Psalm 85:1-13 REVIVE US AGAIN
• Most scholars believe that it was written when Israel returned from captivity in Babylon.
• Israel have been restored to their land, but their hearts are still not where they need to be. The nation has experienced restoration, but it stands in great need of revival.
-The word “revival” means “to refresh; to restore to life; to live prosperously”.
-Jesus said I have come to give them “LIFE and life more abundantly”
(Burl Ives) - Revive us again; Fill each heart with Thy love;
May each soul be rekindled, With fire from above.
Hallelujah! Thine the glory. Hallelujah! Amen. Hallelujah! Thine the glory. Revive us again.
I. THE PSALMIST REMEMBERS THE PAST v. 1-3
1 LORD, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob. - Thou Hasts
We need to LOOK BACK as to where we were, where we were heading: BEFORE GOD!
Eph 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us!
-We were heading to a Christ-less Eternity with no hope – no happiness – and no help –
BUT GOD STEPPED IN!
A. He Remembers Their Captivity –v. 1 He remembers the years of exile in Babylon.
Eph 2:11- Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, (Separated From His Person- Salvation)
and strangers from the covenants of promise, (Separated from His Promise-The Blessings of God) having no hope, (Separated from His Position-A Child of the King)
and without God in the world (Separated from his Presence- and separated from His power)
B. He Remembers Their Cleansing – v. 1-2 “brought back” –
Idea of “going after and returning to rightful place”( In the garden of Eden when man sinned against God they lost a relationship with Christ – But the Lord Jesus died to BRING THEM BACK to that fellowship with God again-
(There is one God and one mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus)
C. He Remembers Their Conversion – v. 3 Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger.
He remembers when God gave peace instead of punishment.
II. THE PSALMIST REFLECTS ON THE PRESENT v. 4-7
4 Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.
Israel was back in the land, but they weren’t completely right with the Lord.
A. There Is A Need For Repentance – “turn us” translates the same word as “brought back” in verse 1 (REPENT MEANS TO CHANGE DIRECTION-CHANGE OUR FOCUS)
Heb 12:1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
LOOKING UNTO JESUS! - A re-focus toward the Lord Jesus Christ!
B. There Is A Need For Revival – v. 6 Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? - The Psalmist pleads for revival.
1. God's Purpose - Wilt thou not revive us again
2. God's People - that thy people
3. God's Pattern - Prayer - Prayer precedes Revival.
4. God's Praise - that thy people may rejoice in thee
C. There Is A Need For Revelation 7 Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation.
The Psalmist understands that revivals do not come from men, methods and messages; revivals come from God.
(A revival is a sovereign move of God among a spiritually prepared people.) "We do not have revivals to get men saved -- men get saved because we have revival."
D. There Is A Need For Restoration –
a refreshing of God’s Power, Presence and Purpose in our lives.
III. THE PSALMIST RESTS IN A PLAN v. 8-13
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.
Having expressed the need for revival, the Psalmist settles on a plan of action.
He tells us what he will do to seek the Lord for the revival
A. He Will Conform To God’s Word – v. 8 He will listen to the Word of God and he will live it out in his life. (That is a recipe for blessing!)
James 1:22 – “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” A Heart’s Revival will come when we OBEY GOD!
Psalm 119:16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
17 Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.
18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.
19 I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.
B. He Will Commit To God’s Ways – v. 9 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.
God has a plan for living, those who are wise fear the Lord, find His plan and live it out!
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
C. He Will Consider God’s Wonders – v. 10-13
10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
1. The Wonder Of God's Grace – “Mercy and truth are met together” – A hostile meeting!
Mercy requests one thing; truth demands another!
They are brought together by the grace of God.
2. The Wonder Of God's Goodness – v. 12 Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase. “GOD IS A GOOD GOD!”
He knows the heart of God, and the heart of God is to bless the people of God.
He believes the days of blessing and glory will return. He Understands that God is so Good!
3. The Wonder Of God's Guidance – v. 13 Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.
God will lead His people to places of blessing, peace and power, if they will just follow Him.
