2 Samuel 18:19-19:10; John 21:1-14; Psalms 119:153-159; Proverbs 26:23
Psalms: “Consider my affliction and rescue me, for I have not forgotten your instruction. Champion my cause and redeem me; give me life as you promised. Salvation is far from the wicked because they do not study your statutes. Your compassions are many, Lord; give me life according to your judgments. My persecutors and foes are many. I have not turned from your decrees. I have seen the disloyal and feel disgust because they do not keep your word. Consider how I love your precepts; Lord, give me life according to your faithful love. The entirety of your word is truth, each of your righteous judgments endures forever.” (Psalms 119:153-160 CSB)
Three times in this stanza, the psalmist cried out to the Lord and said, “Give me life.” The Hebrew word ‘chayah’ means to restore to life… to revive. As he was surrounded by the wicked, as he was undergoing persecution, as he experienced disloyalty and grew disgusted by others rejection of God’s word, will, and ways; he cried out, “Revive me and give me life… rescue and redeem me from my affliction and revive me as You have promised… revive me, not because I deserve it, but because You are merciful and full of compassion… revive me because of Your faithful covenantal love toward me.” All of his pleas for revival were all based on God’s word: His promises, His judgements, His covenant… the entirety of His word. For us to not be overwhelmed and overcome by all the ails of this world, we need to be ongoingly revived and given life. For us to be revived and given life, we must remain faithful to God’s word… we must not forget His instructions, we must not turn from His decrees, we must continue to love His precepts. If we desire revival in our land, we must first be revived… and for us to be revived, we must be faithful to and lovingly obey God’s word, will, and ways.
Jamie Hicks 