Revival is Like Breathing

The twentieth letter in the Hebrew alphabet is resh. This prayer section is found in Psalm 119:153 – 160. The theme of this prayer is revival. Revival means to live again. It is the life of God that He gives, and gives, and gives. He does not get you started with His life and then turn you loose to go out on your own. No. His life flows out, which means you need a constant flow in of His Spirit. Life with God is like breathing, and revival is life with God.

The first line of this prayer describes the outward flow of God’s life in a believer; “Look on my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget your law.” The word “affliction” is the Hebrew word ownee, which means oppression, forced into submission, strong opposition. The life of God goes out from you, like your breath, into a world that is hostile to God. The flesh, which is best described as human ability without God, is violently opposed to anything that God offers, as is the world. The devil hates God and everything that God loves. He has been given the earth, temporarily. As the Holy Spirit lives the life of Christ in you, with you, through you, as you, before the Father and the watching world around you, there is strong opposition to His life. Revival, another breath from God, is needed.

The word “deliver me” is the Hebrew word chalats, which has the meaning of something being taken away, removed, rescued. The prayer for deliverance is seen in the reality that being in the world and not allowing the world to seep in requires the supernatural work of God in your life. Jesus said it this way, “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven…Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…” Matthew 5:11 -12, 44. There is a great temptation to take on the evil of the world as you live God’s life in it. You need clean air to breath is you are to remain healthy, and you need God’s Spirit and word to breath in if you are to stay revived.

The second line echoes this truth; “Plead my cause and redeem me; give me life according to your promise.” The phrase “plead my cause” is a repetition of the Hebrew word reeb, which means to fight against. In this phrase it is used twice and can best be understood with the request, “fight against what fights against me.” This is a powerful truth and one of the ways of God. One of the deceptive tricks of the world, the flesh, and the devil is to draw you away from God and to fight in your own power. Resisting that temptation is done with this prayer. God fights for you, but only if you refuse to pick up the weapons of the world.

The phrase “redeem me” is the Hebrew word ga-al, which supports this truth. The ga-al, was the close relative that would pay your debt and provide a new life. The example of this person in the Old Testament was Boaz in the story of Ruth. In the New Testament, He is Jesus, our Redeemer. AMEN!

Each line of this prayer reinforces the need you have to continually receive the life of God as your life in the hostile environment of the world, and the temptations of living God’s life, according to His word, in the world. But this is not an option. Revival is not an option, but it is a willful choice. Ask for it and know from this prayer just what you are asking for.

The last line ties this prayer to the anchor of God’s word; “The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.” Praying for revival is forever connected to God’s Spirit, God’s Son, and God’s word. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life…” John 14:6. Jesus is revival and revival is Jesus. Period. Breathing in His life as your life and breathing out the destructive influences of the world, the flesh, and the devil is revival. This is done in His word. Living His life as yours pleases the Father. This is what it means to worship the Father in spirit and truth.