"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
Part 1
Hosea the prophet wrote his book to a backslidden Israel. Jehovah loved His people and wanted them to put away their sin and come back to Him. Israel’s history shows them back and forth in their worship of the LORD, and their love affair with the world. Our verse for today is found in chapter 10, and at the risk of sounding like a Bible class teacher, let me break the chapter down into its basic thoughts.
God describes Israel’s sin (Hosea 10:1-8).
The picture of Israel as an empty vine (vv. 1-2).
Israel is without a king (vv. 3-8).
God counsels Israel to turn from her sin (Hosea 10:9-15).
Accept God’s chastening (vv. 9-11).
God’s call to “break up the fallow ground,” (v. 12).
To resist God’s call is to invite His wrath, (vv. 13-15).
As we look at verse 12, ask yourself what your relationship to the LORD is like right now.
“Sow to yourselves in righteousness,”
The picture of sowing the fields is used to get Israel’s attention. The principle of “sowing and reaping” is well established in the Word. Israel is in her present trouble because of sowing the wrong kind of seed, evil, unrighteous seed, and what is planted will be reaped. Judgment was coming, but even so, they should begin sowing “righteousness.” Why? Because if they sow righteousness what they reap will be different, the next time.
“Reap in mercy;”
If Israel sows righteousness now, they can “reap mercy” at the next harvest. Believers, what kind of seed are you sowing in your lives? What grows is what you plant. If you aren’t walking with the LORD, you can return to Him. Plant “righteousness” and you will reap “mercy.”
How can we prepare our hearts to hear the Words of the Lord? Come back tomorrow and let’s talk about “breaking up the fallow ground.”