…from Allen Baker at Banner of Truth
Here’s an excerpt…
Have you noticed how many times the reading and preaching of God’s Word brings revival? It happened after the exile under Ezra and Nehemiah. It happened earlier under Hezekiah (2 Chron. 29-31) who brought back temple worship and the Passover. It happened under Josiah when he heard the rediscovered words of the Law, tearing his clothes because he knew he and his people had failed to obey God. Josiah then renewed the covenant with the Lord and brought back the Passover another time (2 Chron. 34-35). It is within this context, however, that the words of Psalm 85 are particularly pregnant with meaning, ‘Restore us, O God of our salvation. And cause Thine indignation toward us to cease. Wilt Thou be angry with us forever? Wilt Thou prolong Thine anger to all generations? Wilt Thou not Thyself revive us again, that Thy people may rejoice in Thee? Show us Thy lovingkindness, O Lord, and grant us Thy salvation’ (Psa. 85:4-7). These post-exilic Jews are asking God once again to revive them, to remove his anger toward them, to show them his lovingkindness, to bring salvation to them. And what does this revival look like?
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