Psalm 85:6 Will you not revive us again: that your people may rejoice in you? The advantage of such a season as Lent, — a season set apart for special prayer, and searching of heart, and amendment of life, — is that, where there is a feeling of slackness and failure, it meets it, and welcomes it, and sustains it, and guides it; and where there is no such wholesome feeling of inward concern and self-censure, it tends to awaken, and foster, and stimulate it. 1. Can we put a little more self-denial and effort into our religious exercises and devotions? 2. Can we see our way to embarking on a crusade, — a truly holy war, — against some besetting sin, or fault, or failing, of our own; with a determination to suppress it and stamp it out;-or to denying ourselves some little innocent indulgence, for the sake of self-discipline and the love of Christ; — or to applying the Cross practically to ourselves in any other special way whatever? 3. Can we cut out for ourselves, or anyhow aid in, any enterprise of Christian philanthropy, having for its object the bettering of the physical, social, intellectual, or religious condition of our fellow-men, around us or at a distance; some enterprise which we can help and forward by money, by prayers, or by personal labour and toil; and this, in the recollection, and under the inspiration of the Saviour's words: "inasmuch as ye have done it," etc. (D. J. Vaughan, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?WEB: Won't you revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? |
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