Restore
Now Playing: Is there anything which should be restored?
Topic: Restore
We like to feel like we "have it all together". We don't want others to perceive that we have flaws or have made mistakes that require correction. However, sometimes we simply come to the point where we realize something is not right and must be changed, hopefully for the glory of God. Today we look at a few verses on the subject of restoration in its varied forms.

We read in the book of Samuel, "(v.5) And Samuel said, 'Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD.' (v.6) And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, 'We have sinned against the LORD.' And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh. (v.7) And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines. (v.8) And the children of Israel said to Samuel, 'Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.' (v.9) And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him. (v.10) And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel. (v.11) And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Bethcar. (v.12) Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us. (v.13) So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. (v.14) And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites. (v.15) And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life." (1 Samuel 7:5-15)

Ezra has recorded, "And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place, and place them in the house of God." (Ezra 6:5)

Nehemiah writes about the following conflict, "(v.6) And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words. (v.7) Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, 'Ye exact usury, every one of his brother.' And I set a great assembly against them. (v.8) And I said unto them, 'We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us?' Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer. (v.9) Also I said, 'It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?' (v.10) I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury. (v.11) Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them. (v.12) Then said they, 'We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest.' Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise. (v.13) Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, 'Amen', and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise." (Nehemiah 5:6-13)

The prophet Joel has admonished, "(v.21) Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things. (v.22) Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength. (v.23) Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. (v.24) And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil. (v.25) And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. (v.26) And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. (v.27) And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed." (Joel 2:21-27)

Paul wrote to the Galations, "(v.1) Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. (v.2) Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. (v.3) For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. (v.4) But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. (v.5) For every man shall bear his own burden." (Galations 6:1-5)

Finally, the prophet Isaiah has instructed, "(v.15)For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; 'I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.' (v.16) For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made. (v.17) For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart. (v.18) I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners. (v.19) I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him." (Isaiah 57:15-19)

Work in progress...