Revival In Politics, Church And Marriage Series

Can revivals reach worldly politics as well as righteous people? How do lovers picture a revival? Let's look at Esther, Job and the Song of Songs.

1) Esther’s Revival

Can God provide revival even through normal worldly politics?

Esther, a Jew, became queen to Persian King Ahasuerus, but evil Haman plotted to kill all the Jews, because “When Haman saw that Mordecai [Esther’s much older cousin] would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged.” (Esther 3:5 NIV) Saved through what seem like worldly circumstances, we often overlook God’s hand in history. The plot to kill the Jews failed and Haman was executed for his treachery. Jews in every province had been “fasting, weeping and wailing.” (Esther 4:3 NIV) In triumph the Jews were revived from impending death. Exile gave the Jews the festival of Purim to commemorate this time of national salvation.

Rejoice, lovers of God, because revival can look like ordinary politics until the moment of salvation from catastrophe.

2) Job’s Revival

Do even the most righteous among us need revival?

Job may have been a contemporary of the patriarchs, and like them was “blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.” (Job 1:1 NKJV) Was his character able to stand up to the devil’s worst torments? Tried severely, Job refuses to “curse God and die” (Job 2:9 NKJV). By the time three older friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite had finished giving their advice, Job declared “you forgers of lies, You are all worthless physicians.” (Job 13:4 NKJV) The younger friend, Elihu, finally speaks up in anger against Job, “because he justified himself rather than God.” (Job 32:2 NKJV). Worst of all he said was that Job “multiplies his words against God.” (Job 34:37 NKJV). And then it was the Lord’s turn to talk to Job. Was Job alive when God “laid the foundations of the earth?” (Job 38:4 NKJV) Confronted by the incredible omnipotence of God, Job had no answer. By the time God was finished describing His power and justice, Job repented and was restored. God revived Job’s life and gave him “twice as much as he had before.” (Job 42:10 NKJV)

Rejoice, lovers of God, and submit without complaint to life’s trials, looking to God alone for restoration and revival.

3) Revival of True Love

Is revival possible even via sexual love?

Prudish Christians love to separate divine love from erotic love, but the frank and detailed Song of Songs, intertwines the two majestically with all sexual purity. Is eroticism kept within the bounds of marital love, it is then a great blessing from God, a revival of heart and soul. Not as the world looks upon sex, but as God intended, this Song celebrates pure sensuality as it ought to be. The idea of sexual attraction between a man and a woman being representative of the love between Christ and His Church is not new (Song of Songs 1:16; 3:1-4; 5:3-5; 7:1-13). Song of Songs is the title given in the very first verse and it is far better than any popular love song because it sings of the greatest love, a love so great that one willingly died for the other. Of marital love and the personal revival brought to two people, this is a celebration, and yet in the most sensual of tones, this picture of marital love is just a tiny glimpse of the love between Christ and His Church. Songs of love are ubiquitous, but this one is the best, as it reminds us of the love of those who wait for Christ’s return saying, “Make haste, my beloved, And be like a gazelle.” (Song of Songs 8:14)

Rejoice, lovers of God, and look longingly for our Christ to return and the revival He brings, as lovers long for their beloved.

Revivals can reach even the jaded world of politics as well as righteous people who think they need no more repentance. The pure love between a man and woman pictures the longing of heart that takes place among those who love God and the love of Christ for His church.