Read Psalm 85:1-8. 1Lord, you were favorable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. 2You forgave the iniquity of your people; you covered all their sin. 3You withdrew all your wrath; you turned from your hot anger. 4Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us! 5Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations? 6Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? 7Show us your steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation. 8Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly.
This is not nostalgia looking back to better days and longing for them to return. This is repentance, looking back on the mercy of God in Israel’s past – You forgave the iniquity of your people; you covered all their sin – then crying out for revival – Will you not revive us again? It’s not so much a question as it is a declaration of faith. Revival will come. How does he know? Because that is God’s consistent work among his people. His covenant work – Show us your steadfast love. His creation work – he will speak peace to his people – for whatever God speaks, he creates.
Christians too pray for revival. But whereas the psalmist prayed for God’s disposition toward his people to change – put away your indignation toward us! – we pray for our disposition toward God to change. What makes the difference? The cross of Christ and our union with him. We no longer need to pray for restoration, removed indignation, forgiveness of iniquity, atonement of sins, or the withdrawal of his wrath. All of this has been fully accomplished in Christ. Hallelujah! God has spoken peace to us in Christ once and for all.
Ephesians 2:17. he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.
So pray for revival if you must. Not as a fresh movement of God towards us, there is no more left for God to do beyond the cross, but as a fresh movement of us toward God. A renewed understanding of the gospel. A more honest confession of sin. A deeper commitment to to live is Christ.
Prayer. Jesus, revive me again as I behold your steadfast love on the cross. Amen.
To Live is Christ 