As I mentioned in my last blog, “Asbury, Revivals, and the Jesus Revolution,” (February 23, 2023), all national revolutions are sparked by a local revival. To quote historian Stephen Olford, a revival “is that strange and sovereign work of God in which he visits his own people, restoring, reanimating, and releasing them into the fullness of his blessing.” A Kingdom of God Revolution is a move of God that inspires people to take the Gospel of the Kingdom into all facets of the culture and works to transform society. All revolutionary fires are sparked by a revival in the hearts of the people in the Church.
Though the Bible never uses the term revival the way historians use it, the Bible is replete with examples of how a local revival sparks the fires of a national revolution. Over the next few blogs, I will focus on three. The similarities in the methods of God are instructive to us.
Josiah
His story of revival and revolution comes to us from 2 Kings 22-23 and 2 Chronicles 34-35. It is an amazing example of how God can use a zealous youth for His glory. Josiah was only eight years old when he became king. His father (King Amon) and grandfather (King Manasseh) were wicked kings in Judah. The Law of God had been forgotten and despised. Yet Josiah was a godly king with a hunger for God.
Revival under Josiah
In the eighteenth year of his reign, he raised money to repair the temple, and during the repairs the high priest Hilkiah found the Book of the Law. When Hilkiah read it to Josiah, the king tore his clothes, a sign of mourning and repentance (verse 11). He inquired of the Lord through the priests and leaders as to the meaning. Josiah realized that under the leadership of his father and grandfather, Judah had lost the Law and holiness for God. The fear of the Lord hit Josiah and the leadership (2 Kings 22:14-20).
Revolution under Josiah
He then called for a time of national repentance. The Law was read to the people and a covenant drawn up. “The king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people joined in the covenant” (2 Kings 23:3). Reformation followed, the temple was cleansed from all objects of pagan worship and the idols on high places were destroyed. Josiah restored the Passover and removed mediums, witches, and spiritists from the land. In 2 Kings 23:25 we read, “Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses, nor did any like him arise after him.”
Observations on Revival and Revolution
- Revival was sparked by the reading of God’s Word. Josiah is deeply convicted of sin when he hears the Word of God read.
- Revival is the result of repentance from sin. Josiah tears his clothes, and the people follow as the holiness of God is revealed through the Law of God being read.
- Revival is marked by a fear of God. Josiah and the leadership are deeply fearful of the judgment of God and begin to institute changes.
- Revival sparks a national revolution of transformation. Josiah quickly institutes reforms that impacted all Judah.
We will observe similar patterns next time as we look at two other local revivals that led to national revolutions found in the Bible.
Pastor Steve
