“For the sake of Thy Name, O Lord, revive me”
Pslam 143:11
I am so glad that God’s glory and the revival of my soul can be connected together in one sentence. It is a wonder that, for the sake of the name of the Lord (that is, for His glory), I can appeal to God for revival. The connection of these two things is only by the grace and mercy of God. God could have chosen to be glorified in other ways. He could be glorified for instance (as it says in Romans 9), by my destruction as an object of His just wrath; had He left me in my wickedness. Psalm 143:2 highlights God’s mercy, “…and do not enter into judgment with Thy servant for in Thy sight no man is righteous.” It is only because God has graciously chosen me to be an object of His mercy that my revival and His glory can come together in such a beautiful way. But that is only half of the grace by which God’s glory and my revival come together. Removal of wrath alone is an astounding underserved mercy. Escaping the destruction ordained for the wicked is an unfathomable gift. Yet simply avoiding destruction is not the final result of God’s mercy.
There is a marvelous multiplier to mercy; that is, grace; God’s favor. His commitment to my good, my eternal blessing, and my undeserved right to cling to His promises to revive my soul! What a wonder that God has committed Himself to my good. Somehow God worked it out that my appealing to Him for a “quick answer,” or for a revelation of His face, or for a hearing of His lovingkindness, of for the leading of His Spirit to level ground, is not the greatest of presumption, but rather God’s explicit will. Such is the grace of God. That He would give me such blessings at all is joy. That He allows me, even teaches me to ask continually for such blessings is even more amazing. That such asking and appealing is for the sake of His name, for the sake of His glory, is a powerfully joyful perplexity.
Thank you, Lord, for your awesome, inscrutable mercy and grace. I want to honor you by seeking my revival in your presence. Grant me joy and gladness in seeing your glory in the face of Christ, and be glorified, be glorified. Amen.
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