7. Echoing of Agreement
True revival is marked by truth and righteousness, not man-made smoke and mirrors. In verses 10-11, the psalmist poignantly pens, “mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.”
Spurgeon, in his commentary of Psalms, wrote, “the Lord whose just severity inflicted the smart, now in pity sends peace to bind up the wound.” He explained that the natural man, in his knowledge and lack of spirituality, cannot “rightly estimate the solution of spiritual problems – they are far above and out of their sight.” Beautifully, Spurgeon wrote that the “Spirit’s work even now creates a hollowed harmony between his church below, and the sovereign righteousness above.”
No evangelist can take responsibility for the rejuvenation of God’s people. During the early growth of the church and the manifested power of the Holy Spirit, critics in Acts 5:38-39 understood, “if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” Just as a true Holy Ghost revival cannot be stopped by man, one cannot be started by man either.
8. Desire to Follow His Lead
In conclusion, verse 13 tells us, “Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.” Bible commentator and teacher, David Guzik, described this picture as God being the head of a comet, and we serve as the trailing tail. The church should have the desire to have that same nearness in following His direction.
Led by the spirit, the prophet Ezekiel sat down in the valley of dry bones. The bodies were given “sinews and flesh” following the commanded noise and shaking. It wasn’t until the Holy Spirit breathed upon the slain that breath inhabit their bodies. The Lord then informed Ezekiel of his plan to “take the children of Israel from among the heathen” “and bring them into their own land.” There they would be united and made into “one nation in the land.”
This restoration and revival would result in them not defiling “themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwelling places, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God.” An effectual and sustained revival begins with the quickening through the Holy Ghost and results in the obedience of His people.
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