O LORD, Do It Again!

Years ago, while Billy Graham was a student at Wheaton, he had gone on a field trip to England where his class visited several sites. One of the places was the home of John Wesley, famous evangelist of the 1700’s.  After touring the home, the students boarded the bus ready for the next item on the schedule. 

“Where’s Billy?” someone shouted. 

After looking around and not finding him, someone volunteered to go back into the house and search for him. Opening the door to John Wesley’s bedroom, they found him on his knees in the same place where Wesley’s knees had made divots in the wooden floor asking God “to do it again!!”

“Do it again, O LORD. Do it again!!”

Billy Graham’s ministry had spanned over six decades, featuring more than 400 crusades, missions and evangelistic rallies. He preached the Gospel to nearly 215 million people in live audiences across 185 countries and territories. He was chaplain to 12 sitting presidents from Harry Truman to Barak Obama. He counseled world leaders including Pope John Paul II and Queen Elizabeth II. He met with Winston Churchill and formed a friendship with Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Is it possible to measure his impact? How many have come to Christ through his crusades? His television ministry? His one-on-one meetings? And how many have come to Christ through those who came to Christ through his various ministries? No doubt, his ministry continues.

The world is in desperate need for a movement of God. I cannot read the news without a growing despair. And it is not only the world, but God’s people, the church…and me, who are in need of restoration.

I am sitting here this morning reflecting on Psalm 85. A Psalm of the sons of Korah written most likely after the exile. Jerusalem had been destroyed, and the glory of Israel’s past still lingered in their minds. 
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Go ahead, grab a cup of coffee and let’s take a look at Psalm 85. What do we see? 

A chastened prayer (v.4-7) reflecting on God’s past faithfulness (v.1-3) with a vision of a once rebellious people living in harmony with their God (v.10-13). Revive us, O LORD. Restore us!!

Can you not hear their cry? “LORD, you did it before…please, do it again!!!” 

At one time there was blessing and now due to their folly and lack of faithfulness the glory of God that had once dwelt in the land had departed. The psalmist prays that the glory of God will once again dwell in the land and the existing discord between God and man will once again be restored, he expresses as a kiss between heaven and earth. (v.9). 
The righteousness of God stoops to earth as the faithfulness of man springs up from the ground resulting in spiritual, moral and material blessings. (v.10-13) Does this not reflect the prayer of the LORD Jesus, when He prayed for harmony between heaven and earth…that the will of God would be done on earth as it is in heaven!! According to Derek Kidner, the climax of Psalm 85 is one of the most satisfying descriptions of concord in the Scriptures. 

I know this may sound a little heady. But I was taken by the idea of harmony existing between heaven and earth. Lack of faithfulness to God’s commands results in discord and it is seen everywhere. The underlying idea in the words “restore” and “revive” is “to turn.” When there is a turning to God there is restoration, and once again harmony exists between heaven and earth. 

Is this not what we see in the final chapter? God creates a new earth (just as He has given us new hearts) and He brings heaven down to the earth. And heaven kisses the earth. (Revelation 21:1-5)

Maybe it’s time to get down on our knees and pray like Billy. “O LORD, you did it before. Do it again!!”