Hosea 10:11-15

In the end, because of the salvation provided in Jesus, all  those who seek Him will be found! He will rid the Church of the tares and the false prophets.

The time is now to establish justice for ALL of God’s creation and adherence to His commands to love Him above any person, place, or thing and to love others more than we love our earthly comforts. Then mercy shall reign on our land.

There is strength in the unity of the Holy Spirit which He gives to believers and His Body, the Church.

Break up for yourself fallow ground is an agricultural metaphor urging the people to prepare themselves to accept God’s message and repent. Faithlife Bible.

Israel’s rebellious spirit necessitated harsh treatment, compared here to a farmer binding his calf to the yoke and forcing it to do hard labor. Threshing in this context refers to Israel’s service to the Lord; plowing refers to the discipline that Israel had to acquire through judgment and exile.

In Israel’s case, the people had to reestablish social justice—righteousness—and loyalty—mercy—in the land.

Plowing and planting are necessary preliminary steps for growing a crop, which eventually sprouts when the rain falls in season. In the same way, repentance would set the stage for restored blessing, which God would eventually rain down on His people.

History:

The identity of the conqueror Shalman and the location of Beth Arbel are uncertain. At any rate, the battle referred to seems to have been well known to Hosea’s audience because of its extreme violence. Israel’s defeat would be so swift that the nation’s king would be cut off before the battle had scarcely begun. NKJ BIble.

Hosea 10:11–15 (NKJV)

¹¹ Ephraim is a trained heifer

That loves to thresh grain;

But I harnessed her fair neck,

I will make Ephraim pull a plow.

Judah shall plow;

Jacob shall break his clods.”

¹² Sow for yourselves righteousness;

Reap in mercy;

Break up your fallow ground,

For it is time to seek the Lord,

Till He comes and rains righteousness on you.

¹³ You have plowed wickedness;

You have reaped iniquity.

You have eaten the fruit of lies,

Because you trusted in your own way,

In the multitude of your mighty men.

¹⁴ Therefore tumult shall arise among your people,

And all your fortresses shall be plundered

As Shalman plundered Beth Arbel in the day of battle—

A mother dashed in pieces upon her children.

¹⁵ Thus it shall be done to you, O Bethel,

Because of your great wickedness.

At dawn the king of Israel

Shall be cut off utterly.

Jeremiah 4:3 (NKJV)

³ For thus says the Lord to the men of Judah and Jerusalem:

“Break up your fallow ground,

And do not sow among thorns.