Revive Us Again!

Won’t you revive us again, so your people can rejoice in you?

Psalm 85:6

As I look back upon my life, I consider how God has poured out his grace upon me. Since I became a Christian at a Billy Graham crusade when I was only six years old, I didn't exactly have a prodigal-son-like experience of repentance. But, since that time, I have messed up my life through bad choices and a residual penchant for sin. Yet, God has been gracious to me again and again, delivering me from the messes I have made, giving me hope when I felt hopeless, and working away at helping me to become more like Christ. For God's amazing, tenacious grace, I am most grateful.

Psalm 85 begins with a corporate experience of remembrance not unlike the personal one I have just described. The sons of Korah, who composed this psalm, begin: "Lord, you poured out blessings on your land! You restored the fortunes of Israel. You forgave the guilt of your people—yes, you covered all their sins" (85:2).

But, as is usually the case, the people of Israel did not remain within the gracious restoration provided by the Lord. In verse 4, the psalm writers shift from celebration to supplication: "Now restore us again, O God of our salvation." They ask the Lord to quench his anger (85:5). In verse 6 they ask: "Won't you revive us again, so your people can rejoice in you?"

Won't you revive us again? How often have I prayed this way throughout my life. Revive me again, Lord. Again! God has been so generous to me, yet I have fallen back. God has reached out to me, yet I have turned away from him. When the results of my sorry choices finally catch up with me, I echo the fervent cries of the sons of Korah: Won't you revive me again?

The good news is that God will indeed revive us again. God's grace is just that, grace. It depends on God's unchanging nature, not on our faithfulness. In the words of Romans 8:38-39: "And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." Thanks be to God!

QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER REFLECTION: Have there been times in your life when you have prayed, "Revive me again"? Do you need to pray that way today? If so, will you?

PRAYER:

We praise Thee, O God! For the Son of Thy love,
For Jesus Who died, and is now gone above.

Hallelujah! Thine the glory. Hallelujah! Amen.
Hallelujah! Thine the glory. Revive us again.

We praise Thee, O God! For Thy Spirit of light,
Who hath shown us our Savior, and scattered our night.

Hallelujah! Thine the glory. Hallelujah! Amen.
Hallelujah! Thine the glory. Revive us again.

All glory and praise to the Lamb that was slain,
Who hath borne all our sins, and hath cleansed every stain.

Hallelujah! Thine the glory. Hallelujah! Amen.
Hallelujah! Thine the glory. Revive us again.

All glory and praise to the God of all grace,
Who hast brought us, and sought us, and guided our ways.

Hallelujah! Thine the glory. Hallelujah! Amen.
Hallelujah! Thine the glory. Revive us again.

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.

"Revive Us Again" by William P. Mackay, 1863.

Image courtesy of Laity Lodge Family Camp, one of our sister programs in the Foundations for Laity Renewal.