Restore Us, O Lord God

• The second quote is from TV producer Norman Lear, who gave us Edith and Archie Bunker: "We’re in need of a spiritual revival." (4)

Now, to be honest with you I am not ready to allow the American Bar Association or a “TV sitcom-ist” lead me in prayer for revival. However, the fact that even these secularists understand the gravity of our position in front of God’s throne…how shallow our commitment is…how frail our spiritual life is – we, as the people of God, are bound to sit up and take note of the truth that we are not as prepared for the coming of Christ as we ought to be. Jesus’ next advent requires…

A READY HEART BECAUSE HE IS COMING AGINA

10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed. 11Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, 12waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? 2 Peter 3:10-12 (NRSV)

What sort of persons ought we to be, indeed?

We Ought to be People PRAYING FOR REVIVAL

Psalm 80:1-3

Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh. Stir up your might, and come to save us! Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved. (NRSV)

The Psalmist is praying to God, and he mentions Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh. According to the description of the tribes wandering in the desert after being led out of Egypt’s captivity, these were the first three tribes following behind the Ark of the Covenant, which was the symbol of God’s presence with His people.

Asking God to “let your face shine” points to that Ark as well, as it was the mercy seat, God’s seat, the place where God’s glory rested. “Come to save us” is a cry for redemption – a cry for the gift of life.

The church today must be praying for that kind of revival. “Viable” means “able to live”. We need that touch from God if we are to once-again live as His people, and not some obscene caricature of divine glory, corrupted.

Do you pray for revival? Will you?

We Ought to be People PRAYING WITH REPENTANCE

Psalm 80:4-7

O LORD God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers? You have fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in full measure. You make us the scorn of our neighbors; our enemies laugh among themselves. Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved. (NRSV)

“Restore us” is repeated, but it is taken further. The Psalmist had said, Restore us, O God (v.3); he now adds God of hosts. The God of hosts is more identifiable as God who is above all.

What does it mean to “restore”? Is the Psalmist longing, nostalgia in full gear, for God to “make things like they used to be?” I think not! Let me tell you why. I have served more than a half-dozen churches as pastor, preached in dozens more and known many folks who are good, God-fearing people. There is an epidemic among people above a certain age that makes us look back with that wistful eye, longing for “the days when”….