I agree that socialism is sub-Christian, not only not found in Scripture, but even against Scripture. Nevertheless, I want ‘iron to sharpen iron.’ The gleaning law also requires a few other contexts, such as the fact that the poor still had to work. They had to glean; the landowner did not do the gleaning and then hand deliver the food. This allows the gleaning law to be in accordance with deny food to those who refuse to work.
Secondly, being Reformed, the WSC states that the civil laws, of which the gleaning law is subsumed under, has an application today in by way of ‘general equity.’ So I wouldn’t right it off entirely as unapplicable. It is not socialism, to be sure, and we do need to correct many misunderstanding about this passage.
I had to inform one fellow that it also needs to be said that it was not just the nation of Israel, but, at that time, the entire church, another part of the context, since church and state were coextensive at the time. Therefore, it was the church helping the church, not the Israelite church, so to speak, helping the Gentiles unbelievers. More can be said, but I hope, especially the ‘general equity’ passage, helps. We do need to think about how to apply the civil law in such a way as the confession states, assuming the confession, being fallible, is right on that point. SDG.