A DESIRE FOR PERSONAL REVIVAL

Transcription

1 A DESIRE FOR PERSONAL REVIVAL Psalm 119:25-32 Return To Psalm Master Index Page The fourth portion of Psalm 119 is characterized by the Hebrew letter Daleth which is similar to our letter D. The meaning behind this letter is that of a man that is bent over, even clinging to the dust, because of his burdens and mistakes. He is in a rut because of a humdrum existence or a boring routine and the daily grinds of life. This is the picture of many Christians. They are in a rut. When you get into a rut, the Bible becomes just another book; church becomes an obligation instead of an opportunity to grow spiritually and serve the Lord; giving becomes a nuisance and living by faith seems like a fairy tale. There is relief from Rut Living and this passage provides biblical principles for that relief. The verses alphabetically arranged: 25: Depressed to the dust is my soul: quicken Thou me according to Thy Word. 26: Declared have I (too Thee) my ways, and Thou hearest me: teach me Thy statutes. 27: Declare Thou to be the way of Thy precepts: so shall I talk of Thy wondrous works. 28: Dropping is my soul for heaviness: strengthen Thou me according unto Thy Word. 29: Deceitful ways remove from me; and grant me Thy law graciously. 30: Determined am I upon the way of truth; Thy judgments have I laid before me. 31: Deliberately I have stuck unto Thy testimonies: O Lord, put me not to shame. 32: Day by day I will run the way of Thy commandments when Thou shalt enlarge my heart. Notice 119:25b (KJV) Quicken Thou me according to Thy Word. Most translations use the word revive for quicken. The word means to renew, to restore, to give life to. Revival is greatly desired by the Psalmist. At least ten times in Psalm 119, the Psalmist asked the Lord to revive him verses 37, 40, 50, 88, 93, 107, 149, 154, 156, 159. In our churches we have revival once or twice a year, but for the Christian, revival ought to be going on all the time. Why does the Psalmist desire revival? Because of: I. His Weakness The Psalmist doesn't feel good about himself. What does he feel is his weakness? A. His Emotions were not Right: He was Depressed 119:23, 28

2 1. His soul cleaveth to the dust 119:25 The Psalmist is about as low as he can get. He's not just down in the dumps, he's down in the dust. He is full of grief and sorrow. He feels helpless to rise above above his hurt. He was in the grips of deep depression. He was flat on his face in the dust and had come to the end of himself and his resources. At this point our society would have advised him to see a psychiatrist; seek professional help. Yet he does the smart thing. He cries out for help from the Lord. He is going to seek counsel from the Word of God. He seeks revival in his life, Quicken Thou me according to Thy Word. It is the Word of God that softens our hardened heart, encourages the discouraged soul, revivals a deadened, numb conscience, and fans the flame of our faith. 2. His soul melted from heaviness 119:28 The word melts is a poetic way of expressing weeping and grief. - When we get away from God, our heart becomes cold like ice. The frosty breath of sin chills our heart. - When our heart gets cold, the burdens of life become an overwhelming weight because we have lost spiritual strength. When something melts, it becomes unstable or liquid like water. Liquid conforms to the shape of its container. The wayward believer becomes conformed to the lifestyle of the world when he gets away from God. B. His Experiences had not been Right: He had been Deceitful 119:29 The Psalmist is not just talking about lying with his LIPS, but also lying with his LIFE! He was in the way of lying, for he had been deceitful, self-righteous, and filled with hypocrisy. He doesn't pray, Remove me from the way of lying, but Remove from me the way of lying. He was conscious that his own soul was bent, warped and twisted by indwelling sin. His heart was deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. He needed the temptation of the way of lying taken from him. He needs Revival because of his Weakness and because of: II. His Way

3 A. His way is marked by Confession 119:26 The word declared means to confess. Confession is marvelous therapy. It is good for the soul. - Confession means to agree with God about our sins. It means to look at our sin the way God looks at it. - Confession proves that we know our own condition. Our confessions don't inform God of our sins, but it is saying to God, I know I have sinned. - Nothing brings more ease and more life to a man than a frank acknowledgment of our sin. - Psalm 51:3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. - Proverbs 28:12 He who covers his sin will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. A little boy was visiting his grandparents. Upon arriving his grandfather gave him his first slingshot. He practiced in the woods, but he could never hit his target. As he came back to his grandparents back yard, he spied Grandma's pet duck. On impulse he took aim and let it fly. The stone hit the duck in the head and it fell dead. The boy panicked and hid the duck in the woodpile, only to look up and see his sister, Sally, watching. She had seen it all, but said nothing. After lunch, Grandma said, Sally, let's wash the dishes. But Sally said, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen today. She quickly whispered, Remember the duck. So Johnny did the dishes. Later Grandma asked Sally to help her feed the chickens. Sally smiled and said, Johnny will take care of that for me. And again she whispered, Remember the duck. After several days of doing all the chores, he couldn't stand it. He confessed to Grandma that he killed the duck. Grandma gave him a hug and said, I know Johnny. I saw the whole thing. I was angry at first, but because I love you, I forgave you. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make you her slave. That's what sin does to us. When we are unwilling to confess our sins to God and to get right with Him, we become enslaved by our sin. And Thou hearest me. His confession had been accepted. Pardon follows the sinner's confession. B. His way is marked by a Right Choice 119:30 The word chosen means a carefully, well-thought-out choice. It is a deliberate choice. He chooses God's way. We don't get on the right way by chance, we must choose and continue to choose the right way, or we will soon wander from it. The Psalmist needs Revival because of his Weakness and his Way, and:

4 III. His Wishes 119:25 Lord, quicken me; revive me; restore me. Tie verse 25 with verse 30. The word cling or cleave (KJV) in verse 25, is the same word translated stuck in verse 30. The word means to be attached or glued, or joined. While we are stuck in the dust of depression, we should stick to the Word of God. Don't abandon the Word of God or leave the Word out of your life in the down times or any other time! That's when you need God's Word the Most! He is not stuck WITH the Word of God, as though it were some kind of burden. Rather, he is stuck TO it. He cannot be separated from it. Psalm 119:31b: O Lord, don't put me to shame; O Lord, don't let me down. Here is his wish list: 1. Teach me your statutes verse 26b Lord, I'm in the dust of depression and I'd like to get out, but while I'm here, don't let me waste the experience. Teach me from it. Lord, teach me so I can avoid offending you again. I'm fearful of sinning again. 2. Make me to understand verse 27 Give me a deep insight into the practical meaning of Thy Words. The word understand means to take things and separate them in our minds and to distinguish one thing from another. 3. Strengthen Me verse 28b Life me up; give me the strength to stand, for I am face down in the dust of depressions. Restore me! 4. Grant me your Law graciously verse 29b Deal with me according to your Word, but do so with grace and mercy. The Psalmist needs Revival because of his Weakness, his Ways, his Wishes, and: IV. His Wisdom 119:32

5 To enlarge the heart means to make it free; to deliver it from all hindrances to what is right; to fill it with noble and holy purposes; to stimulate it. I will run the course or respond energetically to your Word. Return To Psalm Master Index Page