Recipe for Revival

What is revival, and how does it begin? Psalm 85:6 asks, “Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?” But how does that happen? Do we just wait for God to inspire some charismatic leader or talented musician, or is there something we can do?

Second Chronicles 29-31:1 tells of Hezekiah, the twenty-five-year-old king who in the first month of his reign begins to make some major changes. Opening the dusty doors of the temple, he assembles the Levites and urges them to consecrate themselves and “remove all defilement” from the sanctuary (29:5), not being negligent but “following the word of the Lord” (29:15). He briefly shares how their fathers in their unfaithfulness closed the temple, put out the lamps, and did not burn incense or present offerings. As a result, a hedge of protection was lifted, the anger of the Lord fell upon Judah, and the men fell by the sword. Naturally, this led to their families being dragged away into captivity, a sobering reminder of how idolatry interrupts the calling of men to protect the weak and vulnerable.

When they finish the renovation sixteen days later, Hezekiah gathers together the city officials and the Levites, and they make offerings to the Lord. He stations them with cymbals, harps, and lyres—David’s instruments—in the way prescribed by God, and when the sacrifices begin, so begins the worship. The Levites praise the Lord in the words of David, as the king had ordered. “All whose hearts were willing” made thank offerings (29:31), and the people rejoiced in what God had done.

This sounds like a happily-ever-after. The king is back to serving God and acknowledging Him, the people are happy, and service in the temple is reestablished. It sounds great, but not quite.

Hezekiah then invites all Israel and Judah to come to the newly furnished temple for Passover. In the spirit of Solomon, the last ruler of the United Kingdom, Hezekiah hopes to hold Passover as an undivided nation. This seems like a good plan, and he sends couriers throughout Israel with this message: Return to the Lord. Don’t be like those who came before you—unfaithful, stubborn, and stiff-necked. Submit. Come. Serve and return to the Lord, for He is gracious and compassionate and will not turn away if you turn to Him.

In a tragic turn of events, the people, rather than receiving the couriers, “scorned and ridiculed them” (30:10)! But do we wonder? We all want revival, but usually not at that price. Return? Submit? Serve? The draw of a purified temple has no appeal. We would rather serve ourselves. Nevertheless, some from Asher and Zebulun humble themselves and go to Jerusalem, where God was giving the people a unity of mind to carry out His word (30:12). Behold the start of revival.

However, soon another problem sprang up. People from various tribes were coming to celebrate, but they hadn’t been purified, contrary to what was written (30:18). Hezekiah knew this was an issue. He was serious about restoring purity, sacredness, and devotion among God’s people, as was God. In response, Hezekiah prayed for the people, saying, “May the Lord, who is good, pardon everyone who sets their heart on seeking God—the Lord, the God of their ancestors—even if they are not clean according to the rules of the sanctuary.” Miraculously, the Lord heard him and healed the people.

At this point, Jerusalem is the bustling center of great rejoicing and singing. The priests show a good understanding of the service of the Lord, and the people are enjoying the festival, so much so that they want to celebrate seven more days! To make this a reality, Hezekiah provides bulls, sheep, and goats—eight thousand in all—in addition to those provided by the assembly. More priests consecrate themselves, and more people rejoice, including the foreigners who dwell in their midst. Since the days of Solomon there had not been such joy. The priests and Levites then blessed the people, “and God heard them” (30:27).

And yet, that’s not the end. The temple is in working order. People have had a vibrant emotional, unifying experience interwoven with religious zeal, nostalgia, and national pride. It will be a year to remember, but there’s more.

If you’ve read this far, congratulations. You’ve made it to what I believe is the true climax: “When all this had ended, the Israelites who were there went out to the towns of Judah, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. They destroyed the high places and the altars throughout Judah and Benjamin and in Ephraim and Manasseh” (31:10). What is the mark of true revival? Going and smashing your idols.

That’s not all. The second part of this verse is as follows: “After they had destroyed all of them [idols], the Israelites returned to their own towns and to their own property.” Revival wasn’t just about going home to their own towns and property and taking care of idolatry. They “went out” to the towns of Judah. They cared about what the people of God worshiped, because they knew it could distance them from the One who had chosen them. At Passover, celebrating an act of God, because of the humility, obedience, and service of the few, they had tasted the holiness that allowed them to clearly see their idols—and acted.

Israel’s culture and covenant are different. We are not the same. Christ took and quelled eternally the fierce and holy anger of God toward His people, and He now sees His children as righteous. And yet, what would it look like for us to go “out to the towns of Judah”?

Revival is a joint work between God and the humble few (Ps. 80:18). Such partnership not only equips them to remove the unclean thing, sacrifice, and worship. It gives them pure hearts for unity, the patience to intercede for those who may unwittingly be doing contrary to what is written, and the generosity to make additional sacrifices so that others may keep rejoicing. The couriers may be mocked—those who fear God are never in the majority—and yet there may be some.

John Wesley is quoted as saying, “Light yourself on fire with passion and people will come from miles to watch you burn.” Passion for the Word. Passion for revival. Passion for purity. Do you really want revival? Start with Scripture, prayer, and yourself. Now calling the humble few.

Do You Really Want Revival?

Do you really want revival? To God be reconciled.

Consecrate thyself and remove what is defiled.

Your fathers turned away their faces and put out their lamps,

Inviting the oppressor into their daughters’ camps.

Resolve to play no longer with what you think He meant.

Recommit thyself and be not negligent.

For the Lord has chosen you before His throne to stand

And intercede and serve Him in an insolent wasteland.

Renew now your commitment. Remember what you heard.

Purify the temple. Obey the forgotten Word.

Stand prepared to worship in the proper way and sing

With the instruments and verse of your anointed King.

Behold abundant offerings; hear the joyful shout

As the people worship God for what He’s brought about.

Behold our God! He says, “I am doing something new.

Behold, return to Me, and I’ll return to you.

You have escaped the hand of the enemy king.

Now unlike your brothers, choose the better thing.

Resist your pagan stubbornness, submit and do not tarry,

And take shelter in My holy sanctuary.

Some may mock and scorn you, your humility condemn.

But all you need are some going to Jerusalem.”

They may seem weak and lowly, inadequate, and flawed,

But a formidable force is but one and God.

More may later eat in an unconsecrated way;

Brother, God may hear if you will but love and pray.

Let the whole assembly gather to celebrate and praise,

For joy there has not been since Solomon’s days.

Believe and preach His truth. Do not scorn or doubt it,

For we do not have revival if we choose to live without it.

Do not fear or wait for the next month of your reign.

One man’s pure obedience shall never be in vain.

On earth, it matters not how many know his name;

Heaven knows the man, the first unhidden flame.

It matters not if numbers begin to wane or dwindle;

Your reverence for the Word of God and prayerfulness, rekindle!

Awake from your complacency. To God today return!

Revival will begin when people come to watch you burn.

It sprouts not from the many but among the humble few.

What god has your heart? Will divine eyes fall on you?

Do you cling to sacred, beloved Asherah poles?

O in the zeal of Christ cleanse your temple-souls!

Will you be the humble of Zebulun and Asher?

Has there been revival? Are you an idol-smasher?

The only reason we don’t have revival is because we are willing to live without it!

Leonard Ravenhill

If we want revivals, we must revive our reverence for the Word of God.

Charles Spurgeon