Psalm 85
Revival is more an Old Testament concept. Out of the 16 times that the word “revive,”
is used in the scripture, 14 of those occurrences are in the Old Testament.
The word means to live and to have life; to remain alive and to sustain life; to be quickened from sickness, discouragement, faintness, or death; to be restored to life or health, to cause to grow.
Revival suggests the idea of Living; the idea of Lasting; and the idea of Lifting.
A Heartbroken Jacob experienced revival in Gen 45:27, “And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived.”
A Helpless Samson experienced revival in Judges 15:19 “God clave an hollow place that was in the jaw, and there came water thereout; and when he had drunk, his spirit came, and he revived.”
A Hapless, Son experienced revival in 1 Kings 17:22 “the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him, and he revived.”
A Hopeless Soldier in 2 Kings 13:21 “it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.”
I. The Season Of Revival In This Psalm
A. The Season Of Revival Is When the Lord Magnifies His Favour -
1. LORD, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob
“favourable” means to be pleased with, to satisfy a debt, to be accepted or acceptable,
The Lord Is Showing
1. His Acceptance Of His People - 1 LORD, thou hast been favourable unto thy land
2. His Affection For His People - thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob
3. His Authority To His People -
2 Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah
B. The Season Of Revival Is When the Lord Manifests His Forgiveness
2 Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.
1. The Cleansing Associated With Forgiveness - Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people
2. The Covering Associated With Forgiveness - “covered” means to fill up the hollows.
Sin had left them empty. God can fill those void and empty places.
3. The Consideration Associated With Forgiveness - “selah” means that as this song was sung, they would pause for effect, allowing the hearer to consider what they had just heard.
C. The Season Of Revival Is When the Lord Moves from His Fierceness
3 Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger
“fierceness” suggests a sore displeasure and the burning of anger.
1. The Burning Of God’s Anger Has Ceased - 3 Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger.
2. But The Burden Of God’s Anger Has Continued - 4 Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease. 5 Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations? - God, you have turned; now turn us
II. The Source Of Revival In This Psalm -
6 Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?
(a) The Request, “Wilt Thou not revive us again.”
(b) The Relationship, “thy people.”
(c) The Rejoicing, “that thy people may rejoice in thee.”
A. Revival Comes From The God Who Remembers Us
Ezra 9:8 And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.
We Know That God Has Remembered :-
1. Because He Has Forgiven Us
2. Fastened Us and to give us a nail in his holy place
3. Furthered Us (Because He Has Shown Us Revival)
B. Revival Comes From The God Who Recovers Us
1. Like The Revitalizing Of Spring - Hosea 14:7 They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.
2. Like The Renewing Of Strength - Habakkuk 3:2 O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.
C. Revival Comes From The God Who Responds To Us
1. To Our Humility With A Spirit Of Revival - Isaiah 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
2. To Our Hardship With A Spirit Of Revival - Psalms 138:7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.
III. The Substance Of Revival In This Psalm
7 Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation.
A. Revival Involves The Listening Heart 8 I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly
“hear”, meaning to hear intelligently, to hear attentively, to hear carefully, to hear certainly,
to hear diligently, to hear surely, to listen. What are we listening for?
1. The Lord Has A Word Of Favour For His Righteous People
8 I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.
2. The Lord Has A Word Of Freedom For His Rejoicing People
9 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.
B. Revival Involves The Looking Heaven
11 Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
ie. Righteousness shall descend from heaven; or shall come from above-as if the rain, and the sun looked down from heaven, and saw the needs of man.
The idea here is that it bent over, or leaned forward to look at the necessities of man –
so God seems anxious to bestow on man the blessings of salvation.
What is the righteousness of God looking for?
1. God Wants To See That Which Is Reconciled
10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
2. God Wants To See That Which Is Real
11 Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
Dr. Hammond suggests ... “Truth shall spring out of the hearts of men.”
C. Revival Involves The Lord's Help
1. The Lord Will Give According To That Which Is Good
12 Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase.
2. The Lord Will Guide According To That Which Is Godly
13 Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.
Duncan Campbell - Berneray - Revival
