Habakkuk 3:2 O LORD, I have heard your speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive your work in the middle of the years… I. WHAT IS MEANT BY THE WORK OF THE LORD, AND ITS REVIVAL? 1. It may mean the work of creation. Or the preservation and government of the world. At other times it means the works of Christ; or the work of the ministry. 2. What is meant by a revival of this work? (1) A deeper work of grace in the hearts of those who are the children of God by faith in Jesus Christ. (2) When the number of believers increases. When conviction seizes the hearts of sinners, and causes them to become true penitents; when that conviction ends in true conversion. II. WHAT IS COMPREHENDED IN THIS PRAYER? 1. That the Lord would pour out of His Spirit upon His people, and accomplish in them His gracious promises. 2. That the Lord would have mercy upon sinners. 3. That the end may be answered for which Jesus Christ came into the world, the Spirit was given, and ordinances instituted. III. WHAT INDUCES THE SAINTS THUS TO PRAY? 1. The love they have to the children of God. 2. The love they have to sinners. 3. The hatred they have to sin. 4. A desire that all those evils may be removed out of the world which are the consequences of sin. 5. The promises of God. IV. WHAT MANNER OF PERSON OUGHT HE TO BE WHO THUS PRAYS? In order to ensure a suitable correspondence between his prayer and practice — 1. He himself must abstain from every appearance of evil. 2. The person who prays for a revival must use all the means in his power to do good. By example, reproof, speech in season, etc. 3. He must cultivate a spirit of tender affection for all his Christian friends, that love and unity may reign in the Church. (B. Bailey.) Parallel Verses KJV: O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy. |
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