Introduction: There can be no doubt that the passage before us speaks of the nation of Israel, seeing it is the first word of the chapter. The prophet’s admonition is that the people of God would repent of their sin and follow the Lord. Their repentance will yield some wonderful blessings, some of which will not be fulfilled until kingdom. In the midst of this literal passage dealing with a literal people, we can find some spiritual, practical application for the church age saint.
- THE INITIAL PLOWING
- Fallow Ground
- Ground that has been plowed, but has gone unseeded.
- Many times this is accomplished by allowing natural plants to grow in hopes of restoring nutrients to the ground.
- Israels Youth (Jeremiah 2:1-3)
- Their kindness (Jeremiah 2:2)
- Their love (Jeremiah 2:2)
- Their following (Jeremiah 2:2)
- Their fellowship (Jeremiah 2:3)
- They were holiness unto the LORD
- They were the firstfruits of His increase
- Note: The ground had been worked in days gone by. Something changed, allowing the ground to become fallow.
- A SEASON OF EASE
- The Means of Ease (Hosea 10:13)
- Thou didst trust in thy way
- Thou didst trust in the multitude of thy mighty men
- The Fruit Borne (Hosea 10:13)
- Ye have plowed wickedness
- Ye have reaped iniquity
- Ye have eaten the fruit of lies
- The Purpose of the Fruit he bringeth forth fruit unto himself (Hosea 10:1)
- The Emptiness
- Israel is an empty vine (see Isaiah 5:1-7)
- In spite of the natural fruit that is growing
- Their heart (unity) is divided (division)
- A CALL TO REPENTANCE (Hosea 10:12)
- A Time to Break Up the Fallow Ground
- The call to break up fallow ground; Note: The Lord made a connection between the ground and the heart (Luke 8:15)
- The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. (Psalm 34:18)
- The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. (Psalm 51:17)
- The call to sow in righteousness
- The call to reap in mercy
- A Time to Seek the Lord
- It is time to seek the Lord
- Till He come and rain righteousness
Conclusion: Has your heart become hard and impenetrable? Have you allowed it to grow natural fruit that might have grown before you trusted the Lord? Has your life become about you, rather than being about the Saviour? Are you willing to allow the word of God to break up your fallow ground?
