Scripture constantly uses the analogy of gardening to explain the spiritual relationship between God and His people. Consider the following:
- The parables of sowing seeds (Matthew 13, Mark 4, Luke 8, etc)
- The parables of vineyards (Isa 5:1-7, Psalm 80:15, Jeremiah 12:10, Matt 21, etc)
The apostle Paul decodes these metaphors when he informs us “you are God’s Garden, you are God’s building.” (1 Cor 3:9)
When God talks farming, He is really telling us to view ourselves in the example of a seed. It’s a very easy teaching aid. God’s Word is the seed; we are the field into which He sows. God’s seed is always high quality, but the field determines the crop. Isaiah chapter 5 is especially instructive because it directly relates to Judah and Jerusalem, the community addressed by Jeremiah’s prophecy. For a better glimpse into this, let’s review the prophetic word:
1 If you will return, O Israel,
says the Lord,
return to Me.
And if you will put away your abominations out of My sight,
then you shall not be moved.
2 You shall swear, “As the Lord lives,”
in truth, in justice, and in righteousness;
then the nations shall bless themselves in Him,
and in Him they shall glory.
3 For thus says the Lord to the men of Judah and Jerusalem:
Break up your fallow ground,
and do not sow among thorns. Jeremiah 4:1-3 (MEV)
Notice the Sequence (—if—then!)
- Return to the Lord
- If you will [are willing to] return, return TO the Lord
- If you put away your abominations…
- Then, and only then, will you [be able to] speak of God in truth…
- Your example should inspire nations to seek God for blessings and elevation
- Break up your fallow ground
- Fallow ground is hard, uncultivated field
- Fallow ground, regardless of its potential, is never ready for planting
- Do not sow seed among thorns
- Thorns could be what occupies the fallow ground; they must be removed to prepare the garden for sowing proper seeds
God gave Jeremiah this Word in the days of king Josiah (Ch 3:6). That is amazing. Josiah was one of the most upright kings in the recorded history of the two Hebrew kingdoms. Josiah is even more remarkable as the son and grandson of extremely wicked kings, Manasseh and Amon.
A man of God had called Josiah by name over three hundred years before he was born. (See 1 Kings 13:2). Josiah’s testimony may help us grasp the dichotomy of Jeremiah’s prophecy when spoken in the days of this exemplary king.
- He did what was right in the sight of the Lord and walked in all the ways of David his father. He did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. (2 Kings 22:2 MEV)
- Now there had been no king like him before or after, who turned to the Lord with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses (2 Kings 23:25 MEV)
Josiah was an eight-year-old child when he became king, and within a few years, he restored the temple, reinstated worship, Passover, and other required Jewish religious ceremonies. He oversaw the removal and utter destruction of idolatrous priests and their idols, besides many other zealous deeds aimed at returning God’s people to the path of righteousness. Yet, it was during Josiah’s time that God gave the prophet Jeremiah the words we are reviewing here.
Does that strike you as odd?
Why would God call His people to return to Him when they seem to be doing exactly that? Doesn’t He notice the efforts of those who try to align themselves to His will? Was Jeremiah’s warning redundant?
Revival or Renovation?
When political and spiritual leaders call for national prayers, or other forms of religious display, many call that revival; never mind what happens after the event is over. Outwardly, especially in light of what Josiah was doing, Judah had surrendered to God and turned from wickedness. So, what was wrong with Jeremiah? Why was he still warning penitent people in the midst of their vigorous efforts? The key is in the highlighted verse:
- Break up your fallow ground, and do not sow among thorns.
The prophetic word identifies Judah’s trouble in two places: (1) fallow ground (ii) sowing among thorns. These were not mere spiritual deficiencies but full-blown cancerous tumors on the verge of thrusting the nation into Babylonian captivity!
Fallow Ground
In the parable of the sower, (see Matt 13, Mark 4, Luk 8) Jesus calls this the “wayside”, a trail hardened by the feet of constant trekkers. Seeds that fell here were quickly devoured by fowls of the air, aka roving demons. It’s a place where God’s Word is subjected to men’s opinions and then discarded. Note the word “devour” in the passage. It means to tear and destroy, as a pack of wolves would do to a member of a rival gang. It denotes a malicious intent—destroying for no apparent gain. Demons don’t steal God’s Word from people’s hearts to enrich themselves, but to waste it and render it fruitless. Seeds require a ground that has been broken up, ploughed through, and softened so roots can easily find their way.
A heart that will produce good crop is tender and receptive. It yields to godly counsel and allows itself to be nurtured to maturity. It does not expose God’s precious seed to devouring agents.
Sowing Among Thorns
Another field in the parable is the thorny ground. Here, the seed begins to germinate, but the poor seedling is poked by thorns all around it and never reaches crop-producing maturity. These two fields have a shared trait. They represent environments in which the seed cannot thrive.
God saw through the façade of what looked like a marvelous awakening; “Judah has never sincerely returned to me. She has only pretended to be sorry” (Jer 3:10 NLT). The nation was just going through the motions, swept up by the fervor of a zealous king, but their hearts were not in it. The righteous conduct of one prominent person does not speak for an entire community. Oftentimes, it obscures the mischief of less prominent actors. Vicious actors can hide behind glamorous public images of respected individuals or institutions. But revival is a personal pledge, not the brandishing of a corporate banner.
“Until my people leave their foolishness, for they refuse to listen to me; they are dull, retarded children who have no understanding. They are smart enough at doing wrong, but for doing right they have no talent, none at all.” (Jer 4:22 TLB)
What does revival mean in your community, and how does it look to you?