A Picture of Revival in Psalm 67

 

God be gracious and kind-hearted to us and bless us,

And make His face shine [with favor] on us— Selah.

That Your way may be known on earth,

Your salvation and deliverance among all nations.

Let the peoples praise You, O God;

Let all the peoples praise You.

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,

For You will judge the people fairly

And guide the nations on earth. Selah.

Let the peoples praise You, O God;

Let all the peoples praise You.

The earth has yielded its harvest [as evidence of His approval];

God, our God, blesses us.

God blesses us,

And all the ends of the earth shall fear Him—Psalm 67 AMP

As I read through this psalm this morning, I saw it as a beautiful picture of what a world-wide revival might look like. I prayed along with the psalmist as I read his inspired words…

God be merciful to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us.  

Why?  

So that Your way may be known on earth and Your salvation among all nations. 

Let the peoples praise You, O God;

Let all the peoples praise You.

Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy!

Why?

For You shall judge the people righteously,

And govern the nations on earth.

Let the peoples praise You, O God;

Let all the peoples praise You.

Why?

Then the earth shall yield her increase;

God, our own God, shall bless us.

God shall bless us,

And then the last line…the icing on the cake so to speak

With awe-inspired reverence and submissive wonder all the ends of the earth shall fear Him. God WANTS to prosper us.

Beloved…How much do you want to see this happen?!!  It is not God’s will that any should perish but that all should come to eternal life in His Son. Psalm 67 opens with the psalmist praying for God’s mercy and blessings so that His saving ways might be known. God desires our praise for his righteous judgments so that we can enjoy all that He has for us.  Jeremiah 29:11-12 comes to mind here. 

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

Oh, Father!  

Do this work here on earth.  Bring revival to each and every one of our hearts. Renew a right spirit within each of us.  May others see the salvation you have wrought in our hearts and desire it for themselves. For if God can save us, He can save them as well.  

I waited patiently for the LORD;

And He inclined to me,

And heard my cry.

He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,

Out of the miry clay,

And set my feet upon a rock,

And established my steps.

He has put a new song in my mouth—

Praise to our God;

Many will see it and fear,

And will trust in the LORD.—Psalm 40:1-3

May we in turn, by the Holy Spirit you have given us, praise You as we acknowledge Your blessings.  May we do as it says in Hebrews 13:15…continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. May the people you have sovereignly placed around us, hear it and come to you for salvation. May they also bow their hearts in beautiful worship…for all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God. But as for those whose hearts follow the desire for their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their deeds on their own heads," says the Lord GOD.—Ezekiel 11:19-21

Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies," says the Lord GOD. "Therefore turn and live!"—Ezekiel 18:31-32

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."

Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."—Revelation 21:1-5

Unless the Lord Had Been My Help…

 

17 Unless the LORD had been my help,

My soul would soon have settled in silence.

18 If I say, "My foot slips,"

Your mercy, O LORD, will hold me up.

19 In the multitude of my anxieties within me,

Your comforts delight my soul.—Psalm 94:17-19

Even if the multitude of my own anxieties never go away that’s okay because I am beginning to see how they benefit me.  

I so “get” verse 17…

Unless the LORD had been my help,

My soul would soon have settled in silence.

I remember when the Lord was NOT on my side. I remember when my heart was empty and my soul lost.  I remember how it felt to be truly alone and without help. I am so grateful that I will never feel that way again.

What a blessing it is now to know He is for me….to know that He is always with me…to know that whenever I am afraid, I can grab hold of my God with both hands and ask Him to take and perfect each and every one of my anxious cares.  As I do this, my pulse slows because I remember I am not the one making the decisions and I am not the one in control.  My times are in the hands of the One who planned out every one of my days for me. The eternal God has fixed every one of my steps.  My God has me surrounded with His love.  I can trust Him with each and every care because He cares for !me!  I can refocus my mind and heart on what is eternal.  My life is now hidden with Christ in God. When He appears, I will also appear with Him in glory. 

Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness;

He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.—Psalm 112:4

He will not be afraid of evil tidings;

His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.—Psalm 112:7

Stand back and see the salvation of the Lord.  The Lord is our defense and He is our Rock of Refuge. The Lord is our help and in the multitude of our anxieties within His comfort delights our soul.

Besieged, Surrounded and Walled in by Grief…

 

I am the man who has seen affliction by the rod of His wrath.

He has led me and made me walk

In darkness and not in light.—Lamentations 3:1-2

Last night I read the first 3 Chapters of Lamentations…not exactly light bedtime reading. Here is the thing though. I am sure there are people who read this passage who have not yet experienced the kind of grief that Jeremiah speaks of here.  However, when I read it, I wept.  In Jeremiah’s sorrow…in his poignant metaphors and beautifully descriptive prose…I was able to recognize and feel my own sorrow. It was a relief to know that I was not alone in my grief and that as God did for Jeremiah He could do for me, His weeping child.  

Beloved…There are times in each of our lives as children of God that He Himself leads us and makes us walk in darkness and not in light.  We are besieged, surrounded and walled in by grief. He makes our chains heavy and blocks all our paths. Go back, and read verse 2 again. 

He has led me and made me walk

In darkness and not in light.

One could read that and feel much fear and trepidation. I did not. That one verse brought me much consolation. Beloved..It was God who led me into this present darkness and if it is God who led me than He is still here with me and will bring me out, as it says in Psalm 66, into rich fulfillment. If the darkness is the place where God has led me, than this present darkness is the best place for me.  Again Psalm 66 comes to mind as David exhorts others to praise God for their trials. 

Oh, bless our God, you peoples!

And make the voice of His praise to be heard,

Who keeps our soul among the living,

And does not allow our feet to be moved.

For You, O God, have tested us;

You have refined us as silver is refined.

You brought us into the net;

You laid affliction on our backs.

You have caused men to ride over our heads;

We went through fire and through water;

But You brought us out to rich fulfillment.—Psalm 66:8-12

What a comfort for me to know that it is my Father in heaven who brought me here. I will surrender to Him because He loves me with an everlasting covenant love. He does not give me more than I can handle nor does He afflict His children willingly. As a father pities his children so the Lord pities me.  Truly, I can know that He has an objective view and a good end for me in all of this. (Jeremiah 29:11) For the Lord will not cast off forever. Though He causes grief, according to the multitude of His mercies, He will show compassion. 

Why are you cast down, O my soul?

And why are you disquieted within me?

Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him

For the help of His countenance.—Psalm 42:5

So even though this might be the saddest chapter in the whole Bible, my heart was encouraged and strengthened in seeing the footprints of this great prophet, the heart of Jesus, (a Man of Sorrow) and the legacy of the great cloud of believers (Hebrews 12:1-2) who have followed Jesus through the dark valleys of their own lives.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil;

For You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.—Psalm 23:4

But wait there is more. Chapter 3 does not end as it begins. There is a light at the end of this tunnel.  Read with me these words of hope God placed on this suffering prophet’s heart. They are for us as well. The version below is in the Amplified.

Remember [O LORD] my affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and the gall (bitterness).

My soul continually remembers them

And is bowed down within me.

But this I call to mind,

Therefore I have hope.

It is because of the LORD'S lovingkindnesses that we are not consumed,

Because His [tender] compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

Great and beyond measure is Your faithfulness.

"The LORD is my portion and my inheritance," says my soul;

"Therefore I have hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him."

The LORD is good to those who wait [confidently] for Him,

To those who seek Him [on the authority of God's word].

It is good that one waits quietly

For the salvation of the LORD.—Lamentations 3:19-24

God is faithful. His compassions fail not. Whatever you might be facing, you can know without a shadow of a doubt, that as you pour out your heart in surrender to Him, His grace will be there to sustain you and to deliver you in His perfect timing. The Great I Am..the Becoming One…will become for you whatever your need might be. 

'I will go before you

And make the crooked places straight;

I will break in pieces the gates of bronze

And cut the bars of iron.

I will give you the treasures of darkness

And hidden riches of secret places,

That you may know that I, the LORD,

Who call you by your name,

Am the God of Israel.—Isaiah 45:2-3

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.—Romans 15:4-5

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.—2 Corinthians 1:3-7

The Beauty of Depending on God…

 

It is vain for you to rise early,

To retire late,

To eat the bread of anxious labors—

For He gives [blessings] to His beloved even in his sleep.—Psalm 127:2 AMP

What a beautiful verse to think on as we close our eyes to sleep. Our good and gracious God, who “keeps” us and never slumbers, gives to us His blessings even as we sleep. His goodness endures continually and His steadfast love never ceases. 

Beloved…This one is so simple. Seek the Lord in all things. Anything done independent of God is futile, but a person who trusts in the Lord will find rest.   He has commanded us to be strong and courageous because He Himself goes before us and is with us wherever we go.

Whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus [and in dependence on Him], giving thanks to God the Father through Him.—Colossians 3:17 AMP

May our God who does not turn away our prayer nor His mercy from us, write this promise on our heart today.  

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall direct your paths.—Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the LORD, and do good;

Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.

Delight yourself also in the LORD,

And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the LORD,

Trust also in Him,

And He shall bring it to pass.

He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,

And your justice as the noonday.—Psalm 37:3-6

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.—Matthew 6:33-34

Thus says the LORD:

"Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,

Let not the mighty man glory in his might,

Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;

But let him who glories glory in this,

That he understands and knows Me,

That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth.

For in these I delight," says the LORD.—Jeremiah 9:23-24

Commit your works to the LORD,

And your thoughts will be established.—Proverbs 16:3

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.—Philippians 4:6-7

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.—1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."—Matthew 11:28-30

Those Who Sow in Tears…

 

Those who sow in tears

Shall reap in joy.

He who continually goes forth weeping,

Bearing seed for sowing,

Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,

Bringing his sheaves with him.—Psalm 126:5-6

There have been times in my life when grief, weakness or anxiety leave me unable to focus on anything (even Scripture) because the “noise” in my head is too loud. When this happens, these verses remind me to just do the next right thing…

Praying that if that is where you are, these verses and the others below will do that for you.  

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.—Hebrews 12:1-2

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.—Galatians 6:9-10

They shall come with weeping,

And with supplications I will lead them.

I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters,

In a straight way in which they shall not stumble;

For I am a Father to Israel,

And Ephraim is My firstborn.—Jeremiah 31:9-10

Whoever Trusts in the Lord, Happy is He…

 

He who heeds the word wisely will find good,

And whoever trusts in the LORD, happy is he.—Proverbs 16:20 NKJV

Proverbs 16:20 AMP - He who deals wisely and heeds [God’s] word and counsel shall find good, and whoever leans on, trusts in, and is confident in the Lord — happy, blessed, and fortunate is he. 

I needed this today. Maybe you did too. God is pretty clear about what the end result of trusting Him is. I am also always grateful for this verse from Isaiah…

A bruised reed He will not break,

And smoking flax He will not quench;

Beloved…Be like David today…

To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul.—Psalm 25:1

God is our help, our security, our stability and our power.  He is our hope, our joy, and our praise.  In trusting Him we are like Mt Zion which cannot be shaken but endures forever. Trust in the LORD forever, for in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength. Read the verses below and be encouraged, strengthened and blessed. Save them and pull them out when you need them. 

For He commands and raises the stormy wind,

Which lifts up the waves of the sea.

They mount up to the heavens,

They go down again to the depths;

Their soul melts because of trouble.

They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man,

And are at their wits' end.

Then they cry out to the LORD in their trouble,

And He brings them out of their distresses.

He calms the storm,

So that its waves are still.

Then they are glad because they are quiet;

So He guides them to their desired haven.—Psalm 107

Jeremiah 17:7 AMP - [Most] blessed is the man who believes in, trusts in, and relies on the Lord, and whose hope and confidence the Lord is. 

Psalms 84:12 AMP - O Lord of hosts, blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who trusts in You [leaning and believing on You, committing all and confidently looking to You, and that without fear or misgiving]! 

Psalms 31:19 AMP - Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear, revere, and worship You, goodness which You have wrought for those who trust and take refuge in You before the sons of men! 

Psalms 5:11 AMP - But let all those who take refuge and put their trust in You rejoice; let them ever sing and shout for joy, because You make a covering over them and defend them; let those also who love Your name be joyful in You and be in high spirits. 

2 Samuel 22:31 AMP - As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried. He is a Shield to all those who trust and take refuge in Him. 

Psalms 115:9 AMP - O Israel, trust and take refuge in the Lord! [Lean on, rely on, and be confident in Him!] He is their Help and their Shield. 

Psalms 7:1 AMP - O Lord my God, in You I take refuge and put my trust; save me from all those who pursue and persecute me, and deliver me, 

Psalms 91:4-7 AMP - [Then] He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge; His truth and His faithfulness are a shield and a buckler. 5 You shall not be afraid of the terror of the night, nor of the arrow (the evil plots and slanders of the wicked) that flies by day, 6 Nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor of the destruction and sudden death that surprise and lay waste at noonday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you. 

Psalms 4:8 AMP - In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You, Lord, alone make me dwell in safety and confident trust. 
    
Psalms 37:3 AMP - Trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) in the Lord and do good; so shall you dwell in the land and feed surely on His faithfulness, and truly you shall be fed. 
 
Psalms 125:1 AMP - Those who trust in, lean on, and confidently hope in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides and stands fast forever. 

Psalms 56:11 AMP - In God have I put my trust and confident reliance; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? 
    
2 Timothy 1:7 AMP - For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.
     
Isaiah 26:3 AMP - You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You. 

Psalms 37:4-5 AMP - Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord [roll and repose each care of your load on Him]; trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) also in Him and He will bring it to pass. 

Psalms 34:22 AMP - The Lord redeems the lives of His servants, and none of those who take refuge and trust in Him shall be condemned or held guilty. 

Psalms 9:10 NKJV - And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who

seek You

Have you not known?

Have you not heard?

The everlasting God, the LORD,

The Creator of the ends of the earth,

Neither faints nor is weary.

His understanding is unsearchable.

He gives power to the weak,

And to those who have no might He increases strength.

Even the youths shall faint and be weary,

And the young men shall utterly fall,

But those who wait on the LORD

Shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint.—Isaiah 40:28-30

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.—Ephesians 1:3-14

In the Midst of Trouble…

 

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

When shall I come and appear before God?—Psalm 42:2a

I love this verse...the psalmist soul...all that he was, thirsted for the living God!  When I am in the midst of trial and trouble, it is so good for me to remember that those who have gone before me have faced similar circumstances.  I am thankful that both their steps and their missteps are memorialized here in the Bible for me to study, learn from and follow.  Spurgeon speaks to this the best...

“The footsteps of the flock that has gone before should make the sheep feel that it is not lost.”

Beloved, abide in Your God.  Delight Yourself in Him!  Trust in Him, do good and feed on His faithfulness.  In times of distress, call out to Him!  Seek Him early...spread out your hands to Him and feel the longing for Him that He Himself has placed in Your heart.  His mercy is in the heavens and His faithfulness reaches to the clouds.  His lovingkindness is precious. Place yourself in His care.  Tuck yourself under the shadow of His wings and put your trust in Him. He satisfies the longing soul with the fullness of His house.  He gives them drink from the rivers of His pleasures.  With Him is the fountain of life...in His light we see light.  Allow Him to order your steps. He will make Your way straight before you. His Presence also will go with you and give you rest.  

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."—Matthew 11:28-30

On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."—John 7:37-38