A Cry for Renewal
Psalm 85:1-7
1 You, Lord, showed favor to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. 2 You forgave the iniquity of your people and covered all their sins. 3 You set aside all your wrath and turned from your fierce anger. 4 Restore us again, God our Savior,and put away your displeasure toward us. 5 Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger through all generations? 6 Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? 7 Show us your unfailing love, Lord, and grant us your salvation.
Psalm 85 is a cry for renewal and revival in a time of distress among God’s people. Many believe the context of this psalm refers to the return of God’s people to Jerusalem after a long exile in Babylon only to experience the troubles outlined in the book of Nehemiah. The Psalm can be divided into two sections: the prayer for renewal and revival (v1-7) followed by the reassuring covenant love of Yahweh (v8-13). The prayer is our focus today.
The prayer begins with remembering the Lord’s past mercies in restoring Jacob from exile. Jacob is a synonym for Israel. It is always helpful when we are in distress to remember how the goodness and love of God is real and true.
Then in v2-3 the Psalm turns to the sin of His people (not unbelievers) and the need for God to forgive, to cover their sins and turn from his fierce anger. Is there a greater mercy we can receive from God than forgiveness of our sins?
The phrase, “Covered their sins,” describes the word atonement and “set aside your wrath” is what is meant by propitiation. God’s word tells us here that remembering God’s mercy and forgiveness in the past is medicine for present distress and discouragement. This is a timeless truth.
In 1712, Joseph Addison wrote this hymn:
When all Your mercies O my God, my rising soul surveys,
Transported with the view, I’m lost in wonder, love, and praise.
Then in verses 4-6, the psalmist prays, “restore us again, O God our Savior.” And this is coupled with “revive us again” a few verses later. This is what we need when we have lost the joy of our salvation and sin is weighing us down. David cries, “restore unto me the joy of my salvation” in Psalm 51. Throughout our lives as Christians, repentance and new obedience is constantly needed.
Look at the questions of verses 5-6. Here are four, prayerful questions in a row seeking revival. “Will You be angry with us forever?” God’s anger is not like our anger at all. His anger towards His covenant people is righteous and holy and measured to exactly what we need. Hebrews 12 tells us there are times when we need a season of chastening. He chastens us because He loves us and His purpose is our sanctification. So, don’t lose heart.
Now we come to the central question of this prayer in verse 6: “Will you not revive us again that your people may rejoice?” Here is the heart of this wonderful prayer asking God to revive His people. When the Bible speaks of revival, we must think primarily of the Church and Christians as individuals. “Revival is a supernatural work of almighty God in which He pours forth His Spirit upon a congregation, a number of churches, or perhaps world wide for the purpose of renewing their commitment to Christ, purifying their lives, and converting their nominal members to a living faith in Christ.” 1
The answer to the question, “Will You revive us again?” is YES. He will revive us again. In the history of the Church there is sin at the beginning, sin in the middle, and sin at the end, when God sends times of revival and restoration to stabilize the faith of His people.
Jonathan Edwards wrote of his amazement at how God worked in his day. “God accomplishes in one day what it takes a Church to accomplish in a year.” In the great Welsh revival of 1904, the Lord added thousands in six months to churches in Wales. Some of those Welsh believers immigrated to Eastern PA., and an awakening began in Wilkes-Barre which then spread to Philadelphia and beyond to New England.
Let’s notice also that revival brings joy to God’s people. A joy the world can never give or never take away. This joy is a down payment of the joy awaiting Christians in heaven. As John Newton wrote:
Fading is the worldlings pleasure, all his boasted pomp and show,
Solid joys and lasting treasure, none but Zion’s children know.
“Show us your unfailing love, O Lord.” (v7) In other words,” Lord, cause Your love to flood into our lives, Your covenant love which is more than theological truth but love felt like a beam of light, melting our hearts, sensing the beauty and majesty of Christ’s love.”
So, as we read of revivals in God’s word and in the history of the Church, our hearts cry out, “O Lord, do it again! Begin with me.”
A Prayer
O Breath of life come sweeping through us, revive your Church with life and power.
O Breath of life. Come cleanse, renew us, and fit you church to meet this hour
O Breath of love, come breathe within us, renewing thought and will and heart;
Come, love of Christ, afresh to win us, revive your Church in every part
1 Dr. Lovelace.