“Because of all this we make a firm covenant in writing...” (Nehemiah 9:38, ESV)

Revival was happening in Jerusalem. By listening to God’s Law, the people felt convicted over their sins and wanted to renew their covenant with the LORD. So the leaders of the Levites offered a prayer—the longest prayer in the Bible. They reviewed the history of Israel—God’s faithfulness and their disobedience. The LORD delivered them from the bondage of Egypt and even parted the Red Sea so they could cross on dry ground. He brought them to Mount Sinai and gave them just laws and good commandments. But they were proud and stubborn. They made an idol shaped like a calf and said, “This is your god who brought you out of Egypt!” But God was gracious, merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in kindness. He did not leave them nor forsake them. He gave them the pillar of cloud to lead them by day and the pillar of fire to guide their way by night. He even sent His good Spirit to instruct them (v. 20). And God provided for all their needs. He fed them with manna and brought water out of the rock; even their clothes did not wear out. He brought them into the land He promised their fathers—a land of milk and honey. They subdued whole nations, and God gave them houses full of good things, cisterns already dug, and vineyards, olive groves and fruit trees in abundance. But despite all this, they were disobedient and rebelled against the LORD. They turned their backs on His Law, and even killed the prophets He sent to warn them. So God handed them over to their enemies and eventually drove them from the land. But even in this, He did not destroy them completely nor abandon them forever. He brought them back to their homeland, even though they were now ruled by Gentile kings. Therefore, the people made a solemn promise to the LORD and put it in writing.

There are times when the LORD moves on His people in extraordinary ways to draw them back to Himself. We have various names for this: revival, awakening, reformation, or renewal. We tend to look outwardly to see what God is doing in others, but genuine revival is an inward matter of the heart. It begins at the point of personal dissatisfaction, usually in light of God’s goodness and abundant lovingkindness. Our hearts are stirred with a desire to love Him and to have no other idols before Him. We are not afraid to make a solemn commitment to follow Jesus, and we don’t care who knows about it. So how is God stirring your heart today?