Hope Lost and Found:
Insights on God’s Plan of Salvation, Revival and Restoration

Part 4—God’s Promises of Rest, Revival and Restoration

by Harvey L. Diamond

Isaiah warns us of troubled times of all sorts.  He also declares that in such times, those who seek God and His solutions will receive His benefits.  The thing is we must seek Him and honor Him for who He is—the Lord God, Creator of life—not for what He can do for us.  For, He will not be mocked. 

Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times,
And the strength of salvation;
The fear of the LORD is His treasure.
(Isaiah 33:6)

Those who do choose to seek God and find His treasure will go through a real process of renewal. It is to cause our roots to extend deep in God so that we may blossom into strong “trees of righteousness” and produce fruit that glorifies God.

Those who come He shall cause to take root in Jacob;
Israel shall blossom and bud,
And fill the face of the world with fruit.
(Isaiah 27:6)

We must come, though, in brokenness and humility.  We must come as David did. 

Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my transgressions,
And my sin is always before me.
Against You, You only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in Your sight –
That You may be found just when You speak,
And blameless when You judge.
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts,
And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me hear joy and gladness,
That the bones You have broken may rejoice.
Hide Your face from my sins,
And blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners shall be converted to You.
Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
The God of my salvation,
And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.
O Lord, open my lips,
And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.
For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;
You do not delight in burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart –
These, O God, You will not despise.
(Psalm 51:1-17)