Every year we study a book of the Bible during our weekly worship services. This year we have chosen the book of Jeremiah.
In Jeremiah chapter four we see that there is a call from the Lord to His people. "Break up your fallow ground and do not sow among thorns. Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, and take away the foreskins of your hearts, you men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem…." (Jer 4:3-4a NKJ).
This call came because the people of God had become uncommitted, unfaithful and disobedient in their worship and service of the Lord.
The phrase "fallow ground" (NKJ) "unplowed ground" (NIV) refers to the tillable or untilled ground. It is land that could be productive, but for whatever reason has not been broken up, tilled, plowed, and prepared for planting. The prophet speaking the Word of the Lord is commanding the people to break up that land — spiritually! They are to plow the tillable land that they have.
This word of prophet Jeremiah is for us today as well. What must we do to break up the fallow ground? What must we do so that the soil is ready for planting God’s Word, so that we can live faithful, Holy Spirit directed lives?
Remove The Stumps
Chopping down trees is hard work. Removing the stumps is even harder work. You must dig deep down and cut each of the main roots with an axe or chainsaw. Then you attach a rope or chain to the stump and pull it out with a truck, or winch. Finally, you pile all the stumps together and burn them as you clear the land. What’s been growing in your heart previously? Could it be hatred, bitterness, lust, greed, materialism? These must be rooted out so a new crop can be planted. Grain doesn’t flourish under the shade of trees. They must be removed so the new crop can grow in the light.
Break Up the Hardness
A plow or some kind of tiller is needed to open up the ground. It takes energy to pull the plow, to guide the plow, to keep the furrows straight so the field can be plowed efficiently. Where is the hardness in your heart? Have you been hardened by unbelief or sin? You need to make the effort to direct the plow to all these hard places that you know must be dealt with and let God pull the plow to loosen the hardness. Heartfelt repentance and confession is one way of plowing deep. When was the last time you were literally on your knees broken before the Lord?
Dislodge the Larger Rocks
Sometimes when you’re plowing you come upon some large, difficult to move rocks. For the field to be put into production, it will require considerable digging, and leveraging to move the rocks from the field. Do you have some big rocks to move – an addiction or a besetting sin – that requires help from someone else? Speak to a more mature believer to whom you can be accountable.
Gather The Thorns and Burn Them
When a field goes unplanted for several years it often becomes covered with thorns or other weeds. In the parable of the sower, Jesus explained that our hearts can be like a field with thorns. The thorns are the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things which choke the Word and it becomes unfruitful (Mark 4:19).
Sow The Good Seeds
Read your Bible, Study the Word of God. Memorize Scriptures. Exercise your faith. Fellowship with God’s people. Share your faith. Fallow ground – unplowed, unprepared soil – is unusable for any serious crop planting. God says to us that we must "break up" our fallow ground so that it is usable. Do we recognize that our hearts are like unplowed ground? Will we repent and break up the fallow ground of our hearts? Let us claim the promise in Hosea, in 2013 – "Sow 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." (Hos 10:12 NKJ)