REVIVAL AND THE WORD

The man who wrote this psalm was much concerned about revival—he called it quickening, being the same word in the Hebrew. He mentioned it in verses 25, 50, 93, 107, 149, 154. He was evidently a man whose spiritual experience was in a state of constant fluctuation—“sometimes trusting, sometimes doubting, sometimes joyful, sometimes sad”. Verse 83 is almost a lament, “I am become like a bottle in the smoke”. He felt parched, cracked, shrivelled, “My soul cleaveth unto the dust”, v. 25; “I am afflicted very much”, v. 107. Poor man! But who has not been there with him? Who has not yearned for a revival in personal spiritual life?

Where shall we turn for revival? Is it to be found in emotionalism, or any other energy of the flesh? Judging from our writer, he viewed true revival as being Bible-based, “according to thy word”. As we think of his words in verse 25, “My soul cleaveth unto the dust”, our minds go to the Emmaus road in Luke 24. Here were two despondent disciples, all hope gone, until a Stranger drew near and turned with them to the Scriptures. What was the result? “Did not our heart burn within us?”, v. 32, and the joyful proclamation “The Lord is risen” to the other disciples, v. 34. This was personal revival.

Let us follow the psalmist. “O Lord, quicken me according to thy judgment”, v. 149, namely, “Lord, Thou knowest my need; revive me as Thou seest best”. No two of us are alike, but He is able to judge what is just right for us, and is able to take us to the right word. “Quicken me according to thy word”, v. 154; we dare not ask Him to go outside His Word to bring new life to us—how could we? Looking back on a past experience, he said, “This is my comfort… for thy word hath quickened me”, v. 50. Did he pause to say “Hallelujah” Again, “I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me”, v. 93. Perhaps he had forgotten them before; hence the need for revival. Look also in the N.T. “the word of God … which effectually worketh also in you”, 1 Thess. 2. 13; “All scripture is … profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”, 2 Tim. 3. 16; “these things write we … that your joy may be full”, 1 John 1. 4.