Psalm 132 A Recipe for Revival

Introduction

Every Christian needs revival at some point in their life.

Revival is the awakening of the Christian out of a spiritual stupor back to a desire for holiness before the Lord.

Charles Finney says of revival that, “A revival breaks the power of the world and of sin over Christians. It brings them to such vantage-ground that they get a fresh impulse towards heaven; they have a new foretaste of heaven, and new desires after union with God; thus the charm of the world is broken, and the power of sin overcome.”

Revival is needed when you have fallen out of sync with what is valuable in God’s eye, and have given pursuit to what is valuable in your eyes.

Where are you at tonight?

Tonight I would like to share with you two principle to follow in having personal revival.

The Desire for God’s Presence

The Promise of the Servant

Notice that the psalmist’s request is standing upon the foundation of King David’s character.

This is a common theme throughout the Old Testament, especially through the time of the kings of Israel and Judah.

David was considered to be a man after God’s own heart, to the extent that following generations would have their legacies described as either following in their father David’s footsteps or not.

2 Kings 16:1–2 KJV 1900

In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign. Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, and did not that which was right in the sight of the Lord his God, like David his father.

2 Kings 22:1–2 KJV 1900

Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Boscath. And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.

Keep in mind that Ahaz reigned nearly 240 years after David died, and Josiah's reign was 300 years after.

Still their obedience or disobedience was filtered through the standard of David.

The psalmist here is doing the exact same thing.

He is coming to the Lord, not on his own character, but on the character of David, who was near and dear to the Lord’s heart.

Additionally, the psalmist here beseeches the Lord to specifically remember David’s afflictions.

David’s character, and the trials he went through, give the psalmist the basis for his request to the Lord.

This is exactly how we must view ourselves when we come to the Lord.

We could never approach God on merit of our own righteousness, and if we ever begin thinking that we could, we must quickly search for humility.

We may come to God on merit of the character and suffering Jesus Christ!

Ephesians 2:1-10

Notice additionally David’s promise in verse 5: to find a resting place for the Lord, or more specifically, the ark of the covenant.

This promise could be understood as one to bring back the Lord’s presence to Israel.

There are several details to notice about this promise:

It is a resolute promise (v.3)

It is a restless promise (v.4)

Obviously, David’s soul was disturbed at the idea that the Lord was not “with” Israel at that moment.

His promise was that he would not rest until he had set things right with the Lord.

Illustration: Fixing a Relationship

Let us not miss the parallel to our own lives in these verses.

May God grant us total unrest when we are not right with Him.

May we not cease to pray and seek God’s face until we are right with Him!

The Pursuit of the Servant

Notice these two interesting references in verse 6: Ephratah and the field of the wood.

I believe this is a reference to the time when the ark of the covenant was under the control of the Philistines.

1 Samuel 7:1–3 KJV 1900

And the men of Kirjath-jearim came, and fetched up the ark of the Lord, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the Lord. And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjath-jearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord. And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

In 1 Chronicles 13-15, we see David’s labors to bring the ark of the covenant back to it’s proper resting place, unsuccessfully at first in chapter 13, then successfully in chapter 15.

The psalmist gives these details of a chase of sorts, where David is searching for the ark in order to bring it back where it belongs at Jerusalem.

This again goes to display the radical lengths David was willing to go to in order to make things right between Israel and the Lord.

The Praise of the Servants

Our attention is now turned to the people giving praise and requests to God.

They bow themselves toward the Lord in worship in verse 7.

This is the natural conclusion to a desire for God’s presence.

You cannot enjoy nearness with the Lord without the submission of your heart and the surrender of your ways unto the Lord.

They ask the Lord to come into His “resting place.” (v.8)

This of course is the tabernacle/temple and the ark of the covenant being brought in.

They ask for the joy of the Lord to return. (v. 9)

Let the priests be clothed in righteousness.

Let the saints shout for joy.

They ask for God’s favor to continue with them. (v. 10)

This is a plea on the character of David that God would honor his covenant with David in Israel.

These are all amazing details in the life of Israel, yet the spiritual implication is so important here.

Consider:

The Lord’s “house” is not the tabernacle or the temple.

Acts 17:24–25 KJV 1900

God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things.

WE are the priests and saints of the Lord, and so WE must be clothed in the righteousness of Christ, and have His joy dwelling within us.

1 Peter 2:9–10 KJV 1900

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

God’s favor shines toward us because God DID fulfill His covenant with David through Christ!

Acts 2:29–33 KJV 1900

Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

The people here praise the Lord because they are looking for God’s promises to be fulfilled in them.

We bring our praise to the God who fulfilled all things in Christ, and shows His grace to us on merit of the perfect work of Jesus Christ.

Dedication to God’s Word

This is an important distinction. True revival is more than just a turning of the heart. It is a recommittal to following God’s Word.

God’s Word is Stable

The psalmist makes two facts abundantly clear about God’s Word:

It is true

It is unchanging

A dedication to God’s Word must begin with this truth.

Psalm 12:6–7 KJV 1900

The words of the Lord are pure words: As silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, Thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

Psalm 19:7–10 KJV 1900

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 KJV 1900

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

We as Christians must hold God’s Word as the absolute standard of authority in our lives.

Is there anything in your life tonight that you know is wrong according to God’s Word, yet you have not changed yet?

You cannot have revival without submitting your shifting desires to the unshifting truth of God’s Word.

God’s Word is a Testimony

Notice this amazing promise of the Lord:

He has promised to David to set His offspring on the throne.

This is a conditional promise as well.

The descendants of David are not automatically in the covenant just by merit of bloodline, they must keep the covenant.

In other words, they must choose for themselves whether or not they wish to follow the Lord.

This goes true for you and I as well.

2 Corinthians 5:8–10 KJV 1900

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

At the end of your life, you will appear before God.

If you are saved, your appearance will be of joy, but you will still account for how you stewarded the years God gave you.

How much time did you spend following what you wanted, rather than seeking to follow God’s way?

If you are unsaved, you will appear before the Great White Throne, and be judged according to your works.

This will only end in your condemnation.

Turn to Christ and receive eternal life!

You must choose.

God’s Word is a Blessing

Where has God chosen to make His habitation?

Among His people.

He has chosen Zion.

Consider the already not yet of this amazing statement.

God dwells in us, the fleshly tabernacle.

Someday He will make all things new, and dwell with us in a new heavens and a new earth.

Consider how the Lord provides as well.

The poor will have bread.

The priests will be clothed with salvation.

The saints shall shout for joy.

What is the takeaway here?

God’s Word satisfies your every spiritual need.

Matthew 4:4 KJV 1900

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Matthew 6:31–34 KJV 1900

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

You may not always have abundance physically, but when you place your trust in God’s Word, you can have true joy and peace.

God’s Word Proclaims Victory

The psalm ends with God’s proclamation of victory.

True revival and a dedication to God’s Word means focusing your attention on God’s ultimate victory.

The horn of David and the lamp

The horn

Luke 1:68–69 KJV 1900

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; For he hath visited and redeemed his people, And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us In the house of his servant David;

The lamp

1 Kings 11:36 KJV 1900

And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there.

Jesus Christ is the proclamation of God’s victory and the light that shines for all eternity.

Verse 18 points us to see that the day is coming when ultimate victory will be won, and all enemies will be conquered for eternity.

Conclusion

How are you tonight?

Is your heart cold?

Have you lost your hunger for God’s Word?

Turn tonight, and ask God to bring revival to your heart.