Revival.
"Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?" The prayers of Scripture, like its promises, never grow old. They deal not with the changing surface and circumstances of life, but with its living heart and abiding needs. So this prayer of the old psalmist is as fresh and fit for our lips today, as when the ink was wet in which he wrote. The same Spirit who inspired him also "helpeth our infirmities."
I. THE BLESSING SOUGHT: REVIVAL. This word has come to be often used for a season of extraordinary religious activity, attended by numerous conversions. But it properly means the quickening, strengthening, elevating, of life already possessed; but perhaps feeble, declining, threatened with extinction. This must be God's work, by the power of his Spirit. "Wilt thou not revive us?" All life, natural and spiritual, is from God nod in God. At the back of all force is his power; at the back of all causation, his will; at the back of all law, his wisdom (Psalms 33:6; Psalms 104:30). But there is this wonderful and glorious difference between the realm of natural and of spiritual life—in the outward material world we have to deal with laws; the power working under and behind those laws is inscrutably hidden. But in spiritual life it is just God's power we have to deal with; the laws according to which it is put forth are mostly beyond our ken. In the natural world there is ample range for prayer; but in the spiritual we are shut up to prayer. We are to pray for daily bread, for which we must work, as well as for forgiveness of sin, for which we cannot work. But with this difference—the ungodly husbandman will reap his harvest, if he works for it, though he does not pray; but pardon, and the grace of God's Spirit, will not be given to those who do not ask (Luke 11:13; James 1:5; 1 John 1:9).
II. HOW WILL THIS QUICKENED LIFE SHOW ITSELF? In:
1. Lowlier humility. Deeper consciousness of sin, need, weakness. That Church, of all the seven addressed in the Apocalypse, which said, "I am rich, and have need of nothing," was the very one that was in the very jaws of death (Revelation 3:17). We put this note of revival first, because our Lord puts it first in describing the character and blessedness of his true disciples (Matthew 5:3-5). The first token of revived life in a frozen limb is intense pain; the flesh that is past feeling is past cure (see Ephesians 4:19; Proverbs 26:12).
2. Increased spirit of prayer. More urgent habitual sense of need of prayer. Disposition to more frequent prayer (however brief). Perhaps at first no increased freedom and delight, but rather depressing sense of the weakness, coldness, unworthiness of our prayers. More earnestness, especially in prayer for others. Stronger faith in God's promises (not in our own prayers). Perseverance and patience. Out of all this must come, sooner or later, both delight and power in prayer, the presence of the Holy Spirit with our spirit, bringing our desires into harmony with God's will, and helping our infirmities.
3. Growing love of God's truth. The Bible will be dearer to us, fuller of light and help. Christ's word will abide in us (Colossians 1:9-11).
4. Deeper, more inspiring, controlling views of the love of God in Christ. (Ephesians 3:16-19.)
III. RESULTS OF REVIVAL. "That thy people," etc. The psalmist was thinking of God's chosen nation, Israel. That is no hindrance to our application of both prayer and promise. The conditions and forms of national life and of Church life are wholly different from what they were then; never can be the same. But principles abide. Righteousness still exalts a nation. "Blessed is the people whose God is the Lord!" A dead or lukewarm Church cannot be a joyful Church; nor a lukewarm worldly Christian a joyful Christian. Suppose all English men, women, children, to become true, earnest, loving disciples of our Lord Jesus, "filled with the Spirit;" the whole face of society and national life would be changed, because its heart would be changed (Acts 8:8). Meanwhile, revival, with all its fruits, either in the Church or in the nation, must begin in the hearts and homes of Christians. Then the joy of the Lord will be our strength. All turns (remember) on this word, "thou." With God is life's fountain. In him our bodies live: how much more our spirits! (John 15:5; Philippians 2:13).