Till the Soil

Till the soil denotes an action necessary to promote growth, it is fundamental even in the spiritual ream. Soil is the medium in which something takes hold and develops. If it is not tilled no growth can be expected and that which could have been productive lies in waste.

The term soil is also described as something that is corrupted, polluted, and unclean. Our Lord rebuked some of the religious of His day because of pretense of being something they were not. He said, you make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within you are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter that the outside may be clean also. You outwardly appear righteous to men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity (Matthew 23:25-33).

Brake Up the Fallow Ground

In the Book of Hosea we find the words, sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy (or faithfulness and loving-kindness), break up your fallow (or untilled) ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness on you. You have plowed wickedness, you have reaped iniquity; you have eaten the fruit of lies: because you did trust in your way (Hosea 10:12-13).
Hear the word of the Lord: for the Lord has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land (Hosea 4:1). In these verses the prophet Hosea was speaking of the the house of Israel but how about now? Does the Lord have a controversy with America. Has the hedge of protection been taken away? Is America now reaping that which has been sown? Is it still possible to break up the fallow ground, through repentance, as Nineveh did, when a prophet of God cried out the message of forthcoming judgment (Jonah 3:4)?
A Heavenly Proclamation
2 Chronicles 7:14 is a heavenly proclamation for not only Israel of old but also for the hour in which we live: If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and heal their land.
When one tills the soil of their heart it is to plant a right seed, not that of a degenerate plant of a strange vine as Israel of old (Jeremiah 2:21). Israel was holiness unto the Lord, and the first fruits of His increase but had gone far from him, walking after vanity, and became vain according to God's Word (Jeremiah 2:3-5).
We live in a land of milk and honey, as Israel of old, but how long will we flourish in such a state after the land has become poluted, withdrawn from the very God who sustained us? Is it not time to till the soil, plant a right seed, seek out God, and do according to His will?