Psalm 85:1-13 The Four Stanzas of Revival

In the middle of this month, our church will host a revival. The music group The Texans will come to lead serves for four days. In order to prepare for this time, I wanted to share with you from God’s Word today about revival. Let me first say something about the nature of revival.

D.A. Carson makes an interesting comment about the modern-day revival:

First, the word “revival” embedded in these questions is used a bit loosely. Mercifully, it is not used in the sense common in some Southern states where it often serves as the near equivalent of “evangelistic meetings” (as in “Last month we held a revival”). It is closer to the more historic sense of a special movement of God’s Spirit that brings with it deep conviction of sin, fresh contrition and fresh holiness, and concomitant zeal for God’s Word and God’s glory—a special movement that may be as short as a few hours or as long as many years, and may result in thousands being renewed, and more thousands being converted. Some of the characteristics of revivals have not been particularly strong in this “young, restless, and Reformed” movement.¹

While Carson is talking about the under-40 crowd of pastors who dismiss these kinds of meetings, I want us to realize revival is not just an evangelistic meeting. It has elements of evangelism. But revival involves more than that. It is a renewing work of the Holy Spirit to challenge God’s people to follow Him further. The best definition of a revival is in Acts.

“Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out, that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,” (Acts 3:19, HCSB)

Peter tells the people to repent, to turn back so that sins will be forgiven and seasons of refreshing may come. Revival is not evangelism, although people may get saved. Although we have placed a time on the calendar when a group of people will come and share with us, revivals cannot be planned into tiny compartments of evenings where people “get right with God.” That can happen, but a revival is more than that.

Here is my definition of a revival: the beginning of a movement of God to renew His people and return His people to His purposes.

This psalm was written by the “Sons of Korah,” which sounds like a modern-day music group. The song was written to worship God and ask Him to restore His favor with God’s people. Isn’t that what we ask of God from time to time. You get out of step with God and you want to come back to God. You want to seek His purposes. You want God to show Himself. That’s what this psalm is all about.

James Montgomery Boice was both a theologian and a musician, he looked at this psalm like a song. One can look at the structure of this psalm and see that it divides nicely into four parts, or like four stanzas in a song.

STANZA 1: My Past

Revival begins when I recognize that a “golden age” has gone (Psalm 85:1-3)

“Lord, You showed favor to Your land; You restored Jacob’s prosperity. You took away Your people’s guilt; You covered all their sin. Selah You withdrew all Your fury; You turned from Your burning anger.” (Psalm 85:1–3, HCSB)

The first stanza of the hymn encourages us to look back at the past and to remember the mercies of God. Just look at the verbs that are here in this first paragraph – favorable, restored, forgave, covered, withdrew, turned from. What a great God that He would have mercy upon His people even in the midst of their sin and wickedness. As we consider our spiritual conditions, remember who this God is and how He has responded to us in days gone by.²

We have seen a few “golden ages” in the history of this church. Just like the people of Israel, we have seen God work. This is the first stanza, a reminder of God’s work in the past:

Prayer: Remember the mercies of God

So Israel and Yahweh had “made up.” Exile was over. It was a new day. However, when we read the book of Ezra and the book of Nehemiah, we learn that when the people returned, they soon became discouraged and they lost faith. The walls of the city were still broken down. The condition of their homeland had declined, and life was not easy like they had dreamed it to be, and they soon forgot God. The culture went south again. This leads us to the next stanza – my present.

STANZA 2: My Present

Revival starts when I desperately cry for change (Psalm 85:4-7)

“Return to us, God of our salvation, and abandon Your displeasure with us. Will You be angry with us forever? Will You prolong Your anger for all generations? Will You not revive us again so that Your people may rejoice in You? Show us Your faithful love, Lord, and give us Your salvation.” (Psalm 85:4–7, HCSB)

This is the second stanza. Here, we remember that the past was great, but now the culture has changed. The people of Israel have been in exile and returned home. However, home isn’t like it used to be. The place has changed. In Israel’s time, the wall was down, the area was unprotected. It was run down by people who had no respect for God’s things. We live in a similar world today. We have grown up with two generations who have been faithful to God and His work here in this church. Now, we see the culture is changing. There is less respect for God, His place, His time, and His priorities.

As a result of this change in the culture, the psalmist asks a series of questions. These are very similar to questions that God’s people may ask today. The point of these question is that it comes with an expected answer of “No.”

Will you be angry? No (85:5)

Will you not revive us again? No (85:6)

The point of these questions is to assure the person that God is not angry and that He will revive. God will do what He said about salvation. Therefore, God’s anger is appeased and is not tied to salvation. However, salvation is tied to God’s love (85:7).³

This makes us realize that there needs to be change. We can complain about the glory of the past. At the same time, we can ask for God’s help in changing me so that I can deal with the present. This prayer is a prayer of restoration. We pray for God to restore our hearts to desire Him.

Prayer: Pray for restoration

This leads us to the third stanza in this psalm. It is how I prepare for revival. I have to wait upon God.

STANZA 3: My Preparation

Revival requires that I wait upon God (Psalm 85:8-9)

“I will listen to what God will say; surely the Lord will declare peace to His people, His godly ones, and not let them go back to foolish ways. His salvation is very near those who fear Him, so that glory may dwell in our land.” (Psalm 85:8–9, HCSB)

If I want a movement of God to renew me to His purposes, then I have to wait for God to work. First, I have reflected on God’s goodness. Then I have returned to God and I make myself available for Him. Now comes the hard part. I have to wait upon God. Now waiting doesn’t mean I am doing nothing.

This Psalm tells us that we have called and asked God for restoration but until God has done what God is going to do, we are going to do what He has instructed us to do. We are going to live by that which we have learned from God. The New Testament reminds us that we are people who are now waiting for the return Christ. You know full well that God doesn’t intend for us to just sit here in the church, maybe have a picnic or two or just enjoy being together until Jesus comes again, but we are to wait for His return. We are to have that working waiting until He comes. We don’t give up hope that He is going to come.⁴

Prayer: Pray for patience and to not give up hope

STANZA 4: God’s Work

Revival results in God working in our midst (Psalm 85:10-13)

“Faithful love and truth will join together; righteousness and peace will embrace. Truth will spring up from the earth, and righteousness will look down from heaven. Also, the Lord will provide what is good, and our land will yield its crops. Righteousness will go before Him to prepare the way for His steps.” (Psalm 85:10–13, HCSB)

This is the final stanza, the last verse, the end of the song. God shows up. God’s past performance inspired confidence for the future. Renewal of both spiritual and material well-being would come. Heaven and earth would meet, creating meaning and harmony in the relationship of God and men.⁵

We shall enjoy the results of revival. Here in these verses, we see seven results of revival.

FIVE RESULTS OF REVIVAL⁶

1. People start living right – How God wants them to (Psalm 85:10).

“Faithful love and truth will join together; righteousness and peace will embrace.” (Psalm 85:10, HCSB)

The key word in verses 10–13, repeated three times, is “righteous –ness.” The word signifies right relationships and the terms that keep them. In various contexts the word can mean anything from salvation or victory to righteous help and healing. Whatever keeps God’s covenant operative in accord with His character is righteous.⁷ In other words, God’s people start living right. They get back on the straight and narrow. They see their sin, confess it, and then follow God’s ways.

2. The church has more unity (Psalm 85:10)

“Faithful love and truth will join together; righteousness and peace will embrace.” (Psalm 85:10, HCSB)

Here, four major characteristics of God join in pairs. Mercy and truth join together, and righteousness and peace join together. They are pictured here like dancing couples. Couples who dance do so in unity. When you see people living right, when you see people at peace with one another, when you see love being shared, and truth being lived out, then you are going to see unity. Jesus prayed for unity in the church – the same unity that God the Father had with Jesus.

3. The church sees an increase (Psalm 85:11)

“Truth will spring up from the earth, and righteousness will look down from heaven.” (Psalm 85:11, HCSB)

When people get their lives right, they will be willing to share the truth – the Gospel. They will also live right. When we are living as God wants us to, and sharing with others, God’s church is going to see an increase. We will see more people come. We will see more people commit. We will see more families restored. We will see an increase in God’s favor.

4. The church sees God provide (Psalm 85:12)

“Also, the Lord will provide what is good, and our land will yield its crops.” (Psalm 85:12, HCSB)

What is going doing during all this time? He is providing. He is providing what is good. He is allowing us to receive the blessings that come because of obedience. If you plant a seed, water it, take care of it, God will grow it into the crop which is harvested and enjoyed. The same is true with the church. If we are doing what God tells us to do, then He will provide. God will never send us somewhere without providing a way.

5. God prepares the church for the next step of the journey (Psalm 85:13)

“Righteousness will go before Him to prepare the way for His steps.” (Psalm 85:13, HCSB)

“A man’s steps are established by the Lord, and He takes pleasure in his way.” (Psalm 37:23, HCSB)

God himself appears to lead his people forward. Before him as a herald goes the righteousness which moves him to the salvation of his people. His people will follow in his steps.⁸ In order for God to help us in our next part of the journey as a church, we have to be living like God wants us to. Our obedience to God paves the road that God uses to take our church forward. If we are living like God wants us to, then He takes that obedience and uses it to pave the road to our future. If we are disobedient, if we dismiss this opportunity that God has given us, we will be as lost as a person in the desert with no orientation. But we have to pay attention. The results of this revival will only happen if we take time to pay attention.

PAYING ATTENTION HAS ITS BENEFITS

When you pay attention to someone in authority to you and do what they tell you, benefits will follow. Why is this so? Because only the person you pay attention to can help you. If instead, you choose not to pay attention, then you will make mistakes and consequences will follow. Children learn these valuable lessons.

As God’s children, we are told in this psalm to listen to what God will say. The psalmist wants us to pay attention. What will God say to us? God speaks peace to us and tells us to not go back to foolish ways (Psalm 85:8). God will bring salvation to those who respect Him (Psalm 85:9). If we pay attention to God, faithful love and truth will come together in our lives. That means that out of God’s grace, He will speak truth to us. Truth comes up and righteousness (right living) comes down (Psalm 85:10-11). If we pay attention, we will see that God will provide what is good. He will make the land yield crops. He will show us the way of right living (Psalm 85:12-13). In other words, God will show us how to live. But for God to show us the good way to live – the way that benefits us, we need to listen to God and His instruction (Psalm 85:8). How closely am I listening to God? How much attention am I paying to God?⁹

Prayer: Am I ready for God’s results?