Revivals Of Isaiah And Jeremiah Series

Let's look at the oft criticized message of God's prophets and the blessing that prophets bring. Let's examine specifically Isaiah and Jeremiah.

1) Isaiah’s Revival

Can trials and tribulations be forecasters of a soon-coming revival?

Prophecies of judgment upon Judah and Jerusalem (Isaiah 1-12) accompany prophecies against Babylon, Philistia, Moab, Damascus, Ethiopia, Egypt, Dumah, Arabia, Tyre (Isaiah 3-23), the whole world (Isaiah 24-27), Egypt, Assyria (Isaiah 28-33), and Edom (Isaiah 34-35). Of central importance is to realize that God’s punishment is intended to restore. Suffering is mixed in with visions of revival in Christ’s kingdom (Isaiah 2-4, 32, 35) because suffering and sacrifice are forerunners to revival (Isaiah 49-55), and Christ’s suffering makes all revival possible (Isaiah 52-53). Anticipate revival when we see suffering, because the most wonderful time in human history is just around the corner (Isaiah 56-66). Revival will explode worldwide once Christ establishes His kingdom on earth, “For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, ‘I dwell on a high and holy place, And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of the contrite.’ ” (Isaiah 57:15 NASB)

Rejoice, lovers of God, when trials and tribulations come, because revival is not far away.

2) Jeremiah’s Revival

Can tough preaching about repentance be a forecast of soon-coming revival?

Jeremiah preached “the word of the Lord” (Jeremiah 1:2, 4, 11, 13 KJV, NKJV, NIV, NASB) in the years leading up to the exile of Jews to Babylon, teaching that their worship of idols was like the infidelity of an adulterous wife and the disobedience of rebellious children. Inviting “return” (Jeremiah 3:7, 9, 12, 14, 22; 4:1) of the “faithless” (Jermiah 3:6, 8, 11, 14, 22), God promises doom should they remain unrepentant and the prophet mourns. Repentance in the New Testament comes from a Greek word meaning a change of mind or heart, and in Jeremiah a complementary word “return” means to turn back to God. While the faithful prophet preached to those who will not listen, he mourned as the people fashioned trees into idols (Jeremiah 10). Rejected and persecuted for preaching God’s warning (Jeremiah 18), Jeremiah is led by God to break a potter’s vessel to signify Jerusalem’s doom (Jeremiah 19), an unpopular ministry (Jermiah 20). Yet, a righteous branch or descendant of king David, will rise up and he will be called “The Lord Our Righteousness” (Jeremiah 23:6 NASB), Babylon will be judged (Jeremiah 25) a new covenant will be made, which will bring revival whereby God’s law will be written on men’s hearts (Jeremiah 31:31-34), and “shall execute justice and righteousness on the earth.” (Jeremiah 33:15 NASB) Revival will not come until punishment has brought the nation to its knees. Will other nations also repent? Come and see the worldwide revival that the Righteous Branch will bring.

Rejoice, lovers of God, when a faithful preacher speaks of doom and gloom, and take heed of God’s warning, and when you do, revival is not too far away.

3) Lamentations’ Revival

In the midst of mourning can revival be far off?

In five poems lamenting the fall of Jerusalem, Jeremiah provides the hope of revival in the midst of destruction, “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV). Lamentation is a passionate expression of sorrow, an opportunity for confession of sins, forgiveness and revival. Is there an answer when we pray, “Restore us, O LORD, and bring us back to you again! Give us back the joys we once had” (Lamentations 5:21 NLT)? Hope for revival in the midst of deep sorrow, is a message for our age too.

Rejoice, lovers of God, that even in the midst of our deepest sorrows, lies the hope of revival.

Don't despise the prophet. His message may seem negative, and we may prefer something more uplifting, but remember that blessed are they that mourn, because mourning produces repentance, and repentance brings God's blessings.