Introduction: There can be no doubt that the passage before us speaks of the nation of Israel, seeing it is the first word of the chapter. The prophet’s admonition is that the people of God would repent of their sin and follow the Lord. Their repentance will yield some wonderful blessings, some of which will not be fulfilled until kingdom. In the midst of this literal passage dealing with a literal people, we can find some spiritual, practical application for the church age saint.

1. THE INITIAL PLOWING
1. Fallow Ground
1. Ground that has been plowed, but has gone unseeded.
2. Many times this is accomplished by allowing natural plants to grow in hopes of restoring nutrients to the ground.
2. Israel’s Youth (Jeremiah 2:1-3 [1] Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, [2] Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown. [3] Israel was holiness unto the LORD, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD.
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1. Their kindness (Jeremiah 2:2Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.
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2. Their love (Jeremiah 2:2Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.
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3. Their following (Jeremiah 2:2Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.
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4. Their fellowship (Jeremiah 2:3Israel was holiness unto the LORD, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD.
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1. They were holiness unto the LORD
2. They were the firstfruits of His increase
5. Note: The ground had been worked in days gone by. Something changed, allowing the ground to become fallow.
2. A SEASON OF EASE
1. The Means of Ease (Hosea 10:13Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.
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1. Thou didst trust in thy way
2. Thou didst trust in the multitude of thy mighty men
2. The Fruit Borne (Hosea 10:13Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.
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1. Ye have plowed wickedness
2. Ye have reaped iniquity
3. Ye have eaten the fruit of lies
3. The Purpose of the Fruit – “he bringeth forth fruit unto himself” (Hosea 10:1Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images.
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4. The Emptiness
1. Israel is an empty vine (see Isaiah 5:1-7 [1] Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: [2] And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. [3] And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. [4] What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? [5] And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: [6] And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. [7] For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.
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2. In spite of the natural fruit that is growing
3. Their heart (unity) is divided (division)
3. A CALL TO REPENTANCE (Hosea 10:12Sow 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.
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1. A Time to Break Up the Fallow Ground
1. The call to break up fallow ground; Note: The Lord made a connection between the ground and the heart (Luke 8:15But 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.
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1. “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” (Psalm 34:18The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
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2. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” (Psalm 51:17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
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2. The call to sow in righteousness
3. The call to reap in mercy
2. A Time to Seek the Lord
1. It is time to seek the Lord
2. Till He come and rain righteousness

Conclusion: Has your heart become hard and impenetrable? Have you allowed it to grow natural fruit that might have grown before you trusted the Lord? Has your life become about you, rather than being about the Saviour? Are you willing to allow the word of God to break up your fallow ground?