Break up that fallow ground!

We must break up the fallow ground, avoid thorns, and build and plant only in the good ground of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. Hosea 10:12.

Webster’s 1828: FAL'LOW, adjective [Latin fulvus; qu. helvus, for felvus. This word may be from the root of fail, fallo; so called from the fading color of autumnal leaves, or from failure, withering. Hence also the sense of unoccupied, applied to land.]

- Unsowed; not tilled; left to rest after a year or more of tillage; as fallow ground; a fallow field.

Break up your fallow ground. Jeremiah 4:3.

- Left unsowed after plowing. The word is applied to the land after plowing.

- Unplowed; uncultivated.

- Unoccupied; neglected. [Not in use.]

Let the cause lie fallow

And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and Do Not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and DOETH them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and 👉 DIGGED DEEP, AND LAID THE FOUNDATION ON A ROCK 👈: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and DOETH NOT, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great. Luke 6:46-49

From my friend Robert Statzer:

He is like a man who built a house, and *DUG DEEP*.... AND LAID THE FOUNDATION ON ROCK..."!!

… Many people miss that phrase. What all is the purpose of DIGGING DEEP ENOUGH in laying a foundation for a house? What happens if we don't "DIG DEEP"?!? Will our "house" stand?

Does this correspond to the passage two chapters later (Luke 8:4-15) where the seed springs up with joy, but it has "NO ROOT" (no ROOT DEPTH to get to where the moisture is, because the root growth couldn't penetrate the hard areas/rocks, 8:13), and..... "IN TIME OF TEMPTATION THEY FALL AWAY"?

They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. Luke 8:13

For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns. Jeremiah 4:3

While we are breaking up the fallow ground we must also not forget to sow not among thorns…

And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. Luke 8:14

But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. Luke 8:15

#fallow #temptation #sin #goodground