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.
Ver. 12. Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy] Righteousness is a sure seed, a precious grain, which those that sow (and every action of our life is a sowing) shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, and bring their sheaves with them, Psalms 126:6. Only they must not look to sow and reap all in one day; as one saith of the Hyperborean people far north, that they sow shortly after the sunrising with them, and reap before the sunset; that is, because the whole half year is one continual day with them. The Church is God's husbandry, Heresbach. de re Rust. 1 Corinthians 3:9; the seed is the Word of God, Luke 8:11. Ministers are God's husbandmen, harvestmen, Matthew 9:37,38; the plough, Luke 9:62, plough staff, Luke 13:8, axe, Matthew 3:10, are the law's threatenings; the fruit causing rain are the promises of the Gospel, Isaiah 55:10,11; faith, that works by love, are the fruits; the last day, the harvest, Matthew 13:39; Matthew 13:41. Then at utmost, those that sow bountifully (or, in blessings, Eπ ευλογιας, as the Greek hath it) shall reap bountifully, 2 Corinthians 9:6. He that soweth seemeth to cast away his seed; but if he sow in locis irriguis Ecclesiastes 11:1 Eze 34:26 upon fat and fertile places, he knows he shall receive his own with usury. In some parts of Egypt, where the river Nile overfloweth, they do but throw in their seed, and they have four rich harvests in less than four months. Oh sow bountifully the seeds of piety and charity into God's blessed bosom; and then be sure to reap plentiful mercy, in thy greatest necessity; reap in the month of mercy. (as the original here hath it), that is, according to the measure of Divine mercy, see Leviticus 27:16 Exo 16:16 proportionably to the infiniteness of God's mercy. Now the Scripture hath three notable words to express the fulness of God's mercy in Christ to those that sow in righteousness: Ephesians 2:7, the abundant riches of his grace, that are cast in over and above; Romans 5:20, the grace of God hath been more than exceeding; there is a second υπερ : 1 Timothy 1:14, the grace of God was exceeding abundant. It had an abundance before: yea, but here is a super abundance; here is good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over shall God give into men's bosoms: like as when a poor man asked Mr Fox for an alms, he (finding him religious) gave him his horse; or as Alexander gave one (that craved some small courtesy of him) a whole city. And when the poor man said, it was too much for him to receive; yea, but not for me to give, said he, Non quaero quid te accipere deceat, sed quid me dare (Sen. de Benef.). So God giveth liberally and like himself, James 1:5. He doth not shift off his suitors, as once a great prince did a bold begging philosopher. He asked a groat of him, and the king told him, it was too little for a king to give. He requested the king then to give him a talent; the king replied, it was too much for a beggar to crave, ου Bασιλικον δομα ου κυνικον λημμα. Certain it is, that God in his spiritual blessings and mercies to us is wont to regard not so much what is fit for his to ask or expect, as what standeth with his goodness and greatness to bestow. If Israel had a hundredfold increase of his seed, Genesis 26:12, those that sow to themselves in righteousness, by doing and suffering God's will, shall have much more; even a hundredfold here, and eternal life hereafter, Matthew 19:29; so great a gain is godliness; so sure a gain is righteousness: who would not then turn spiritual seedsman?
Break up your fallow ground] sc. of your hearts, that ye sow not among the thorns, Jeremiah 4:3. The breaking up of sinful hearts is a singular means to prevent the breaking down of a sinful nation. Hence the prophet, though almost out of hope of any good to be done upon his desperate countrymen, resolves to try one more exhortation to them; and as in the morning he had sown his seed, so in the evening he withholdeth not his hand, Ecclesiastes 11:6, for who can tell whether it may not prosper? and whether in the midst of threats they might not suffer a word of exhortation, and whether it might not leave some impression, being delivered in few words? Hebrews 13:22. Sow (therefore saith he) to yourselves in righteousness, &c., but first "break up your fallow ground." Innovate vobis novale. Repent, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds; in spirit and speech, in mind and manners, in constitution and conversation, in the purpose of your hearts, and practice of your lives. Old things are past, let all things become new; turn up the turf, stock up and stab up the roots and weeds; get into Christ, and become a new creature, 2 Corinthians 5:17. Till this be done men are in an undone condition, though they should spend their whole time in gathering up pearls and jewels.
For it is time to seek the Lord] High time, since your souls lie upon it. Ploughmen, we know, are careful to take their time; so are all others, wise enough in their generation. The wayfaring man travelleth while it is light; the seafaring man takes his opportunity of wind and tide; the smith smites while the iron is hot; the lawyer takes his term-time a to entertain clients, despatch suits. The men of Issachar were in great account with David, because they had understanding of the time, to know what Israel ought to do, 1Ch 12:32 so are they with God that regard and use the seasons of grace; that "seek the Lord while he may be found, and call upon him while he is near," Isaiah 55:6; that put in the plough, set upon the practice of repentance, after a shower, when the heart is best affected; after God by his Word and Spirit hath taught (so some render the text) or rained righteousness upon them. Rain comes from heaven; so doth every good and perfect giving. Rain pours down plentifully, Psalms 68:9, thou didst send a plentiful rain on thine inheritance; so do the showers of righteousness on good hearts. Not a drop of rain falls in vain, or in a wrong place, but by a Divine decree, Job 28:26; so here. Seek it in time, and we shall not fail of it. Only we must not set God a time when to come, but wait upon him, who waiteth to be gracious. Elijah sent seven times ere the rain came. Seek till God comes; limit not the Holy One of Israel. As he seldom comes at our time, so he never fails in his own. Hold out, therefore, faith and patience; for behold he cometh on the clouds, on the wings of the wind, and his reward is with him. "To him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward," Proverbs 11:18 .
a The period during which the law courts are in session; ŒD