Bible Commentaries
Jeremiah 4

Verses 1-31

Jeremiah 4:3 For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.

Jeremiah 4:3 “Break up your fallow ground” Comments - Fallow ground is a figurative term for the heart of man. See the Parable of the Sower in Mark 4:1-20. The term “fallow ground” is also used in Hosea 10:12, “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.”

Jeremiah 4:3 Comments - In the early spring of 1994 Bob Seymour received a vision from God while in Ireland regarding the coming of revival that helped him to understand why laughter had become so much a part of revivals that was taking place during the 1990’s. In this vision he say what looked like a children’s storybook entitled “Pre-revival”. The book contained a picture of a woman’s womb with twins in her womb. The Lord spoke to him and said that the son of the left was the son of tears with its four accompanying characteristics of crying, weeping groaning and mourning. The son of the right was the son of laughter with its four accompanying characteristics of joy, gladness, hilarity and exuberance. When he turned the page he saw these two sons of tears and laughter in their adolescence moving through crowds of saints in church services touching them by laying hands upon them many times as well as alternately. When Pastor Seymour asked the Lord why tears and laughter were prerequisites to revival, the Lord showed him this vision. He saw a well-worn pathway upon which the rain simply ran off without soaking into its soil because it was too compact for the water to penetrate so that the soil could not receive the rain. The rain simply flowed over its surface. Then at the end of the pathway he saw these two boys plowing up the compacted path. At first it came up in huge lumps, but was soon broken up into smaller pieces. Then the Lord’s hand came down and ground up the soil into a fine texture. The Lord then said, “The seeds of revival have landed on the path for many years, but the soil was not ready to receive them. Now the seeds will be planted and the plants will grow and be harvested with much fruit. For I will pour my rain on a thirsty soil and the seed will germinate.” While he saw this vision, there rang in his ears two verses of Scripture, Jeremiah 4:3 and Hosea 10:12 about the fallow ground. Then he understood why laughter was a part of tears in bringing revival since these characteristics prepare our hearts to receive from God. [13]

[13] Bob Seymour, “Sermon on Relationships,” Calvary Cathedral International, Fort Worth, Texas, 28 September 1995.

As a seminary student I once heard a seasoned professor say that if you can get your class to laugh, then they would believe anything you said to them. In other words, laughter as well as tears opens our hearts.

Jeremiah 4:22 For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.

Jeremiah 4:22 “they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge” - Comments - Note a similar description to Paul’s description to the Church in 1 Corinthians 14:20, “Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.”

Jeremiah 4:23 I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.

Jeremiah 4:23 Comments - Note that this description is similar to Genesis 1:2, “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”