Okay. As promised, here is a breakdown on my opinions on Ross King's "Unplowed Ground." If you haven't heard the song, you can listen to it here.
The first thing that caught my attention was the description of the farmer in the first verse. He seemed to so accurately describe where my mood was--looking back on stronger days and feeling tired of the desert land my life seemed to be. I had become so drained, so tired of enduring and enduring and enduring that any desire to grow and develop my relationship with Christ had wilted.
The "word to Jeremiah" that "applies to me" can be found in Jeremiah 4:3--"Yes, the Lord has this to say to the people of Judah and Jerusalem: 'Like a farmer breaking up hard unplowed ground, you must break your rebellious will and make a new beginning; just as a farmer must clear away thorns lest the seed is wasted, you must get rid of the sin that is ruining your lives.'" It was a call to renewal, to remove the things from their lives that hindered their growth with God.
The chorus hit me especially hard, because anger was my pet sin that was keeping me down. I had become so disillusioned with my Seminary professors, and to an extent the church in general, that I couldn't bring myself to read the Bible or pray in earnest or go to church, even one that I usually enjoyed. Just like God called Israel to repent, he called me to repent of the anger I allowed to take hold of my heart.
The second verse didn't apply as much to my situation as the first, but I think it's still an important part of the song. The farmer in the second verse is completely opposite of the first. He isn't having a drought, but an overflow of abundance. Things are going great for him, and as a result, he loses sight of things, and becomes materialistic. "I see how fat I am, and I'm still wanting more."
The second chorus again calls for breaking up unplowed ground, this time in reference to Hosea 10:12. In this Scripture God again calls for Israel to break up its unplowed ground, and to sow righteousness rather than wickedness. Verse 13 seems to suggest a dependence on materials and man-made things rather than God.
I think too often we find ourselves here as well. When things are going well, we like to pat ourselves on the back and say what a good job we have done. We build monuments in our minds to our own greatness, and too easily forget the One who gave us that greatness to start with.
So the song, in summary, calls for us to break up unplowed ground, to do the things that lead to growth in Christ, and to get rid of everything that holds us back. And like Ross King observes at the end of this song, so I say to you, "It's time to seek the Lord."
Feel free to comment or ask questions. I'm always here.
Keep Soaring,
B
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