Fallow Fields

 

"Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, that He may come and rain righteousness upon you"  (Hosea 10:12 ESV).

Commands for the people of Hosea's day were to sow, reap, and break up fallow ground because it was time to do so.  This was not ordinary fallow ground.  I believe it was the peoples' hearts.  The 'seeds' to be sown were 'righteousness'.  They would then reap 'steadfast love'.  It seems the people had neglected to seek the LORD so had to be told to do so.  The benefits were that He would come and rain righteousness upon them.

In the middle of farm country where I once took some daily strolls, there was a huge field lying fallow.  My walking companion who had some memory issues, would repeatedly ask, "Why isn't the farmer planting that field?"  It really irritated him that the farmer was being seemingly slack.

But what farmer needs to be told to sow, reap or even the time to do so?  They have their reasons for letting a field be fallow.  Reasons such as allowing the soil to replenish its fertility, to raise soil pH and even to break pest and disease lifecycles.  If you research it on the internet you'll see some other reasons as well.  There is one warning-like precaution, however.  If the ground is left fallow for too long, the soil can turn to dirt.  It becomes useless and unproductive.

I believe this is what God was getting at through Hosea to His people Israel.  The more wealth they had, the more they let the things of God go fallow.  Their material wealth showed more and more but evil increased.  There was corruption, evil and even hatred in the house of God (see Hosea 9:8 ESV).

God had done so much for Israel, bringing them out of Egyption slavery, through the wilderness wanderings and gave them their gift of the Promised Land.  He had nurtured them, wanting His chosen people to be a righteous nation.  A nation that all other nations would look up to and respect, drawing them to the God the Israelites worshiped.

BUT, look at them now in Hosea's time.  They were immersed in luxury but also evil.  They had turned to dirt - so to speak.  

God tries again and again.  Fallow land is land that has actually been plowed and readied for sowing.  It was like God had done the plowing and readying but the people of Israel had to do the sowing.  

Note God's sovereignty vs man's responsibility here.  Our heavenly Father does not force us to do what He commands.  He wants willing hearts.  Sadly, the people were not interested.  There was no righteousness being sown, nor steadfast love being reaped, even though it was past time to do so.  There were none, or at least precious few, like Hosea, who were seeking the Lord.  If only there were, righteousness would then have rained down upon them!

Instead the very opposite had rained upon them.

Our day and age is similarly going to dirt but we personally do not need to let our lives as individuals, or as a Christian household or as a church, go to dirt.  No, we can be the watchmen, or like the prophet Hosea who continued to seek the Lord and His righteousness even though it seemed no one else was.

Don't let the fallow fields of our hearts turn to dirt.

Abba Father, may I always seek You because I know then, that I'll find You.  In times of rest and fallowness, may I remember to sow and reap at the right time.  May Your righteousness rain upon me.  I ask in Jesus' name.  Amen.

                                                   ~ ERC  January 2025 ~

Based on Hosea 10:12 ESV.

Sign, Hymn of Heaven, along with Phil Wickham.