standard for all to follow…. Exodus 12:49 One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourns among you.

Exodus 23:9 Also thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for you know the heart of a stranger, seeing you were strangers in the land of Egypt…. Leviticus 19: 33 And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, you shall not vex him. 34 But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

In other words, deliberate provision was to be made for the stranger, from the bounties God had blessed His people with. That same counsel is still alive, and well today, for whenever the Christian gets paid, he should not only think of returning tithes alone, with the rest of his salary being entirely devoted to bills. The Christian should set aside something from his or her paycheck for the less fortunate the poor and the stranger. It’s not a mere suggestion; it’s a moral duty enjoined upon all who name the name of Christ.

Deuteronomy 15:11 For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.

May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!