February 1: 2 Chronicles

SO, WHERE Shall We Go in Pursuit of Revival?

The book of 2 Chronicles is arguably a book of REVIVAL. It begins with the reign of Solomon and traces mostly the reigns of the kings of Judah, focusing especially on those reigns marked by spiritual reform and a return to the pattern of spiritual life that God expects of His people. Particular attention is given to the reigns of the reformers: Rehoboam, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, and Josiah. “Fifteen of the thirty-six chapters in the book, or almost one-half of the material, are given over to the reigns and revivals of these five kings, for they honored God during their reigns by leading their people in revival.” ⁽¹⁾ These revivals happened under various circumstances and followed different paths, but share the components listed in a very familiar verse that can arguably be identified as the theme verse for the book and is at the core of the revivals in 2 Chronicles.

“if My people who are called by My name will 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.”

2 Chronicles 7:14, NKJV

What I propose to do during the last 29 Days of Praying for Revival is to look at revival in the book of 2 Chronicles to seek to discover nuggets of truth that will give us insight today into the ways of revival. I invite you to join me on this journey. I must confess that I do not just want to learn about revival; I want to experience it in a new, deep, and refreshing way as the Holy Spirit leads. Although revivals look differently in every instance in church history, the constants are simple. God sends revival as His people meet the conditions of humility, prayer, seeking, and repentance.

I would love to see revival break out in a sweeping movement of God’s Spirit across our nation and around the world. I would especially welcome a mighty move of God’s Spirit in the denomination in which I serve. But however God chooses to move, I especially desire that He work in my own personal life to revive, purify and empower me for His glory and honor.

A tool that will help us focus on our true spiritual condition (thus helping us to see the need for revival and point us toward it) is called a Personal Spiritual Inventory. If you do not have this tool and desire to receive one, please leave a comment to indicate this. Also, you may find another pamphlet, Spend an Hour with God…, a helpful resource as you are developing, expanding, or varying your approaches to your devotional life. Let me know if you would like a copy.

APPLICATION

What are you hoping to experience during these last 29 days of praying for revival? Knowing the conditions of revival set forth in 2 Chronicles 7:14, are you consistently pursuing the practice of them?

(1) Walter C. Kaiser, Jr., Quest for Renewal, Personal Revival in the Old Testament, Moody Press, p. 15.