Wilt Thou not revive us again?
The concept of revival for the nation of Israel is often uniting once more with their God. Israel is notorious for forgetting the ways of God and following strange gods or falling into sinful ways. Every time God is unable to bear the unfaithfulness of His people, he would inflict them with some form of hardship. For example, occupation by a foreign power. The revival that this verse refers to is on these lines. The nation pleads with God to remember the old covenants to their forefathers in Abraham and Jacob. They also place their supplications in the matter of reconciliation with God. The outcome that they seek is for God to cover their sin, own them as His people while they repent, and deliver them from the yoke of the foreign power (BibleHub.com, 2015).
Revival for the Heaviness of Habakkuk
Habakkuk was a prophet whose burden fell into two different categories. The first category is in the restoration of justice and renewal of the nation of Judah. The nation was tearing itself apart with sinful ways and worshipping lesser gods. The second category is dismay. Habakkuk learns of God’s plan to discipline the nation of Judah by subjecting them to slavery at the hands of the Babylonians. Although the prophet detests the sinful ways of his fellow citizens, he is unable to comprehend why God will use an evil race such as the Babylonians to destroy his country. He is unable to see the big picture that God is setting up for his fallen people. In addition, Habakkuk surprise at God’s refusal to end the violence and injustice in the land of Judah.
Habakkuk’s dismays at God allowing at first the nation of Israel to revel in sin which eventually led to their destruction. Now He was allowing the nation of Judah to revel in the same sins as Israel. God is sin free always. Hence, the prophet was unable to come to terms with God’s indifference towards His chosen people. Moreover, Habakkuk was only looking at God’s nature and His promise to prosper His people. He does not recollect the warnings issued by Moses that this people will face destruction at the hands of foreign powers. The other part of Habakkuk’s burden dwells in how God could allow a pagan race to grow in strength and consume His own people. Habakkuk does not challenge God’s authority however; he seeks an answer to why God will not bring forth a new King or leader to lead His children from the bondage of sin.
Habakkuk also found it difficult to understand why God was allowing people who love him to suffer in captivity. When the nation of Israel fell, God did not spare those loyal to him from capture. Although He elevated them in foreign lands, He did not choose to set them apart as a nation. Habakkuk struggles with doubt on what will become of the people who still worship God in Judah once the Babylonians invade. God responds to Habakkuk with a vision to share with the people at an appointed time. This vision depicts God as a Savior and a Judge.
The revival of Habakkuk centers on God’s mercy for His people. The revival is in God sending the messiah to save His people from evil altogether. For this prophet, the triumph of the wicked is unacceptable. While Habakkuk focusses only on the triumph of the evil in human form, God focusses his attention on a triumph over the forces of evil throughout the universe. Once Habakkuk understands God’s plan he looks forward to the day when God will set His feet among them. This is the revival for Habakkuk (Burridge, 2015).
Revival for the unfortunate son
The scenario takes place during a time of great famine. The widow of Zarephath was looking to make the last meal for her and her son. They probably planned to kill themselves unable to endure the famine. Elijah is the enemy of the crown literally with Jezebel looking to kill him at the first opportunity. His arrival at the widow’s house did not bring any warmth especially when he demanded that she feed him first. The widow and her son probably wondered at their misfortune. However, God heard Elijah’s prayer and created an unending supply of food for the three of them. The widow and her son were probably settling into their comfort zone when the boy died abruptly. Revival in this scenario centers on God extending His mercy for the widow’s son. In addition, the miracle establishes His glory and Elijah as His prophet. The prayer by Elijah to rise the boy from the dead articulates this clearly. The widow’s son revives from death itself. The sins that plagued this boy through the works of his family are redundant (BibleStudyTools.com, 2014).
Revival for the heartbroken soldier
The story of the heartbroken soldier is that of Jacob and his various trials. Jacob was the second son of Isaac. This meant that the enormity of his father’s wealth and blessing will be given to the first born, Esau. Jacob was his mother’s favorite and he takes the perilous route to gaining his father’s blessing by deceiving him. The action could carry severe consequences if Isaac figured it out however, he was too old to detect anything beyond a few suspicions. Jacob’s trials started almost immediately when Esau revealed the trickery to his father. It was time for his journey to begin.
Jacob reaches a place where he dreams about heaven and of God. He is in awe that God should reveal Him to Jacob given the unusual circumstances. Upon reaching his eventual destination, he faces Laban. By all accounts, he is a corrupt man who chose to take maximum advantage of Jacob’s presence. This becomes apparent when he tricks Jacob into marrying Leah when Jacob toils in the fields for seven years believing he was to marry Rachel whom he loved. Although Laban has an excuse, it is unjustifiable. The oppression of Laban increases when he demands another seven years of labor from Jacob to marry Rachel. Jacob complies since he does not believe he has any choice.
God, however, has other plans for Jacob and does not approve of the unfair treatment. God always had other plans for Jacob. Hence, God begins His plan by getting Laban to accept a division of the animals through color. Laban assumed that it would prove profitable since the animals with a particular coloring are not common. However, God guides Jacob to manipulate the genes and increase his holdings substantially. God then revives the relationship with Jacob’s brother Esau. Despite Jacob’s fear, Esau only expresses happiness at the sight of his brother.
Blessed with Joseph as his son from Rachel, Jacob loves him immensely. His trials compound when Rachel dies giving birth to Benjamin and his other sons bring news of Joseph’s death. The news of Joseph’s death devastates Jacob. He is unable to find comfort. He had undergone extreme hardship to marry Rachel and now his favorite son through her was dead. God plans the survival of Jacob and his country by sending Joseph into Egypt ahead of the famine.
The famine brings additional hardships from Jacob’s point of view since the officer in charge of the granaries demands Benjamin’s presence if they choose to return and has taken Simone captive. He is struggling to cope up with the loss of yet another son. However, he refuses to allow Benjamin to travel to Egypt out of fear. In these circumstances, Jacob’s revival required news bearing immense joy. This soldier of God experienced every possible hardship there was at the time. The final trial in the form of allowing Benjamin to go to Egypt must have taken a major emotional cost. However, tidings of Joseph alive restore all the hardship and revive Jacob in many ways. From God’s perspective, the balance shifted to bring Jacob immeasurable joy. More importantly, God established the Nation of Israel in Goshen (Henry, 2016).
References
BibleHub.com Staff (2015). Bible Commentaries. Retrieved from: http://biblehub.com/commentaries/
BibleStudyTools.com Staff (2014). 1 Kings. Retrieved from: http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/1-kings/
Burridge, B. (2015). Understanding God in Troubled Times. Retrieved from: http://www.genevaninstitute.org/articles/studies-in-habakkuk/
Henry, M. (2016). Genesis. Retrieved from: http://www.christnotes.org/commentary.php?com=mhc&b=1
