Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-07-26


bringing In Of the
Ark of the Covenant Of Jehovah into
Its place was marked with sacrifce.
thanksgiving and praise. The answer
ing token OF approval from Jehovah
came In the cloud which filled the
temple (5:14) and in the fire which
came down from heaven and con-
sumed the burnt offering and the sar-
riflces (7:1)
"And Jehovah appeared unto Solomon
BY light, and said unto Elm, have
heard thy prayers. and have chosen
this place to myself for d house Of
sacrifice" (7:12). He then announced
solemn warning In case they for
sake Him. II was in connection with
these events that Jehovah himself ct
forth the divine requirements essen
tial to 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 state Of languor, depression or
encouragement, to state of health
or cheer. Only those can be restored
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 insufficiency In them
selves. 1t betokens dependence on
a higher power. To the child cf God
1t means a looking to Him to supply
that insufficiency.
b. pray" The companion OF hui
mility is prayer. Prayer expresses
the terms OF our need to the higher
power. II we have strayed from Him,
His favor can be restored only when
we ask 1t. 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 to be near our children
and to have them near us. The con-
seriousness that we may quickly be in
their presence Is comfort and q
solace. So should we desire Goes
presence. In His presence we dis
cover sin Elsa. 6:6), and learn His
will for us Cps. 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; 1t goes down to the root
Ing out Of sin. God would there
fore seek in the one way He desires
to be restored, manifestation of the
sincerity Of that desire.
III. The blessing promised. This is
threefold: Then, will hear from
heaven, and will forgive their sin, and
will heal their land" "Then"-the
time element is vital and indicates q
sequence, following the conditions
specified.
q. Il will hear" Prayer will be
heard. The door of heaven is shut.
the clouds Of despair and depression
overhang- lightnings 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 will hear from
heaven comes the consciousness Of
acceptance with Him--the knowledge
that there is favor in His presence
b. "Will forgive their SIM" Sin
will be forgiven. II Is the confidence
Of pardon which brings hope and light
to the convict. The penalty whose ex-
ecutfon has been impending Is now
taken away. The past is blotted out
a new page opens in the book Of life.
q. "Will heal their land" The curse
Of sin will be removed. Sin brought
its curse not alone on the one who
sinned. but the land was cursed there
by so that 1t brought forth thorns and
thistles. 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 homegrown one Of the desola-
lions Of the earth. Why7 The answer
Is "sin." What testimony to the
faithfulness Of Gods word. The ODE
dience OF Gods people brought bless
ing to the land. Their departure from
Him removed that benedIction. Only
return to Him will restore It,
Thus He waits to bless those who
-.,IfiIl the divine renuiraruants