The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-08-01

Drlu9l1E IL u IL
Ark of the Covenant of Jehovah into
Is place was marked with sacrifice,
thanksgiving and praise. The answer
ng token Of approval from
zane in the cloud which filed the
temple GID and In the fire which
zane down from heaven and con-
sumed the burnt-offering and the sa
-ifces (7:1)-
And Jehovah appeared unto Solomon
by light, and said unto Rim, 1--we
1eard thy prayers, and have chosen
this place to myself for a house OF
sacrifice" & :12). He then announced
1 solemn warning in case they for
sake Him. 1t was in connection with
these events that Jehovah himself set
forth the divine requirements essen
tial to q spiritual revival. In verse
IA Jehovah says: IF my people who
are called by my name, shall humble
themselves, and pray, and seek my
face, and turn from their wicked ways:
then will | hear from heaven. and
will forgive their sin. and will heal
their land" There are three things
to be noted:
!. Those concerned-''If my people"
The promise of a revival is not TO the
world nor to those of the world. 1t
Is confined strictly TO Gods own
people. To revive is to bring back.
from a state of languor. depression or
Encouragement, to a state of health
or Rhpnr On1-v f1CCn oaH In racfnra6
TO Gods favor who have formerly ex-
perienced that favor. All spiritual re-
vivals, therefore, primarily concern
Gods own people. But the outreach
must be to the unsaved round about.
II. The four conditions specified.
a. Humble themselves" The spirit
of humility is manifest only among
those who feel an insuficiency in them
selves. 1t betokens a dependence on
a higher power. To the child = God
it means a looking TO Him to supply
that insufiiciency.
b. Pray" The companion Of hu-
mility is prayer. Prayer expresses
the terms of our need to the higher
power. If we have strayed from Him.
His favor can be restored only when
we ask it. God does not intrude. He
comes to those who desire Him.
C. "Seek my face" How w all de-
sire the presence of those we love.
How we long 10 be near our children
and TO have them near US. The con-
s%ciousness that we may quickly be In
their nHaEnnnn sc d .nan1EnRN r-1 -
sOlace. So should we desire Co.'s
presence. In His presence we dis
cover sin lisa. 6:5), and learn His
will for us Ups. 143).
d. Turn from their wicked way"
True sorrow for sin finds express
sion in ,forsaking sin. The one who
goes on in his sin has not repented.
Repentance goes deeper than verbal
expression; it goes down TO the root
ing out of sin. God would there
fore seek in the one way He desires
TO be restored, a manifestation of the
sincerity of that desire.
III. The blessing promised.-This is
t~hreefold: Then, will I hear from
heaven. and will forgive their sin. and
will heal their land" "Then"-the
time element is vital and indicates a
sequence, following the conditions
specified.
g. Il will hear" Prayer will be
heard. The door of heaven is shut,
the clouds of despair n depression
overhang-the l~ightnings of His fierce
anger strike terror to the heart-be-
cause there is that inner conscious
ness of separation from God. With
the assurance that He VIII hear from
heaven comes the consciousness of
acceptance with Him-the knowledge
that there is favor in His presence.
b.. "WiH forgive their sin Sin
will be forgiven. It is the confidence
Of pardon which brings hope and Ugh.
n the convict. The penalty whose ex.
ecution has been impending is now
taken away. The past is blotted out
a new page opens in the book of life.
@. 'Will heal their land" The curse
Of sin will he removed. Sin brought
its curse not alone on the one who
sinned but the land was cursed there
hv so that it brought forth thorns and
tbistles. One of the tragic things
about sin is its train of consequences.
To the student of prophecy the hand
Of God stands out clearly in Pales-
tine. that land once flowing with milk
and honey-now u of the desola-
rims of the earth. Why? The answer
is .sln." What q testimony 10 the
fa~itbfulness Of Gods word. The ODE
dience of Gods people brought bless
ing to the land. Their departure from
Him removed that benedietion. Only
return 10 Him will restore it.
Thus He waits to bless those who
fulfll the divine requirements.