SOIL PREPARATION

Jack Davis

“Make this valley full of ditches”

God our loving heavenly Father has for us multiplied blessings in the realm of the  Spirit. He has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. We are often found in poor condition to receive, and enter into the fullest enjoyment of them. The text for this prophetic command contains some instruction in type concerning our receptiveness to the Holy Spirit and His beneficial workings in our lives.

The kings of Judah, Edom, and Israel joined in battle against their enemy, the Moabites. Their seven day journey through the wilderness Edom, brought them to dire straits for they needed water. They decided to inquire of the Lord through the prophet Elisha. They found Elisha in a most disgruntled frame of mind toward the king of Israel, for they were an idolatrous family of rulers. It seems that Elisha could barely stand the sight of Jehoram. Yet because he stood before the Lord and had regard for the king of Judah, he got in the mood to receive this prophecy as the minstrel played.

He told them to make the valley that they were in, full of ditches; “For thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink…” II Kings 4:16-17. This work was no big deal for Him, He also promised to deliver their enemy into their hand. The next morning water came, instead of running swiftly off that hard dry soil, the ditches helped retained it.

The Moabites saw the sun reflecting off the water and it looked like blood to them. They thought that all they had to do was walk in and take the spoil, that those armies had slain one another. The Mobites were utterly surprised when Israel, Judah, and Edom rose up, smote them, and put them in flight.

Making ditches in the valley probably sounded like the last thing they would want to be doing with their enemy at hand. Many valleys contain rich fertile, productive soil, but if it has not been prepared to receive the God sent moisture, it will just run off. A dried up river bed can be a very dangerous place to camp, if a sudden rain was to come down from up stream. 

How about the soil of our hearts?

“For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.” Heb. 6:7-9.

In this great salvation we are given exceeding great and precious promises. When God brings us to and through some dry hard lowland experiences, we are made to realize our need for the comfort of the Holy Spirit all the more. If our hearts are unprepared we can miss much benefit. Some hearts seem to be hardened by unbelief in those trying times, while others “drink in” and are refreshed, revived, even renewed.

God is faithful to remind

From time to time God reminded Israel of their attitude of heart. They were often told of His mercy and favor that should have softened their hardening heart. “For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem. Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns. Circumcise yourselves to the LORD and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.” Jer. 4:3-4.

“And Ephraim is as an heifer that is taught, and loveth to tread out the corn; but I passed over upon her fair neck: I will make Ephraim to ride; Judah shall plow, and Jacob shall break his clods. Sow to ourselves 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. Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.” Hosea 10:11-13.

Soil conditions typical

In Matt. 13:1-23, we find soil conditions that express the differing measures of receptiveness in human hearts, and responsiveness to the Holy Spirit. The seed, God’s precious Word tries the soil. Thank God we are born again, “not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible by the word of God which liveth and abideth forever.”

In Matt. 5:1-12, I sense some blessings realized in divinely prepared soil. Jesus makes known that the poor in spirit, pure in heart, peacemakers and persecuted are by Him prepared for blessing. So also are those that mourn, and are meek, and are merciful. Praise God for those that do hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled. Our God is just as willing to bring us into an awareness of our spiritual need, as He is ready and able to satisfy.

The hungry and thirsty are invited to ask

Jesus told the woman at the well, “If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith unto thee, give me to drink, thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.” John 4:10.

“Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water, (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holly Ghost was not yet given, because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)” John 7:37-39.

Has He not said? “For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon the seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses.” Isa. 44:3-4. As in Isa. 55:1-3 it is those that realize their need that are urged to come and partake.

A place of rich deposit

“Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? And where is the place of my rest? For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.” Isa. 66:1-2. Has the Lord found in you a place to write His wonderful words of love, life, and light? Does the Word of God touch you thus? Does it humble you so it can lift you up? Are you ever smitten thereby? Can it make you shudder and shake in awe or in joy? Consider Psa. 34:18 and 51:15-17.

He can fill our ditches with more than drink and deliverance