“Will you not revive us again so that your people may rejoice in you?” (Psalm 85:6).

This verse (and question) was posed to us at church recently. It’s a question to the Lord. In modern day language, the writer is asking God, “Will you please breathe life into us again so we can abide and flourish in You?”

I looked up the word revive in the Hebrew (for Old Testament context) and it said this word is used in the sense of flourishing as well as to convey a sense of safety.

Revive us again

This word was used in Ezekiel 37:3-5 when the Lord asked Ezekiel, “Can these bones live [be revived]?” I think I would’ve had the same face and answer as Ezekiel: “O Lord God, only You know.”

The Lord responded and said, “Prophecy to these bones, and say to them, oh you dry bones, hear the word of the Lord– for thus says the Lord God to these bones, Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you and you shall live!” 

In light of our opening question, what a promise! God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. If we ask for revival, if we ask for new breath, won’t He do it? YES! But before we picture world-wide rejoicing in the streets, let’s receive it personally: Lord, will you breathe into my life again?

He wants to. It’s who He is. And the writers of Psalm 85 knew this. “Show us your faithful love Lord, and give us your salvation. I will listen to what God will say; surely the Lord will declare peace to His people, His faithful 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 85:7-9).

The writers spoke of the salvation of the Lord long before it was a reality because they knew the heart and character of God. They also recognized their own shortcomings, which is why they called on His faithful love (mercy). When we slip into foolish ways and get our eyes more on this world than the Lord, we need help (mercy) to revive us again.

What does that mean?

It’s foolish to call God our Lord but not live like it. It’s unwise to call ourselves followers of Christ while holding on to grudges, picking apart those we disagree with, or mingling with those who have no desire to know or follow the Lord (just to name a few things). Gratefully this is why His mercy endures forever.

We need it.

We need it to live. We need His mercy to flourish. We need His mercy to remind us how lost we are without Him.

The good news is He’s faithful to revive us! There’s nothing more the Lord wants than for us to thrive, prosper, increase, and bear fruit for the kingdom of God! He desires to walk in close fellowship with each of us– this is personal revival!

But it starts with recognizing our need for it and repenting for where we fell short “so that glory may dwell in our land [homes, neighborhoods, schools, churches, businesses, and cities].” A simple “Lord, forgive us for getting off track– revive us again” will bring an immediate, and positive, response from Him.

The Lord wants us to live and flourish more than we could ever comprehend. It’s why Jesus came. It’s wrapped in the salvation He offers. We were once the dry bones that needed breath and life. We were functioning but lost and separated from our Creator. The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus brought revival! Believing and receiving His love caused us to rejoice!

And that’s our prayer today: Revive us again Lord, that your people may rejoice in You!