Revivals of the Bible

Ernest Baker

A GREAT revival of religion took place in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa, king of Judah. The awakening was different from any of those which we have already considered. It did not follow a period of religious decline, but an era of reformation. Neither was it occasioned by national adversity, causing the people in despair to turn to God; but it came after a season of increase and prosperity; and after a great national victory and deliverance. During the two preceding reigns, the worship of Jehovah had been pushed into the background, and the erection of idols, and places for their worship, had proceeded with the active support of the rulers. Upon Asa’s accession ecclesiastical reform was immediately effected. The State policy was reversed. The people were commanded to observe, the law of God, and an active campaign against idolatry was instituted. A period of quiet settled upon the land, and the freedom from external attack was utilized for internal development and the strengthening of the national defences. After ten years of progress, an army of one million Ethiopians came against Judah. Asa took the field] with only half that number of soldiers. But Asa “cried unto the Lord.” And the Lord heard his prayer and gave a mighty victory to His people.

I. THAT REVIVAL IS POSSIBLE IN A TIME OF PROSPERITY.

The majority of the revivals of the Bible, and the majority of those in the Christian era, have followed periods of religious decline and of national trouble. It is with nations as with individuals— trouble is generally required to make them turn to the Lord. Not till we are in extreme case do we, as a rule, seek Him. And so it is possible for us to feel that revival cannot come without trouble. The statement has been frequently made about ourselves in South Africa that we have to be brought a good deal lower yet before any great blessing can come to us. It is true we have had a long spell of disastrous events, and that the spirit of our people is not yet one of deep humility before the Lord. If there is no great turning to the Lord we shall probably see more trouble and prolonged uncertainty. But there is nothing on God’s side necessitating further chastisement. It is only human perversity that makes trouble a preliminary to blessing. The history of Asa shows that God’s Spirit can work at all times. Other stories have told us that adversity is not a bar to revival. This one tells us that though prosperity is not generally conducive to it, it need not hinder it.

II. REVIVAL IS HELPED BY A REMEMBRANCE OF THE PAST.

Azariah’s address about former awakenings was a great stimulus to Asa. When he heard the prophecy he took courage. The prophecy was in the ancient story. What had been could be again. The history of the past is always possible in like conditions. In the time of the Judges—or rather in the period covered off and on by their rule, for their rule was spasmodic, not continuous—there had been great awakenings. The people were leaderless; civil government was not established; the work of God was unorganized; every city was in danger of attack ; there was no security anywhere for life or property; and yet in such conditions the people had sought and found the Lord. If this were possible then, what was not possible now? They were strong; the throne was firmly established; the country was safe; preachers had liberty to give their messages; the priests had facilities for sacrifice; and the influence of the court was all on the side of good. The story of the past was certainly possible of repetition. And in this manner we should encourage ourselves to-day. We read of many awakenings in Old Testament times, in seasons of adversity and prosperity, with the help of the king, and sometimes with his influence on the opposite side. About sixteen revivals are recorded, or hinted at, between the times of Moses and Nehemiah. These awakenings occurred before the advent of Christ, before the knowledge of God and of His will was so clear as it is to-day, and before His Spirit was poured out as at Pentecost. How much more possible is revival for us? The conditions are far more favourable.

Then the history of revival in the Christian era is helpful. God has never been without witness. In the darkest ages men have stood up for Him, and won others too. When confession of Christ meant death, the preaching of the Word imprisonment, attendance at public worship and possession of the Scriptures the confiscation of goods, revivals occurred. Before freedom of conscience was established, before printing was invented, and when; after the invention of printing, the Bible was a dear book, and the common people could not read, in all these times religious awakenings took place. With the multiplication of Christian agencies and influence, and the widespread diffusion of the Scriptures, coupled with the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit, what wonderful seasons of refreshing may be ours.

The revival in Jonathan Edwards’ church in America in the eighteenth century was occasioned by hearing of revival in England. The story of it in that church called forth prayerful and expectant effort in other quarters. The revival in Ireland and Wales in 1859 was helped by the story of a similar event in the United States in 1857, and the revival in Ireland and Wales led to a like work of grace in England and Scotland. The present awakening in Wales has already borne fruit in other lands; and in this country the blessing we are expecting will be largely due to the prayerful interest with which that movement is being followed.

III. REVIVAL REQUIRES AN INCREASE OF SPIRITUAL LIFE AMONGST THOSE ALREADY POSSESSING IT.

Asa had taken a strong stand against evil; he had put his hand with considerable energy to good things; he had exhibited great faith in a time of trouble; he had given evidence that he had learnt the art of successful prayer; and he had been blessed so conspicuously that people saw that God was with him, and yet there was room for improvement. There were evils still tolerated in the country and in his home. And there were also works of God awaiting his hand. The altar of the Lord required renewal, and the dedicated things needed to be brought into the temple. And when Asa consecrated himself to these things God sent the blessing.

In an admirable book on “The Revival in Wales and some of its Hidden Springs,” Mrs. Penn Lewis traces the awakening there to a series of conventions and meetings, in which good men and women entered into a deeper life. If the tone of the life of the members of our churches be considerably raised the blessing will not tarry. The great masses of the people are unreached by our church agencies. They will not come to our meetings; but they are all touched during the week, in daily life, by Christian people. If in the midst of the world our spirit be different from its spirit, if there we are gentle, patient and forgiving, happy and contented, unselfish and loving, the masses will be brought face to face with personified Christianity. They will pause and consider its meaning. It will first rebuke them, and then in many cases it will win them. “The strangers out of Ephraim and Manasseh and out of Simeon fell to Asa in abundance, when they saw that the Lord his God was with him.” The outsiders were reached by the deepening of his religious life.

IV. REVIVAL NECESSITATES DRASTIC MEASURES WITH EVILS.

Idolatry is degrading to character and demoralizing to social life. It obscures God. The world was so sunk in it that it was necessary for a people to be called out from the world, separated from it, and by strong laws and discipline purified from the prevailing faith and practices, in order that the true faith might be planted, preserved, and propagated. The history of the Jews shows that idolatry could not be dealt with on any other line but an intolerant one. In the New Testament the firm and intolerant attitude of the nation to evil is laid upon the individual. Habits which are as much a part of us as hands and eyes are to be surgically treated if they hinder the soul’s growth. The power of God can only flow through the man whose life is clearly and definitely severed from sin. The same position must, be taken by the church. Her hands must be free from everything that degrades the life of the people. There are evils amongst us as demoralizing as idolatry was amongst the Jews.

The drink is one of these. The terrible increase of insanity, which is a national peril, is due to drink more than to any other one cause. Crime, poverty, and disease each owes more to intoxicants than to any other single thing. The physique, the mental power, the wealth, the social life, the character and security of our people, are threatened by this terrible scourge. The church must not be afraid to be intolerant of it. We are told we must not interfere with the liberty of the subject. But the liberties of us all have been long interfered with through the freedom and licence granted to “the trade.” The church should purge itself completely of the evil. No one interested in the liquor traffic should be elected to its sacred offices, and all should take the total abstinence position. Any other platform but the total abstinence one is ineffective for God’s people to occupy.

Another evil sapping the best life of the country is gambling. The complete absorption of the masses of the people in sport—an absorption that means that in the time of national trouble the issue of a football or cricket match puts in the shade the issue of a battle or a campaign, an absorption that means that questions upon which the nation’s future depends, and upon which each man is called to vote, are only seriously discussed by the few—is due not to the active participation of the people in the games themselves, but to the betting and sweepstakes connected therewith. And this interest means that the masses are financially and personally interested in the issue of each sporting event, and whilst the issue of these events is uncertain, the employer does not and cannot have the whole-hearted attention of his employees. The gambling spirit is against efficiency in business; and to men handling money it is a constant source of temptation. It fosters the spirit of dependence upon chance, and is a menace to honest, steady toil. Members of Christian churches should abstain from betting, sweepstakes, and playing for money in games of chance; and the churches in their corporate capacity should rigorously exclude all raffling, etc., from bazaars and sales of work. If the church allows these things, even “for a good cause,” it cannot protest effectually against the evil.

V. REVIVAL CALLS FOR COURAGEOUS AND PURPOSEFUL EFFORT.

The conqueror of a million, himself at the head of an army of half a million victorious soldiers, is urged to be strong; and told that his hands should not be weak. The courage of the battlefield fails in the presence of moral evil. A different spirit is wanted to stand against sin, especially when that sin is in one’s own household. It did my heart good the other night to hear two or three strapping young men, who looked as if they would be afraid of no one, confessing their weakness to the Lord, and asking Him to give them courage to confess Christ before their comrades. “Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall; but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.”

Asa not only needed courage but purpose. He made up his mind to obey the Lord, and to work for the blessing promised. There is need for Christians to consecrate themselves for the work of revival. It will not come without definite purpose on the part of some. Individuals must make up their minds to live for this purpose, to study the laws of revivals, and to work and pray wholeheartedly for blessing. With courageous and purposeful effort the work will be hastened.