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“Revive Us Again”
Revive Us Again
Wade Webster
The prophet Habakkuk prayed, “O LORD, I have heard Your speech and was afraid; O LORD, revive Your work in the midst of the years! In the midst of the years make it known; In wrath remember mercy” (Habakkuk 3:1-2). We often sing a song based on this prayer. No doubt, you are familiar with the song, Revive Us Again. The verses of the song praise God for the gifts that He has given and the chorus of the song pleads for God to revive us again. It is this ending plea for revival that we want to examine more closely.
The Prayer – Revive
The word revive means “to quicken, to revive, to refresh, to restore.” Habakkuk was asking God to revive his work and his workers. The workers were spent and the work was stalled. Both needed reviving. Nine times in Psalm 119, the psalmist asks God to revive him:
- “My soul clings to the dust; Revive me according to Your word” (Psalms 119:25).
- “Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, And revive me in Your way” (Psalms 119:37).
- “Behold, I long for Your precepts; Revive me in Your righteousness” (Psalms 119:40).
- “Revive me according to Your lovingkindness, So that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth” (Psalms 119:88).
- “I am afflicted very much; Revive me, O LORD, according to Your word” (Psalms 119:107).
- “Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness; O LORD, revive me according to Your justice” (Psalms 119:149).
- “Plead my cause and redeem me; Revive me according to Your word” (Psalms 119:154).
- “Great are Your tender mercies, O LORD; Revive me according to Your judgments” (Psalms 119:156).
- “Consider how I love Your precepts; Revive me, O LORD, according to Your lovingkindness” (Psalms 119:159).
Like the psalmist, revival should be our constant prayer and song.
The People - Us
Revival is not just for others, it is for us. No matter how strong we are, there will be times when we will need revival. Even the Apostle Paul needed reviving and refreshing and renewing. In First Corinthians, Paul wrote, “I am glad about the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, for what was lacking on your part they supplied” (1 Cor. 16:17). In like manner, in Second Corinthians, he wrote, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day” (2 Cor. 4:16). Like Paul, we need revival. Like Habakkuk, we should ask God for it.
The Problem – Again
Our problem is that we need reviving again and again because we grow weary in well-doing. The apostle Paul knew this. That is why he wrote the following words to the saints at Galatia: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Gal. 6:7-10). Although we know the rewards of sowing to the Spirit - eternal life, we still sometimes grow weary in well-doing. Thankfully, God can and does revive us again.
Does the church where you worship need revival? Do you? It is okay to admit that you need it. Admitting that you need it is the first step to acquiring it.
