Walter C. Kaiser, Revive Us Again: Biblical Insights for Encouraging Spiritual Renewal. Broadman and Holman, 1999.
Referenced in: Church Renewal through Spiritual Revival
LifeandLeadership.com Summary
In the broader work of congregational renewal, spiritual revival certainly has its place. As indicated in the Resource Guide on this subject, not all those interested in church renewal will wish or need to see their situation through the eyes of revival. Revivals are unique and unusual occurrences, and it is impossible to deny the importance of revival in scripture and Christian history. The important task in appropriating God’s work in revival, however, is to distinguish between true and counterfeit phenomena. The first step toward this is to understand how God brought revival in biblical history, and then to let these episodes serve as benchmarks for the current day. Kaiser’s volume is excellent toward that end.
This work by respected Old Testament scholar Walter Kaiser, is an important starting place in understanding the biblical revivals. Kaiser regards 2 Chronicles 7:14 as a biblical definition of revival: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” He argues exegetically that this identifies the circumstances in which revival might apply, the subjects of revival (not just Israel, but all who are owned by God and have God’s name on them), the four conditions of revival that are reported in 2 Chronicles and which provide the structure of the book, and the three results that form the special work that make revivals unique among all the works of the Lord. (3-4) He then proposes that 2 Chronicles 7:14
provides the outline for 2 Chronicles and sets the agenda for the material selected from the lives of five key Davidic kings of Judah. Each of the four conditions for revival is taken up separately as the single most important term for the reigns and lives of those five Judean monarchs. The resulting pattern forms an inclusio, with the first and last king sharing the same term. (5-6)
The pattern is:
- “Humble yourselves” (2 Chron. 11-12) in the revival under Rehoboam
- “Seek my face” (2 Chron. 14-16) in the revival under Asa
- “Pray” (2 Chron. 17-20) in the revival under Jehoshophat
- “Turn from your wicked way” (2 Chron. 29-32) in the revival under Hezekiah
- And then back to “humble yourselves” (2 Chron. 34-35) in the revival under Josiah.
From this foundation in 2 Chronicles 7:14, as well as other biblical revivals, Kaiser borrows from Wilbur Smith to describe nine characteristics that are common to all. He then provides a chapter on eleven Old Testament revivals and five New Testament revivals. These include:
- Revival under the Sons of Korah, Psalm 85:1-13
- Revival under Jacob, Genesis 35:1-15
- Revival under Moses, Exodus 32:1-34:7
- Revival under Samuel, 1 Samuel 7:1-13
- Revival under Elijah, 1 Kings 18
- Revival under Asa, 2 Chronicles 14-16
- Revival under Jehoshaphat, 2 Chronicles 20
- Revival under Hezekiah, 2 Chronicles 30:1-19
- Revival under Josiah, 2 Chronicles 34:1-33
- Revival under Zerubbabel, Haggai 1, Zechariah 1:1-6
- Revival under Ezra and Nehemiah, Nehemiah 8
- Revival under John the Baptist, Matthew 3:1-14
- Revival under the Apostle Peter at Pentecost, Acts 2:1-47
- Revival under Philip at Samaria, Acts 8:1-25
- Revival under the Apostle Peter at Caesarea, Acts 10
- Revival under Paul and Silas in Europe, 1 Thessalonians 1:2-10
For those whose efforts in church renewal would benefit from a study of the biblical phenomena of revival, Kaiser is a good place to start. His chief values are biblical benchmarking and seasoned Old Testament scholarship. He is arguably the best “one stop” among the small list of authors on this subject.
From the Publisher
It only takes a look at the evening news for us to realize that there is much wrong with this world of ours. The sins of Greed, Lust, Violence and Corruption are rife in all sections of our society. Christians are becoming at best an irrelevance and at worst a persecuted minority. Walter C Kaiser Jr. suggests the one answer to these pressing problems, revival. Not a foot-stomping, soul-saving series of meetings but an individual believer’s refocusing on God as the centre of life. With his usual scholarship and vision Dr Walter C. Kaiser Jr. reveals spiritual principles inherent in the great awakenings of the Bible and shows us how to prepare the way for revival today. Revivals like those led by Moses and by John the Baptist provides us with clear examples of what God can do when His sovereign will is acknowledged and obeyed. Read this book and help prepare the way for revival in your community, your church and most importantly your heart.
About the Author
Dr Walter C Kaiser Jr. is Colman M. Mockler Distinguished Professor of Old Testament and President of Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Massachusetts. One of the world’s premier biblical scholars he is a frequent speaker at conferences and has written more than 30 books.
***For additional information on this resource, including reviews, click the bookstore links. Check the reference at page top or the links below for resource guides on related topics.***
Related Areas
See Other Resources on Church Leadership and Renewal:
- Church Leadership and Renewal, Index
- Church Leadership, Theological Foundations, Ecclesiology
- Church Leadership, Philosophical Foundations – e.g. Church Growth, Missional, Emergent, and Other Missionally Responsive Trajectories
- Church Leadership, Practical Foundations – Church Dynamics and Research
- Church Leadership, Practical Foundations – Congregational Culture, Church Identity
- Church Leadership, Practical Foundations – Size Dynamics, Size Transitions
- Church Leadership, Practical Foundations – Research and Case Studies on Effective Churches
- Church Leadership, Special Situations – Small Church Development
- Church Leadership, Strategies for Renewal
See Resources on Over 100 Areas of Ministry Leadership: