A NEED FOR REVIVAL
Psalm 85: 1-7
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A PRESBYTERIAN PSALTER - by Pastor Max A Forsythe |
J.I. Packer in the forward to a book on Revival by the late Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones tells us that on the centenary year of the great revival of 1859, the British evangelical preached his heart out for the outbreak of a modern revival. This hope was his during a lifetime of earnest prayer and preaching. Now, revival for Doctor Jones "meant more than evangelism that brings in converts, and more than cheerfulness, enthusiasm, and a balanced budget in the local church. What he was after was the new quality of spiritual life that comes through knowing the greatness and nearness of our holy, gracious Creator ... ."
In the introductory sermon of his series thirty-some years ago, Dr Lloyd-Jones observed that it should be obvious "that the Church is patently failing, that she does not count even as much as she did in the memory of many of us today. Certainly she does not count as she did seventy, eighty or a hundred years ago." Many are the times and places where there was and is a great need for real revival. Every once in a while you will hear that some particular area of the world is a real spiritual hot spot and that a revival has had a profound impact upon a specific region.
Perhaps you have heard of a Canadian "revival" in the last few years? As that rumor turned out, it was only the laughing hysterics of a particular brand of pentecostalism. Someone even once reported a revival going on in Central Ohio when they moved out of state. A minister in California even once sent me several books on how to create a revival here. How little do some people appreciate the real flowing of God's gracious life-giving Spirit. Certainly we know that God is providentially growing His true Church and that within His will, the Gospel may once again be in season! To that end, like D Lloyd-Jones, we should be in earnest prayer.
This topic of revival is what originally drew me to this psalm today. Derek Kidner even entitles this eighty-fifth psalm "Revival". Today, let us consider the first seven verses of this particular hope drawn from the hearts of the Sons of Korah. We shall divide this psalm portion into three parts. Verses one and two which the psalmist highlights with the instruction "Selah" will focus our attention on the memory of God's earlier favor. After pausing to consider the merciful depths of that favor we are reminded in verse three of the divine wrath which has been set aside. And in verses four to seven we shall see the humble petitions of God's elect people.
Let us begin with the memories of verse one. Shall we not acknowledge the incredible divine favor showered upon us in this pleasant bountiful country? We have only to consider the blessings of the last five hundred years for the poor, the destitute and the slaves who were transported to these American continents where they all eventually found freedom and prosperity beyond imagination in their homelands.
Our psalmist moves on in verse two to consider the great and glorious mercy of our Father in heaven who forgave "the iniquity of [our] people and [has] covered all their sins." This is the favor described in verse one. The glorious gospel of grace is more than a kindly word. The hint of the Hebrew here aims at the atonement whereby we may be found acceptable.
In the second stroph of verse two the covering here implies a complete blacking out of prior sins. This complete cleaning is a necessary lesson for us to really truly learn and appreciate. Years ago at a Christian camp I took a group of kids out onto a hill late at night where we could lay down and look up at the stars. There I reminded them of the great distances of all those points of light. Every once in a while ,I told them, one of those lights go out. That means that however far away that star was, it was that long since its light even existed. In this sense we may forgive the sins of those who hurt us. Yes we say we forgive, but we continue to remember.
What if those stars in heaven who cease to exist, immediately canceled out the last rays of outgoing light so that what we see in the heavens was current reality? But, that is contrary to the apparent laws of nature. It is just as contrary to our fallen methods of forgiveness. But, God's forgiveness is total and complete. When our sins are forgiven it is just like they were cast into a deep dark hole in space from which no light can ever escape. This is how our sins are covered and well does the psalmist encourage us to pause and consider the tender mercies of the divine favor in this regard.
In verse three our psalmist notes that even the divine wrath which is well deserved by our sins, is even set aside. No longer is the fierce anger of our Holy Creator directed at us. Well indeed are our sins covered. These phrases in the first three verses show us that the psalmist is not pining for past glories, but instead is remembering past mercies. Too often, when we remember the past glories of the American enterprise, we fail to see the incredible mercies of our Father in heaven.
He it was who led Columbus to sail across the wide ocean. And when the Admiral of the Ocean Sea could persuade his sailors no further, God answered the desperate prayers of Columbus within three days time. Our God directed the storm tossed Mayflower to the only spot of land on the North American coast where a plague had destroyed the prior owners. Then miraculously a wandering Indian who just happened to know English came by to show the Pilgrims how to plant and till the native corn. Our God seven times delivered Washington and his rag tag army from destruction. He it was who used the disparate continentals in their Congress to forge a new nation conceived in biblical principles.
Let us humbly consider this merciful leading of His divine hand as we regularly remember our history. As we pause and reflect on these divine mercies we are better able to frame our our future requests. To these prayer requests, our psalmist turns his attention in the last portion of our psalm study this morning. The first request is a prayer for restoration. The psalmist urgently asks that his nation and people might be restored again and that new mercies might flow from the bountiful hand of our Father. How badly we need a national restoration again in our time! Proposals to limit spending and to restore state and local authority are met by lies and false statistics, some of our leaders couldn't tell the truth even if they knew it! Restore our land O Lord, even as you have restored other nations.
In verse five, the psalmist makes his second request that God's anger might be limited. Ho long, he humbly asks. Then in verse six we see the revealed solution to the problem. God is not asked to put away His anger and accept us just the way we are. No indeed, the proper perspective is stated succinctly. "Will you not revive us again?" This is the solution to all the world problems. This is the solution to the weakness of Christ's Church in our time. "Will you not revive us again"? May this be our constant lifelong prayer, so that we, our children and all of those who are being called to Christ might rejoice.
"Show us your mercy Lord, And grant us Your salvation." This is the form, function and purpose of revival: to publicly expose the merciful love of our God in heaven. And through that exposure to bring people into a saving relationship with the Almighty God of heaven. May He revive us again in our day and in our time for His glory and the increase of His kingdom. Amen.
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Resources Used: |
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Kidner, Derek. |
Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries: Psalms. | |
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Lloyd-Jones, Martyn. |
Revival. | |
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Spurgeon, C.H. |
The Treasury of David. | |
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Foundation for Reformation. New Geneva Study Bible . (1995) Thomas Nelson, Inc. New King James Version. (1982) | ||
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Psm 85A |
20 September 92 & 25 November 95 | |