Does the plowman plow continually all day to plant? Does he continually open and harrow the ground, establishing a parable drawn from agricultural practice to illustrate God's purposes and methods, asking whether the plowman's entire work consists of plowing or whether plowing serves a larger purpose. The questions draw the reader into recognition of the purpose behind the plowman's labor: plowing is means to an end, not an end in itself. The oracle uses this familiar activity to suggest that just as the plowman's work includes varied tasks aimed at the harvest, so also God's work includes judgment (plowing) aimed ultimately at blessing and fruitfulness.

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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