Revive Us Again

{a reflection of Holy Week through the lens of the continual and consistent work of being REVIVED again and again}

My friend, Haley Barinowski, recently shared these words after reflecting on the word REVIVE as it relates to Holy Week. It pricked a place in my heart, and opened my mind to contemplate further this word, it’s meaning, and it’s transformational power in the life of all those who BELIEVE the Bible’s literally account of Holy Week and have RECEIVED Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior — those who have turned from their sin and surrendered to Him.

These were Haley’s words…

I've been thinking a lot about the word revive recently. Not so much revival in the sense of big church movements (although I want to learn more about that, too), but more about what it means to be revived personally — to be brought back to life, woken up, restored. And if the Lord is making all things new, then he is continually reviving. He was, He is, He will. I was in Luke some this week reading about Jesus last week before he died, and it was there, too, even on His way to death, He was bringing things to life…

Palm Sunday: He revived service by hand picking a brand new colt — choosing the unlikely and unfamiliar.

Monday: He revived worship by cleansing the temple — making a way for the poor and helpless.

Tuesday: He revived giving by honoring a woman's two coins — honoring a sacrifice from scarcity, not surplus.

Thursday: He revived religious ceremony by fulfilling the Passover dinner — bringing substance to symbols.

Friday: He revived our access to God by tearing the temple veil — bringing us in with boldness, not fear.

Saturday: He revived our waiting — bringing meaning to our longing.

Resurrection Sunday: He revived my desperate soul — putting death in its place and bringing me to life in a way I could never find without him.

And in that case, I have to believe He will do it again tomorrow. Every spring, every morning, every moment.

"Then we will not turn away from you; revive us, and we will call on your name." Psalm 80:18

After reading Haley’s words, I opened the Word and did a quick word study on the word, REVIVE…

There was SO MUCH in the Psalms about being revived (specifically Psalm 119). The Hebrew word for REVIVE used in the fifteen verses below is CHAYAH, and it is used 264 times in the Old Testament. It has several similar meanings when translated. These are the translations that stood out to me: to live, to sustain life, to quicken, to cause to grow, to restore, and these verses all have a common theme. That theme and the profound meaning it has in the life of a believer leapt off the page and into my heart as I read these verses. I’ve highlight the words that connected the dots. I pray that message comes alive in your heart as the Holy Spirit connects the dots personally for you, too.

Will You not Yourself revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You? — Psalm 85:6

You who have shown me many troubles and distresses will revive me again, and will bring me up again from the depths of the earth. — Psalm 71:20

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me. — Psalm 138:7

This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your word has revived me. — Psalm 119:50

I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have revived me. — Psalm 119:93

My soul cleaves to the dust; Revive me according to Your word. — Psalm 119:25

I am exceedingly afflicted; Revive me, O Lord, according to Your word. — Psalm 119:107

Plead my cause and redeem me; Revive me according to Your word. — Psalm 119:154

Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity, and revive me in Your ways. — Psalm 119:37

Behold, I long for Your precepts; Revive me through Your righteousness. — Psalm 119:40

Revive me according to Your lovingkindness, so that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth. — Psalm 119:88

Consider how I love Your precepts; Revive me, O Lord, according to Your lovingkindness. — Psalm 119:159

Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness; Revive me, O Lord, according to Your ordinances. — Psalm 119:149

Great are Your mercies, O Lord; Revive me according to Your ordinances. — Psalm 119:156

For the sake of Your name, O Lord, revive me. In Your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble. — Psalm 143:11

His Word. His Ways. His Lovingkindness. His Ordinances. His Precepts. His mouth. His Righteousness. His Hand. He and He alone has the POWER to REVIVE us. To save us. To redeem us. To bring us out of trouble, distress and affliction.

Makes me think of this chorus from the song, Revive Us Again by Bill and Gloria Gaither:

Hallelujah! Thine the glory

Hallelujah! Amen

Hallelujah! Thine the glory

Revive us again

Holy Week — the very week Jesus overcame death to offer life to all who would believe and receive — also established the continual and consistent work of being REVIVED again and again so every week can be a holy week as we walk in victory with Him!