30 April Lamentations 5

Lamentations 5 is a heartfelt prayer for restoration. The people lament their suffering, acknowledging God's justice while pleading for mercy. They ask God to restore their former joy, recognising His grace and seeking His healing in their brokenness.

Restore us to yourself, O Lord

Lamentations 5:21 (ESV) “Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored! Renew our days as of old.” Reading Lamentations 5 is like witnessing the depths of despair that Israel finds itself in. The nation is broken; they have lost everything of value. Most tragically, they have lost the temple and the ark, which represented God's very presence among them. Now in captivity, the people are left to reflect on their shattered past and the desperate state they are in. Yet, amidst this devastation, there is a cry for restoration—a cry for God to renew them. They realise that their only hope lies in His intervention. This leads us to ask: What is required for God to revive us again?

Our Focus

1. Our Focus and Emphasis Should Be on the Lord.

Psalm 85:6 (ESV)"Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?" Our focus must be on Jesus and the work He accomplished for us. In times of spiritual dryness or hopelessness, we need to remember that true revival comes only through Him. Our hope is not in our strength or ability to restore ourselves, but in the salvation that Jesus offers. Acts 2:36 (ESV) "Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified." Thus the realisation that Jesus is both Lord and Christ should stir us to seek Him with renewed passion, for it is only through Him that we can experience true restoration.

2. True Restoration Comes Through Repentance. 2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV) "If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." God desires a heart that is humble, one that acknowledges its need for repentance. Revival cannot happen without it. Repentance opens the door to healing, forgiveness, and renewal. When we turn from our sin and seek God with sincere hearts, He promises to restore us.

3. Seeking God Through Prayer to Revive Us. Praying for revival can be uncomfortable because it pushes us into new depths of humility. We are often more comfortable praying for God’s help in our own plans and desires. But when we pray for God to do something only He can do, we are forced to shift the focus from ourselves to Him. Prayer becomes a place of urgency and expectancy. Pray with passion. Pray with urgency. Pray with expectancy. Pray with humility. Pray without ceasing. Just keep praying, God is able to break through every barrier.

4. Spend Time Daily in God’s Word. Psalm 119:11 (NIV) "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." A revived spirit is one that continually immerses itself in the Word of God. To live in His presence, to understand His heart, and to be shaped by His truth, we must make time daily to read and meditate on Scripture. Revival is fuelled by the constant intake of God’s Word. As J.I. Packer wisely puts it: "Christians in revival are accordingly found living in God’s presence, attending to His Word, feeling acute concern about sin and righteousness, rejoicing in the assurance of Christ’s love and their own salvation, spontaneously constant in worship, and tirelessly active in witness and service, fuelling these activities by praise and prayer."

In conclusion, let us echo the plea of Lamentations 5:21, “Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored! ”May our hearts be focused on the Lord, humbly repentant, fervently praying, and rooted in His Word. Only then will we experience true revival, both individually and collectively.