Unplowed Ground

It's drier here than ever I remember,
The fields that once were green and tall are now so bare.
And patience for relief has turned to anger
And joyous praise has been replaced by faithless prayer.

I used to love to tend these fields for hours
And even times of drought would only serve to spur me on.
But now it seems like years without a shower
And somehow my desire to grow has come and gone.

This was the word to Jeremiah, but I think it applies to me right about now...

Break up your unplowed ground, and turn your heart to Me again.
Lay all your idols down; come confess your sin.
I long to ease your pain and bring your fields to life once more,
But I will not send My rain until you make Me Lord.

A vineyard ripe with blessing now surrounds me,
And every harvest so much more than I hoped for.
But as the fruit increases all around me,
I see how fat I am and I'm still wanting more.

This was the word God gave Hosea, but I think it applies to me right about now...

Break up your unplowed ground, have you so soon forgotten Me?
I cannot watch you bow at the altar of prosperity.
I long to shower down and see our love affair restored.
So break up your unplowed ground; it's time to seek the Lord.

Habits turn to cycles turn to seasons,
And seasons turn to years before we know.
And we lay still alive but barely breathing,
And we whisper, "That's just the way it goes..." but the Lord says No.

Break up your unplowed ground and you will find a treasure.
Sell everything you own to buy what can't be measured.
I long to lay you down in richer fields than you have known.
So break up your unplowed ground and make this land your home.

- Ross King "Unplowed Ground" (And All the Decorations too)
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So as I mentioned in the last post, I am going through the book of Jeremiah. Today I read Jeremiah 4 and while I was reading verse 3, I couldn't help but think of this song. (For thus says the LORD to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem, "Break up your fallow ground, and do not sow among thorns. Jeremiah 4:3)

I think that Ross King puts the explanation so beautifully in the chorus of this song. (Break up your unplowed ground, and turn your heart to Me again. Lay all your idols down; come confess your sin. I long to ease your pain and bring your fields to life once more, but I will not send My rain until you make Me Lord.)

Jeremiah is talking about a farmer who will not sow seed on unplowed ground, so God does not sow His seed of blessing in unrepentant hearts. In the bridge, Ross says that "this is the word to Jeremiah but I think it applies to me..." and I think that is right on. Each word of this song is powerful and convicting.

I am listening to it in the background as I type this out, and I think I'll just refer you back to the lyrics and let the Spirit speak to you in what you need to hear. If you do better hearing it, email me and I'll find a way for you to hear it. (Unfortunately Ross King is not main stream and so only select songs are on YouTube, however, I strongly recommend his "And All The Decorations Too" CD. It is to this day, one of my all time favorite CD's and I play it/go back to it often.)