Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
Hallelujah! Amen.
Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
Revive us again.
Oh, what a hymn! I often find myself singing that refrain as I’m out and about. There is a beauty in singing to our God and King. Yet, in my recent studies, I found my understanding of the hymn to be somewhat misleading.
In common culture, we often see a spiritual revival as a time where religious people or maybe those seeking religion “find God” through a series of meetings, singing, dancing and maybe even manifestations of the Holy Spirit. We often view it as a time of exuberance. I believe there is certainly a time of joy when we meet with our God, but that is often the effect of revival and not what brings the experience. Revival needs to be so much more.
In the Holy Bible, Psalm 119:149 reads:
“Hear my voice according to your steadfast love; O LORD, according to your justice give me life.”
The scripture quoted above is from the English Standard Version of the Bible. The King James Translation reads “quicken me according to thy judgment.” The New King James translates as “revive me according to your judgement.” No matter what the translation, there are two things evident. First of all, the psalmist is asking for revival. Secondly, he is asking for revival not out of exuberance, but out of faith. He is asking for revival out of the judgment of God.
Before we go further, we must recognize that Jesus clearly tells us that the person who believes on Him does not come into judgment, but “has passed from death to life.” (Ref. John 5:24) This is true for all believers. Yet, this scripture does not deny that judgment exists. It simply says that we will not experience it. Judgment does exist and was declared and executed upon Calvary Hill when Christ, raised upon the cross, bore the sins of the world and paid the price for our transgressions. Still, the question exists as to why concern ourselves with judgment? I believe there are several reasons.
First of all, we need to be aware of God’s judgment so to give urgency to the great commission. Jude, the brother of our Lord, tells us:
“And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.” Jude vs. 22-23.
To speak to others about Christ and His holiness and not talk about His judgment concerning sin is like ignoring the 800 pound gorilla in the room. Those we witness to must know why it is important to us and them that they acknowledge Christ as their savior.
Secondly and most important, we need to always be mindful of the sacrifice of the cross. This is not to be done in misery and gloom, but in a way that constantly reminds us of our first love – Jesus Christ. Unfortunately,we sometimes get to that point in our worship life where we can come before the throne of God and confess our sins and not call to mind that the cost of our forgiveness was paid by the blood of Jesus. It is then that we need to examine our hearts. Our christianity, although perhaps powerful in works and witness, has neglected the involvement of Christ. We are beginning to coast along without the necessary awesomeness that allows us to realize the Jesus Christ that John saw on the Island of Patmos where he wrote The Revelation of Jesus Christ. When that happens, revival is needed for we have lost our first love.
I believe the great Hebridean Revival of 1949 illustrates this point. Duncan Campbell talks of this revival and the sense of urgency all felt to get right with God, both saved and unsaved alike. People who knew God were found on the floor crying out for mercy. Others came to the village church for confession of sins. The very question itself spoken by one of the church leaders that began the revival was “God, our are hands clean? Are our hearts pure?” Upon the asking of that question, God rushed not to pronounce judgment, but to certainly share it with those who called for the examination of their hearts. By so doing, the reality of the cross became apparent, not only for two thousand years ago, but for 1949, today and all time.
When we come to our Heavenly Father with such a request of revival, He can not answer us fast enough. This is not, however, to be confused with singular confession. Although there is nothing wrong with confessing our sins (in fact we are commanded to do so), it is not revival. If it were, revival would be a series of common day events. No! Revival is something more! It is a unity of heart between ourselves and God in understanding who we are and who God is. There is no preparation we can make for that meeting. As Isaiah tells us, “all of our righteousness are like filthy rags” (ref. Isaiah 64:6) before the Lord. The acknowledgment that we need God in order to meet with Him is a request that he cannot resist and not one easily realized by ourselves. Our willingness to meet with Him is not shown in eagerness for the meeting itself, but in the ease with which we permit ourselves to look inward at the things God shows us and then cleanses in the process. However, in reality, our flesh wars against this experience and many of us, myself included, find that we are not simply walking this road with ease, but pressed down upon it against our own survival instincts, driven onward by faith. It is by the very Spirit of God that we proceed. It is the revealed realization that I need the cross, even though it was constructed as an instrument of my judgment, and that but for the love of Christ I have escaped. At that moment, God brings us something other than the knowledge of judgment that our sin demands: He reminds us of His grace.
It is by God’s grace that we pass from judgment to life. This is the very message of the cross. It is the power of God that effectuates our salvation. Oh what a great and wonderful God we have who brings us to the end of ourselves, then by His grace begins our life anew through the experience of Jesus Christ! Initially, we experience this as our moment of salvation. Later, however, we come to know it as revival. Praise God that He pursues me not only as a child of rebellion, but also as a child of God! Upon this realization, I can pray the prayer of David when he writes:
“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” Psalm 139:23-24
With this knowledge, secured by faith and promised by a loving, lavishing God who desires that we know Him in the most intimate of ways, I experience a joy and peace beyond all understanding. I proceed through the valley of death, feeling the coldness of it’s shadows cast upon me, yet warm and secure knowing that the promises of God are my comfort. That promise is one of grace and sacrifice. It is a promise that when we call to Him, He reveals not just His love, but His holiness and righteousness as well. It is a reminder that we are to share completely in His nature, and as an heir, we fully come with an expectation to His Kingdom, not as a pardoned felon, but a child of the King! And with that comfort I now raise my voice in praise to my God, singing:
Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
Hallelujah! Amen.
Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
Revive us again.
I know God is faithful and available to meet. May I be as willing to experience the awesomeness of His nature.
Amen.
