Ezra 9:9 (KJV)
For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.
Being a fundamental Bible believer, I am very interested in revival. I read about revivals in England. I research the revivals in the United States. I enjoy the sermons of revivalists from the past—Moody, Sunday, Whitefield, and others.
- I pray for nationwide revival in the United States.
- I beg the Lord for worldwide revival.
- I participate in and pray for church services intended to seek revival.
- I have also preached my fair share of messages from passages of Scripture that speak of revival.
As a spiritual exercise, I simply want to note what Ezra identified as revival in his day.
Israel had been dispossessed of the Promised Land for some seventy years. God moved upon the heart of Cyrus to decree that the Jews could return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple.
The return and the work on the Temple faced opposition and, frankly, were disappointing to many of the returning Jews.
Ezra confessed shame, astonishment, and heaviness over what had transpired. Yet, in his prayer, he declared that they had experienced "a little reviving." What was this reviving?
- Grace had been shown by the Lord our God.
- A remnant had escaped Babylonian captivity.
- They recognized that God had not forsaken them.
- Mercy had been extended through secular rulers.
- The house of God had been rebuilt.
- Jerusalem's wall had been restored.
I notice that this reviving was from God, but it was not:
- National
- Without conflict
- Perfect
Perhaps, by those standards, we have experienced more reviving in our own day than we have acknowledged or thanked God for.
We have enjoyed:
- Liberty to preach
- Churches planted
- Souls saved
- Opportunities for missions
Let us not forget that even in times when we are embarrassed by the evil around us and by the compromises of many who profess to be Christians, God has still been gracious to us. He has given us "a little reviving."
#LittleReviving #GodSendsRevival #Ezra9v9 #ReviveThyWork #BibleRevival
What the Bible Calls Revival May Surprise You: Have We Missed the Reviving of God?
If this devotional challenged or encouraged you, I'd love to hear from you. What does "a little reviving" look like in your church, your family, or your own walk with God? Leave a comment below and join the conversation. For more Bible studies, devotionals, and resources to strengthen your faith, visit marvinmckenzie.org. I look forward to hearing from you!
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