A new year is a good time to take stock and evaluate where we are compared to where we need to be. Many people, unhappy with that evaluation will make resolutions, and it’s no secret most of those people will abandon those commitments within a few days. As believers, we may be less in need of a resolution and more in need of REVIVAL. Over the next few weeks, we’ll look at some Biblical revivals to see what we may need. The first revival we’ll look at happened after a great sin committed by the people of Israel.
In Exodus 32, the people of Israel commit one of their gravest sins and enlist Aaron to make a golden calf for them to worship. Judgment falls. Moses intercedes for them, and there is repentance. God reaffirms His covenant with the people in Exodus 34:10-11, then goes on to reiterate the responsibilities on the people. The people’s heart and spirits are stirred, and they respond with great offerings and a commitment to build and furnish the tabernacle. They also re-committed themselves to following God’s law.
Then near the end of Exodus, we read: “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle” Exodus 40:34-35.
This is a very brief overview, and I definitely recommend reading the details in chapters 32-34 and 40, but even in this quick look, it’s clear the people needed a revival after their sin. Now, let’s consider the takeaways for us.
Revival is needed after sin.
Even if the sin wasn’t as egregious as Israel’s idolatry, we damage our relationship with God when we sin. Israel renewed their commitment to God by reviewing His laws and dedicating themselves to obeying everything God said. We too can review what God requires of us and rededicate ourselves to those standards. (Ephesians 4-6 can be a good place to start if you want to see how believers should behave in the world.)
Revival should be followed by action.
The people of Israel didn’t just talk about their failure and how things were going to be different. They generously offered all the materials to construct the Tabernacle. They diligently applied themselves to the task in whatever ways they could. In the same way, it does us no good to talk about how horribly we failed or the changes we’re going to make. We need to get to work. Change the habits that need changing. Take on the ministries God has been nudging us about. Commit to the spiritual disciplines. Lists of disciplines vary, but they include things like prayer, study, memorizing Scripture, fasting, and evangelism.) If we don’t follow through, then maybe our repentance and revival weren’t as sincere as we thought. If that’s the case, we need to start over.
Revival is honored by God.
When the people of Israel follow all of Moses’s instructions and properly set up the Tabernacle God’s Spirit fills up the space. The majesty of presence is overwhelming, to the point that Moses can’t even go inside. Since the moment of salvation, we have the gift of the Holy Spirit already living in us. In revival we experience more of His work and less of our own. Paul explained it to the Colossians this way: “[Y]ou have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your Creator (Colossians 3:9-10).
When we sin, repentance and then revival help get us back on track. Next week we’ll look at the revival that happened during the prophet Samuel’s ministry.