Ezra 9:8: “And now for a little while grace has been shown from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and give us a measure of revival in our bondage.”

November 1st, 2023 by Pastor Ed in devotional

As Ezra prayed, he acknowledged that “grace [had] been shown” to them. God’s grace, which is unearned, unmerited, favor with God… It is not worked for and won; it is a GIFT given out of the goodness of God’s heart. By His grace, He had preserved a remnant of His people and was bringing them back into their land. Remnant literally means “those who have escaped.” This small group of believers had stumbled their way back into the Land of Promise and pushed one peg back into the soil there. It was barely a foothold on a cliff of opposition, an anchor in a raging storm, but it was by God’s provision and it was enough. He was giving them hope again, reviving them.

The word revival is an important one in Scripture. It’s a rare word (used only 8 times in the Old Testament) that literally means “preservation of life.” Some translate it relief, but we prefer the word revival because it is so filled with meaning—God injecting spiritual life again into a broken person’s heart. It is the supernatural return of spirituality into a person’s life and a corresponding rejection of the world’s value system. Pastor Leonard Ravenhill said, “Evangelism affects the other fellow; revival affects me.” When we find ourselves in bondage, our spiritual eyes dimming, God’s voice growing fainter, all we have to do is turn back to Him and confess our sins. It is the desire of God’s heart to pour out His grace on us and bring revival to our bondage.

“LORD, revive us again this day, in Jesus’ name.”