Jeremiah 4:3
(NKJV) 3For thus says the Lord
to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: “Break up your fallow ground, And do not sow
among thorns.
Hosea
10:12–13 (NKJV) 12Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy;
Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the Lord, Till He comes and rains righteousness on you.
13You have plowed wickedness; You have
reaped iniquity. You have eaten the fruit of lies, Because you trusted in your
own way, In the multitude of your mighty men.
One of my
favorite hobbies that gives me great exercise and helps me to provide for my
family and help out other people is gardening.
I was recently given the opportunity to garden an empty lot in our
town. This lot has not been used for
gardening or farming for many years. It
would take many hours and some pretty heavy equipment to “Break up this fallow
ground.” But the trees and the grass had
to be removed or the garden could not be fruitful.
It was this
process that reminded me of these above passages. Israel had become so hard hearted that they
could not be fruitful for God. The
prophets were calling them to have a
change of mind toward spiritual things.
They were to break up the “fallow” ground of their hearts.
One preacher of the past put it this way, “If you
mean to break the fallow ground of your hearts, you must begin by looking at
your hearts — examine and note the state of your minds, and see where you are.
Many never seem to think about this. They pay no attention to their own hearts,
and never know whether they are doing well in religion or not — whether they
are gaining ground or going back — whether they are fruitful, or lying waste
like the fallow ground. Now you must draw off your attention from other things,
and look into this. Make a business of it. Do not be in a hurry. Examine
thoroughly the state of your hearts, and see where you are — whether you are
walking with God every day, or walking with the devil — whether you are serving
God or serving the devil most — whether you are under the dominion of the
prince of darkness, or of the Lord Jesus Christ.
To do all this, you must set yourselves at work to consider your sins.
You must examine yourselves.”[1]
What area of
your heart and mind have you left untilled, unbroken? Are you ready to receive God’s Word? Are we ready
to respond to the Holy Spirit as His Word is heard or read? May we each heed the command, “Break up your
fallow ground!”
[1] Clyde E. Fant and William M. Pinson,
vol. 3, A Treasury of Great Preaching :
An Encyclopedia of Preaching, electronic ed., Logos Library System; A
treasury of great preaching (Dallas: Word Publishers, 2000), 362.
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