The Psalmists cry to the Lord in 85:6 is “Will You not revive us again, That Your people may rejoice in You?” To revive is to come back to life or consciousness; to come back to health and vigor; and to flourish again. All pointing to something in the past that has died or gone dormant; a good example of this is the cold winter where in many agricultural zones plants go dormant and appear barren and dead, but with the emergence of spring new life breaks forth bringing new vitality and beauty. The scenario of winter also plays out in Christian lives when we focus on the world around us. Israel had fallen into the same trap having turned from the living God to the worship of Baal and his mythical wife Asherah, sparking the judgment of God in the form of severe drought bringing famine to the land, a judgment in the very face of Baal. Then Elijah comes on the scene and calls for a “contest” on Mount Carmel between the true God and Baal/Asherah with their 850 prophets, affording us this recipe for revival. Apparently there had been in time past an altar to the true and living God on Mount Carmel that had been broken down. When Elijah’s turn came the first thing he did was “he repaired the alter of the Lord that was broken down” 1 Kings 18:30. He then placed the wood and the sacrifice on the altar and prayed after which” the fire of the Lord fell” and consumed even the stones – that which appeared inconsumable – then the prophets of Baal were slain – evil was removed – and then in answer to prayer the reviving rain came, verses 30-46. If we follow the recipe we too will be revived and restored (compare Jeremiah 6:16).
Revival
By Rose Hill
O Lord will You revive us again?
We want to rejoice in You and then,
We’ll be able to make a brand new start,
And You will give life and light to our heart.
Revive our hearts to be filled with Your love,
May everyone know we have received from above.
Let our hearts burn with holy fire,
And each day we go with God a step higher.
Then we will be doing Your works joyfully,
And the lost their need of a Savior will see.
Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson Co. used by permission.