Revival For The Hurting Soul
(Psalm 85:1-13)
Introduction:I read about a lady who asked the great evangelist of the early 20th century, Billy Sunday, “Why do you keep having revivals when it doesn’t last?” In response, he reportedly asked her, “Why do you keep taking baths?”
The effect of a revival or a bath may not last as long as we would want it to, but both are needed from time to time.
Are we going to have revival here next week? I heard Ravi Zacharias deliberately use this phrase on the radio some time ago: “It all depends on what you mean by…” So are we going to have revival here this week? It all depends on what you mean by “revival.” Is revival simply a series of services scheduled to add another demand upon church people who are already busy? That’s what some may think. Is revival merely a meeting designed to tide us over till the next big event, a means of getting a spiritual battery charge? Some may embrace that view. One preacher defined “revival” as being brought out of a state of spiritual comatose, and I think that’s a pretty good definition. However, as a preacher who is interested in revival, I have continued to ask myself, “What is revival?” and “What does it mean to have revival?”
Stephen Olford said, “Revival is an invasion from heaven that brings a conscious awareness of God.”
Robert Coleman said, “Revival is that sovereign work of God in which He visits His own people, restoring and releasing them into the fullness of His blessing.”
James A. Stewart said, “Revival is the people of God living in the power of an ungrieved, unquenched Spirit.”
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones said, “A revival means days of heaven on earth.”
Vance Havner said, “Revival is the church falling in love with Jesus all over again.”
James Packer wrote…
Revival is the visitation of God which brings to life Christians who have been sleeping and restores a deep sense of God’s near presence and holiness. Thence springs a vivid sense of sin and a profound exercise of heart in repentance, praise, and love, with an evangelistic outflow.
Each revival movement has its own distinctive features, but the pattern is the same every time.
First God comes. On New Year’s Eve 1739, John Wesley, George Whitefield, and some of their friends held a “love feast” which became a watch night of prayer to see the New Year in. At about 3 a.m., Wesley wrote, “the power of God came mightily upon us, insomuch that many cried for exceeding joy, and many fell to the ground.” Revival always begins with a restoration of the sense of the closeness of the Holy One.
Second, the gospel is loved as never before. The sense of God’s nearness creates an overwhelming awareness of one’s own sins and sinfulness, and so the power of the cleansing blood of Christ is greatly appreciated.
Then repentance deepens. In the Ulster revival in the 1920s shipyard workers brought back so many stolen tools that new sheds had to be built to house the recovered property! Repentance results in restitution.
Finally, the Spirit works fast: godliness multiplies, Christians mature, converts appear. Paul was at Thessalonica for less than three weeks, but God worked quickly and Paul left a virile church behind him.
(Your Father Loves You, Harold Shaw Publishers, 1986)
I have certainly heard of great Revivals in years gone by. The year 2004 marked the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the Welsh Revival that began under the leading of a 26-year-old Evan Roberts at Moriah Chapel in Loughor, Wales. Over 100,000 people were reportedly saved as a result of this revival. The Welsh Revival website states, “In asking one elderly Revival convert some years ago as to whether the Revival stopped in 1906, she answered – its still burning within my heart – it’s never been extinguished – it has burned for over 70 years.”[1]
When we study the subject of revival, we learn that revival is more of an Old Testament concept. Out of the 16 times that the words “revive,” or “revived,” or “reviving” are used in the scripture, 14 of those occurrences are in the Old Testament. In each of those fourteen occurrences, the word is derived from the Hebrew word chayah, which 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.[2] Revival then suggests the idea of living; it suggests the idea of lasting; and it suggests the idea of lifting.
This morning, I’m interested in Psalm 85, and in this Psalm we are introduced to the subject of revival, particularly in verse 6 where the psalmist prays, “Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?” Revival does seem to be the theme of this Psalm. The request for revival in verse 6 indicates that revival was what God’s people needed during this time.
It would be helpful then to know when this psalm was written. According to John Gill, “This psalm is generally thought to have been composed after the return of the Jews from their captivity in Babylon; and yet when they were in some distress from their neighbours, either in the times of Ezra and Nehemiah, or in the times of Antiochus.” Matthew Henry also wrote, “Interpreters are generally of the opinion that this Psalm was penned after the return of the Jews out of their captivity in Babylon, when they still remained under some token of God’s displeasure, which they here pray for the removal of.”[3] This Psalm then is the heart-cry of a hurting soul, and I believe this morning that there can be Revival For The Hurting Soul, that one who feels that they too are under some token of God’s displeasure.
You’ll notice that the inscription of the psalm reads, “To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.” This simply indicates that it was presented to the chief musician as a song or psalm to be sung, and it was presented to the sons of Korah “as a treasure to be kept by them, who were of the number of the Levites.”[4]
IVP Bible Background Commentary says…
The superscriptions of Psalms 42; 44-49; 84-85; and 87-88 contain the phrase “sons of Korah.” The Korahites are first listed in Numbers 26:58 among the chief Levitical families. In the description of the temple bureaucracy in 1 Chronicles 24-26 the Korahites are listed as “gatekeepers” (1 Chronicles 26:1). Their association with praising the Lord in 2 Chronicles 20:19 may also be the basis for their mention in the Psalms.
While the original intent of this Psalm was that it should be sung, I’m not going to attempt to sing this psalm this morning (and all of God’s people said “Amen”), but it is on my heart to preach from Psalm 85, and again, our thought here is “Revival For The Hurting Soul.”
As we begin, let’s…
I. Notice The Past Demonstrations Of The Lord’s Working In A Reviving Way (Psalm 85:1-3)
The poet first of all looks back into the past, so rich in tokens of favour. The six perfects are a remembrance of former events, since nothing precedes to modify them. (Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament)
What does he mean by “the six perfects?” He’s referring to these three couplets and six statements in verses 1 thru 3 that each begins with the phrase, “Thou hast…” He’s talking about the past demonstrations of the Lord’s working. The psalmist says repeatedly to the Lord, “Thou hast,” indicating that this is what He has already done. So what has He done in days gone by?
A. In Days Gone By, The Lord Has Magnified His FavorPsalm 85:1
(Psalms 85:1) LORD, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.
The Bible says that the Lord has “been favourable” (Psalms 85:1). This word “favourable” means to be pleased with, to satisfy a debt, be accepted or acceptable, to accomplish, to set affection, to approve and pardon, to delight and enjoy, to take pleasure in, to reconcile. Thus...
1. The Lord Is Showing His Reconciling Acceptance Of His People
2. The Lord Is Showing His Returning Affection Toward His People
brought back – Hebrew 7725. shuwb, a primary root word meaning to turn back. The term doesn’t necessarily have the idea of returning to the starting point. You see, we can’t undo things that have already been done, but God can bring about a turning process in our hearts and in our situations.
B. In Days Gone By, The Lord Has Manifested His ForgivenessPsalm 85:2
(Psalms 85:2) Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.
1. This Verse Manifests The Covering Associated With Forgiveness
“Cover” [kaacaah (OT:3680)] is the expression for “atone” - i.e., to hide out of God’s view our sin by the reconciliation effected through the blood of Jesus (Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary).
The word “covered” is the Hebrew word kacah, which also has the idea of filling up the hollows. Sin had left them empty. God can fill those void and empty places.
2. This Verse Manifests The Consideration Associated With Forgiveness
The use of the word “selah” means that as this song was sung, they would have a suspension of the music here. There would be a pause for effect, allowing the hearer to consider and meditate on what they had just heard.
(1 John 1:9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Selah!
C. In Days Gone By, The Lord Has Moved from His FiercenessPsalm 85:3
(Psalms 85:3) Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger.
This word “fierceness” suggests a sore displeasure and the burning of anger. Therefore...
1. His Initial Anger Has SettledThou hast taken away all thy wrath
wrath – Hebrew 5678. ‘ebrah, means an outburst of passion: --anger, rage. It’s like there has been a spontaneous combustion of God’s anger.
2. His Ignited Anger Has Subsided
fierceness – Hebrew 2740. charown, means a burning of anger:--sore displeasure.
anger – Hebrew 639. ‘aph, properly it means the nose or nostril; hence the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire.
II. Notice The Present Desire Of The Lord’s Working In A Reviving Way(Psalm 85:4-7)
Just as there are three couplets of remembrance in verses 1 thru 3, there are three cries of request in verses 4 thru 7. In verse 4, the psalmist says, “Turn us.” In verse 6, the psalmist says, “Revive us.” Then in verse 7, the psalmist says, “Show us thy mercy … and grant us thy salvation.”
A. The Psalmist Expresses A Desire For God To Restore UsPsalm 85:4-5
This word “turn” is a marvelously fascinating word, and it is also a multi-faceted word. Like a precious gemstone, it has many angles and surfaces in its meaning. This word “turn” has the idea of recovery, refreshing, relief, repentance, and rescue. It has the idea of retrieving something, of returning to something, of reversing something, and of restoring something.
1. This Restoration Process Involves A Forsaking Of Our Iniquity
While the burning of God’s anger has ceased, the burden of God’s anger has continued. Therefore, the psalmist prays, “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?” (Psalms 85:4-5). God, you have turned; now turn us and change our hearts and remove those things that ignited your anger to begin with!
It’s interesting that the psalmist makes his appeal to the “God of our salvation.” It’s as if he’s saying, “You have saved us from captivity, now save us from ourselves.”
2. This Restoration Process Involves A Finalizing Of His Indignation
(Psalms 85:4) Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.
The word “anger” here in verse 4 is the term kah’-as, and it means vexation, provocation, sorrow, wrath, grief, and indignation.
The prayer here is, “turn us”; turn us from our sins; bring us to repentance; make us willing to forsake every evil way; and enable us to do it. This is the proper spirit always in prayer. The first thing is not that He would take away his wrath, but that He would dispose us to forsake our sins, and to turn to Himself; that we may be led to abandon that which has brought His displeasure upon us, and then that He will cause His anger toward us to cease. We have no authority for asking God to turn away His judgments unless we are willing to forsake our sins; and in all cases we can hope for the divine interposition and mercy, when the judgments of God are upon us, only as we are willing to turn from our iniquities.
(From Barnes’ Notes)
cease – Hebrew 6565. parar; to break up (usually fig., i.e. to violate, frustrate):-- X any ways, break (asunder), cast off, cause to cease, X clean, defeat, disannul, disappoint, dissolve, divide, make of none effect, fail, frustrate, bring (come) to nought, X utterly, make void.
B. The Psalmist Expresses A Desire For God To Revive UsPsalm 85:6
(Psalms 85:6) Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?
1. His Request Includes The Renewing Or Recovering Of Strengthrevive us
revive – Hebrew 2421. chayah, means to live, to quicken, to recover, to repair, to restore, to be made whole.
2. His Request Includes The Rejoicing Of Spiritthat thy people may rejoice
rejoice – Hebrew 8055. samach, means to brighten up, cheer up, to make merry.
C. The Psalmist Expresses A Desire For God To Rescue UsPsalm 85:7
1. May There Be A Beholding Of His Pity To Rescue
(Psalms 85:7) Show us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation.
[Show us thy mercy, O LORD] That is, Manifest thy mercy in returning to us; in forgiving our sins; in taking from us the tokens of thy displeasure. (Barnes’ Notes)
The word for “show” is translated elsewhere in the Old Testament as “behold, consider, discern, enjoy, experience, gaze, perceive, stare, and view” among others.
2. May There Be A Bestowing Of His Power To Rescue
(Psalms 85:7) Show us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation.
[And grant us thy salvation] Salvation or deliverance from our present trouble and calamities. (Barnes’ Notes)
salvation – Hebrew 3468. yesha'; from H3467 (to be free or safe); liberty, deliverance, prosperity:--safety, saving.
III. Notice The Personal Dimensions Of The Lord’s Working In A Reviving Way (Psalm 85:8-13)
A. The Psalmist Seems To Say, “I Will Personally Be Hearing”Psalm 85:8-9
The word “hear” in verse 8 is the Hebrew word shamah, 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?
A. W. Tozer wrote…
Lord, teach me to listen. The times are noisy and my ears are weary with the thousand raucous sounds which continuously assault them. Give me the spirit of the boy Samuel when he said to Thee, "Speak, for thy servant heareth." Let me hear Thee speaking in my heart. Let me get used to the sound of Thy voice, that its tones may be familiar when the sounds of earth die away and the only sound will be the music of Thy speaking voice. Amen. (From “The Pursuit of God”)
1. We Are Listening For A Word Of Peace That Leads To Piety
(Psalms 85:8) 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.
Illustrate:Berlis Owen used to sing
Far away in the depths of my spirit tonight rolls a melody sweeter than song.
In celestial like strains it unceasingly falls like the …?
Peace, peace, wonderful peace
Flowing down from the Father ????
2. We Are Listening For A Word Of Pardon (Prosperity, Progression) That Leads To Praise
(Psalms 85:9) Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.
salvation – [Hebrew yesha'] liberty, deliverance, prosperity:--safety, salvation, saving.
glory – [Hebrew kabowd] prop. weight; but only fig. in a good sense, splendor or copiousness:--glorious (-ly), glory, honour (-able).
B. The Psalmist Seems To Say, “I Will Personally Be Honest”Psalm 85:10-11
1. When God Sends Revival We Can Have A Harmony In Truth
(Psalms 85:10) Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
Truth has been meeting with judgment, but now judgment goes back to the Father’s house and mercy comes.
The righteousness of God’s heart reaches down and kisses the peace in our hearts.
2. When God Sends Revival We Can Have A Heart Of Truth
(Psalms 85:11) 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.”