Psalm 119: Personal Revival, Part 2
Eleven times the Psalmist prays for personal revival.
Vs. 25 My soul clings to the dust. Revive me according to your word.
For our soul is bowed down to the dust; our belly clings to the ground.
He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.
Personal Revival is anchored, for the Psalmist of verse 25, in “My soul clings to the dust.”
There could be many and various reasons for the Psalmist’s soul to cling to the dust. “Look at you….”
- Personal difficulty
- Depression
- Disease
- Strong enemies
- A guilty conscience
Let us consider a different possibility for you and I to recognize that our “souls cling to the dust.” Isaiah 6:1-9
In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train[a] of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory!”[b]4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”
6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.”
8 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” 9 And he said, “Go, and say to this people:
There is a, “My soul clings to the dust reality,” that comes not from one’s encounter with the self and all of its challenges, but from an experience with God and His holiness.
Here the soul isn’t saying, “Look at you,” the soul has looked and seen God.
We discover Isaiah’s “Woe is me” is similar to the Psalmist’s “My soul clings to the dust.”
May the Lord create in us a longing for personal revival that flows from an experience with God and His holiness.
Vs. 37 Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.
Vs. 40 Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life!
Vs. 50 This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.
Vs. 88 In your steadfast love give me life, that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth.
Vs. 93 I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life.
Vs. 107 I am severely afflicted; give me life, O Lord, according to your word!
Vs. 149 Hear my voice according to your steadfast love; O Lord, according to your justice give me life.
Vs. 154 Plead my cause and redeem me; give me life according to your promise!
Vs. 156 Great is your mercy, O Lord; give me life according to your rules.
Vs. 159 Consider how I love your precepts! Give me life according to your steadfast love.
Psalm 85
Lord, you were favorable to your land;
you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
2 You forgave the iniquity of your people;
you covered all their sin. Selah
3 You withdrew all your wrath;
you turned from your hot anger.4 Restore us again, O God of our salvation,
and put away your indignation toward us!
5 Will you be angry with us forever?
Will you prolong your anger to all generations?
6 Will you not revive us again,
that your people may rejoice in you?
7 Show us your steadfast love, O Lord,
and grant us your salvation.8 Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints;
but let them not turn back to folly.
9 Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,
that glory may dwell in our land.10 Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;
righteousness and peace kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness springs up from the ground,
and righteousness looks down from the sky.
12 Yes, the Lord will give what is good,
and our land will yield its increase.
13 Righteousness will go before him
and make his footsteps a way.
Ten Suggestions for a Personal Revival: “The Size of the Soul (Chapter 5)” A.W. Tozer
- Get thoroughly dissatisfied with yourself.
- Set your face like a flint toward a sweeping transformation of your life.
- Put yourself in the way of the blessing.
- Do a thorough job of repenting.
- Make restitution whenever possible.
- Bring your life into accord with the Sermon on the Mount and such other New Testament Scriptures as are designed to instruct us in the way of righteousness. (Self-examination made on our knees)
- Be serious-minded.
- Deliberately narrow your interests.
- Begin to witness.
- Have faith in God (begin to expect).