Biblical Revivals and Awakenings

So far in our series we’ve looked at eighteen examples of revival in the Bible:

  1. Seth
  2. Noah
  3. Job
  4. Abram
  5. Joseph
  6. Moses
  7. Joshua
  8. Judges
  9. Naomi
  10. Ruth
  11. Hannah
  12. Samuel
  13. David
  14. Solomon
  15. Jehu
  16. Elijah
  17. Elisha
  18. Jonah

We move next to two men who prophesied to Israel during its last days before the Assyrians brought the Northern Kingdom to an end. What can we learn about revival from them?

Amos’ Revival Lessons

We learn about the prophet Amos from an Old Testament writing named after him. Amos prophesied during the early to middle parts of the 8th century BC. Even though he was a ‘sheepbreeder of Tekoa’ in Judah and not a prophet by profession or lineage, Amos prophesied against Israel (along with other nations).

I was no prophet, Nor was I a son of a prophet, But I was a sheepbreeder And a tender of sycamore fruit. Then the Lord took me as I followed the flock, And the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to My people Israel.’ Amos 7:14-15

Amos’ prophecies came during the time of King Jeroboam of Israel (son of Joash), and King Uzziah of Judah. Amos 1:1 says he prophesied “two years before the earthquake.”

Traces of a major earthquake have been found at ancient Hazor, which have been dated to 765-760 B.C., a time that would fit Amos. Holman Bible Dictionary, p 61

Amos’ prophecy begins with these words:

The Lord roars from Zion, And utters His voice from Jerusalem; The pastures of the shepherds mourn, And the top of Carmel withers. Amos 1:2

I believe God wanted to make an important point to Israel and other nations. The Lord roared from Zion. He uttered His voice from Jerusalem, which was located in the Southern Kingdom of Judah. However, the pastures of the shepherds that mourn, and the top of Carmel that withers, are located in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. God, through His prophet Amos, was roaring against Israel from Judah. The leaders of the Northern Kingdom would certainly have understood that message. God’s message came from Judah, the Southern Kingdom that continued the lineage of the “house” of David.

That’s important to notice for many reasons; one of them being revival. Revival begins when God’s people respond to His Word. When the people don’t listen, the Lord sometimes “roars.” The objects of His warnings can often cause mourning. They can even cause withering. God may “roar” because of the wickedness of His people. Even as the Apostle Peter wrote:

For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now ‘If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear? 1 Peter 4:17-18

Revival in the Bible was often different than what we think of with modern revivals where people want to feel good about themselves and what they’re doing by being at the revival. They often want to sing and laugh, but that time of rejoicing usually follows a time of God’s judging. If God’s people respond positively to what God says, repent and turn from their sin, that is often followed by rejoicing and good feelings.

As we continue reading in Amos, the prophet spoke about God’s coming judgment against several nearby nations (Amos 1:3 – 2:3).

  • Syria
  • Gaza
  • Tyre
  • Edom
  • Ammon
  • Moab

Next, Amos took aim at Judah about God’s future judgment on them. Notice what made God angry about Judah:

For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they have despised the law of the Lord, And have not kept His commandments. Their lies lead them astray, Lies which their fathers followed. But I will send a fire upon Judah, And it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem. Amos 2:4-5

Then Amos prophesied against Israel. You can read the specifics of that prophecy beginning in Amos 2:6. The people of the Northern Kingdom did not think they needed a revival from God. They felt safe from their enemies and were enjoying what they thought was economic stability. Here’s some background to understand Amos’ prophecy against Israel. These events happened several years before God called Amos to prophecy against Israel.

Background to Prophecy

2 Chronicles 25 tells us that King Amaziah of Judah decided to attack King Joash of Israel. That came after the army of Judah slaughtered the Edomites in battle. However, Amaziah brought the gods of the people of Seir back to Jerusalem and bowed down to them. That angered God, so he sent a prophet (not identified) to Amaziah to prophecy – “Why have you sought the gods of the people, which could not rescue their own people from your hand?” Amaziah told the prophet to cease speaking. The prophet said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not heeded my advice.”

King Amaziah of Judah decided to challenge King Jehoahaz of Israel to a battle. However, things did not go well for Judah:

So Joash king of Israel went out; and he and Amaziah king of Judah faced one another at Beth Shemesh, which belongs to Judah. And Judah was defeated by Israel, and every man fled to his tent. Then Joash the king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, at Beth Shemesh; and he brought him to Jerusalem, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate—four hundred cubits. And he took all the gold and silver, all the articles that were found in the house of God with Obed-Edom, the treasures of the king’s house, and hostages, and returned to Samaria. 2 Chronicles 25:21-24

Amos prophesied during the time of Israel’s kings Jeroboam II and Zechariah. Jeroboam II was the son of King Jehoash and ruled for 41 years. Jeroboam II was just like his namesake – “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord; he did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin” (2 Kings 2:24). King Zechariah reigned over Israel in Samaria for only six months.

And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as his fathers had done; he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin. Then Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and struck and killed him in front of the people; and he reigned in his place. 2 Kings 15:9-10

You might remember from our last study that Jonah also prophesied during the early reign of Jeroboam II. Jonah’s prophecy concerned the restoration of some of Israel’s territory. Even though Jeroboam II was an evil king, God showed His love for His people by saving them, “by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash” (2 Kings 2:27).

What we see here is a time where the people of the Northern Kingdom were feeling better about their lives. Would they thank God for that? Would they obey God’s Law? Not a chance. That’s where Amos’ prophecies come in strong. That’s where we see God roaring from Jerusalem.

Surely the Lord God does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken! Who can but prophesy? Proclaim in the palaces at Ashdod, And in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say: ‘Assemble on the mountains of Samaria; See great tumults in her midst, And the oppressed within her. For they do not know to do right,’ Says the Lord, ‘Who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.’ Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘An adversary shall be all around the land; He shall sap your strength from you, And your palaces shall be plundered. Amos 3:7-11

Amos rehearsed how God had judged Israel in the past and what He was going to do to them in the future.

Yet you have not returned to Me,’ Says the Lord. Therefore thus will I do to you, O Israel; Because I will do this to you, Prepare to meet your God, O Israel!’ Amos 4:11-12

Imagine hearing those words from a prophet of God! “Prepare to meet your God!” That puts chills up my spine. The people of Israel and their leaders should have immediately responded, as did the people of Nineveh, by repenting of their sins and begging God for His mercy. However, Israel didn’t repent of their sins against God. They trusted what they saw with their eyes and didn’t listen to the words of Amos.

It’s interesting that even as God warned Israel about His judgment and their destruction, that He continued to call His people to revival. Here’s what God said in Amos 5:

  • Seek Me and live
  • Seek the Lord and live
  • Seek good and not evil, That you may live

God was calling His people to revival, but they would not come. The result?

I will send you into captivity beyond Damascus,’ Says the Lord, whose name is the God of hosts. Amos 5:27

The people of Israel were still religious. They worshipped many gods. They even gave the true God a little bit of their worship time, but that was not enough for God. God is a jealous God. He wanted all of their worship and made that clear through Amos:

I hate, I despise your feast days, And I do not savor your sacred assemblies. Though you offer Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them, Nor will I regard your fattened peace offerings. Take away from Me the noise of your songs, For I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments. But let justice run down like water, And righteousness like a mighty stream. Amos 5:21-24

In addition to worshipping false gods, the people of Israel were self-indulgent even as they exploited the poor. They were corrupt and wicked, even as they thought of themselves as good, religious people. Sound familiar?

Amos detailed the terrible destruction of the Northern Kingdom and the captivity of its people in chapters 6 – 9. However, the prophecy ended on a hopeful note. God is going to revive His people in the future.

Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord, ‘When the plowman shall overtake the reaper, And the treader of grapes him who sows seed; The mountains shall drip with sweet wine, And all the hills shall flow with it. I will bring back the captives of My people Israel; They shall build the waste cities and inhabit them; They shall plant vineyards and drink wine from them; They shall also make gardens and eat fruit from them. I will plant them in their land, And no longer shall they be pulled up From the land I have given them,’ Says the Lord your God. Amos 9:13-15

Why will God revive Israel? Because of the Seed of the woman who will destroy the seed of the serpent. It all goes back to Jesus Christ of Nazareth who died to save His people from their sins.

Hosea’s Revival Lessons

Hosea lived in the Northern Kingdom toward the end of Jeroboam II’s reign. Hosea’s name in Hebrew (הוֹשֵׁעַ) means “salvation.” We don’t know if Hosea knew Amos, but he prophesied to Israel toward the latter part of Amos’ prophetic ministry. Hosea 1:1 says that – “The word of the Lord that came to Hosea the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel.” That would mean Hosea prophesied during the end of the Northern Kingdom. Israel’s last kings were Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekah, and Hoshea.

Keep in mind that Amos was from Judah and Hosea was from Israel. Amos prophesied about God’s lion roar from Judah. Hosea prophesied about God’s broken heart in Israel. Both prophets and their prophecies tell a powerful story of God’s love, mercy, justice, and righteousness. As we read in Amos 5:24- “But let justice run down like water, And righteousness like a mighty stream.”

God prophesied through Hosea’s marriage as well as his messages. God told Hosea to marry a harlot (prostitute) and have children with her – “For the land has committed great harlotry By departing from the Lord” (Hosea 1:2). The harlot’s name was Gomer. It comes from a Hebrew word (גָּמַר) that means “come to an end.” She bore three children to Hosea. God told Hosea what to name them. It was part of God’s message to Israel:

Then the Lord said to him: Call his name Jezreel, For in a little while I will avenge the bloodshed of Jezreel on the house of Jehu, And bring an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel. It shall come to pass in that day That I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel.’ And she conceived again and bore a daughter. Then God said to him: ‘Call her name Lo-Ruhamah, For I will no longer have mercy on the house of Israel, But I will utterly take them away. Yet I will have mercy on the house of Judah, Will save them by the Lord their God, And will not save them by bow, Nor by sword or battle, By horses or horsemen.’ Now when she had weaned Lo-Ruhamah, she conceived and bore a son. Then God said: ‘Call his name Lo-Ammi, For you are not My people, And I will not be your God. Hosea 1:4-9

The name Jezreel (יִזְרְעֵאל) means “God sows.” The name Lo-Ruhamah (לֹא רֻחָמָה) means “without compassion.” The name Lo-Ammi (לֹא עַמִּי) means “not my people.” Even though Israel was faithful, God is faithful. Even though Israel was sinful, God is merciful.

Though God appealed to Israel through both Amos and Hosea, the people would not turn from their wicked ways. God’s judgment on them would be harsh:

Woe to them, for they have fled from Me! Destruction to them, Because they have transgressed against Me! Though I redeemed them, Yet they have spoken lies against Me. They did not cry out to Me with their heart When they wailed upon their beds. Hosea 7:13-14

Though God was prophesying the end of the people of Israel (the Northern Kingdom), He also gave the people hope for a future time of great revival.

Yet the number of the children of Israel Shall be as the sand of the sea, Which cannot be measured or numbered. And it shall come to pass In the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ There it shall be said to them, ‘You are sons of the living God.’ Then the children of Judah and the children of Israel Shall be gathered together, And appoint for themselves one head; And they shall come up out of the land, For great will be the day of Jezreel! Hosea 1:10-11

The reason for this revival? Jesus Christ of Nazareth died for the sins of His people. He will save Israel at a future time and in a way that will bring great glory to Him and great revival to His people.

Historical Note

The last king of Israel (Northern Kingdom) was named Hoshea (הוֹשֵׁעַ). It was during the ninth year of Hoshea’s rule that the king of Assyria took Samaria and carried Israel away to Assyria. As of 722 BC, the Northern Kingdom of Israel was no more. In its place, the king of Assyria (believed to be Sargon II) “brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Ava, Hamath, and Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel; and they took possession of Samaria and dwelt in its cities” (2 Kings 17:24).

God warned the Northern Kingdom for 200 years through His prophets, but the people and their leaders would not listen to His warnings. Revival will return to Israel some day in the future because of Messiah Jesus.

Revival Lessons for Today

God is faithful and just. He wants His children to be faithful and just. God also wants His people to be obedient. We should do what God says, when He says it. We should pay attention to what pleases God rather than what pleases us. We should love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. We should love our neighbors as ourselves. So many lessons.

Next Time

In the next part of our series, we’ll look at God’s prophetic warnings to Judah through the prophet Isaiah. We’ll see what lessons we can glean there about revival.

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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

© Faith and Self Defense, 2023

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