I. If you will return to the Lord

A. “If”: Word of condition

B. “You”: The one who has been offered the condition

C. “Return”: To turn back, repent

D. “To the Lord”: He has not left us, but we have left Him

II. What does it mean to return?

A. Put away your abominations out of His sight

1. Put away: “To turn off”

2. Abominations: “Disgusting, idolatrous”

3. His sight: Not just out of men’s sight; but out of God’s sight

III. Blessing of return

A. You shall swear, “The Lord lives.” (His presence and activity in our lives)

B. You will live in truth, judgment, and righteousness

1. Truth: “stability”

2. Judgment: “proper verdict; just sentence”

3. Righteousness: “rightness”

C. The nations (unbelievers) will bless themselves in Him and in Him they shall glory

IV. How do we return?

A. Break up your fallow ground

1. “Break up”: Till up

2. “Fallow ground”: uncultivated, unused, idle, unproductive. Many times land was cultivated and left unseeded to kill the weeds and to make it richer

3. Till the heart through that has weeds and thorns

B. Do not sow among thorns

1. Don’t quit trying to bring fruitfulness from a cursed landscape

C. Circumcise yourselves to the Lord; and take away the foreskins of your hearts

1. Remove the barrier of flesh that hinders intimacy with God

2. Establish your heart in covenant with God