Entering Into God’s Presence

Knowing God Through His Works & Ways (VERBS)

God Restores

To Study and Ponder

• The Hebrew word used for “restore” is most often translated “return” in the Old Testament; the English verb also includes the idea of returning:- “to bring back, to return (someone or something) to a former condition, place, or position, to repair or renovate” (ONLINE DICTIONARY)

• Restoration involves the capacity to repair what has been damaged; to revitalize, to make something/someone thrive with life once again. This act of God speaks of how he engages in the reality of our broken world. He does not remain aloof in some abstract state of perfection, but he reaches into our broken, hurting world and sets to the task of reparation/restoration.

• To restore something it requires that you understand what it should be restored to. This implies that the restorer has an understanding of the original design/purpose/plan, for without this restoration is impossible.

• God’s restoration of the soul repairs our capacity to give and receive love. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. Psalm 23:1-3a (NIV).

• Job lost everything but experienced restoration - When Job prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes. In fact, the Lord gave him twice as much as before! Job 42:10

• The OT prophets collectively speak of judgment on the people because of their continued breaches of the covenant. Yet, alongside the messages of judgment are messages of restoration. God, because of His mercy and steadfast love will restore the people from exile and make Jerusalem flourish again.

• “then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes. He will have mercy on you and gather you back from all the nations where he has scattered you. Deut. 30:3 (Also v.9)

• ... I say to Jerusalem, ‘People will live here again,’and to the towns of Judah, ‘You will be rebuilt; I will restore all your ruins! Isaiah 44:26 (Also Is.49:8, 61:4 etc.)

• For I will restore the prosperity of this land to what it was in the past, says the Lord. Je.33:11

• In just a short time he will restore us, so that we may live in his presence.Hosea 6:2

• On that day I will gather you together and bring you home again. I will give you a good name, a name of distinction, among all the nations of the earth, as I restore your fortunes before their very eyes. Zephaniah 3:20

• Psalmists call out for God’s restoration, and proclaim it:-

• Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Psalm 51:12

• You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but you will restore me to life again and lift me up from the depths of the earth. Ps 71:20 (Psalm 14:7, 85:4 etc.)

• Many of these messages of restoration find their complete fulfillment in the coming of Christ, some still await the final restoration of all things when Christ returns (Rev 19-22). The damage to creation as a result of the fall needs to be restored. The end of the Bible shows that full restoration. The first coming of Jesus brings the kingdom of God in partial form as a sign and guarantee of its future completion. Hence we live in the church age which is also a period of tension - the time of Now but also Not Yet.

• For he must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through his holy prophets. Acts 3:21 (Romans 8:21)

• “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Rev.20:3b-5a

• On an individual level the Christian life is about restoring us from our sin-darkened state of lostness to the wonder of being sons and daughters of the Father, the King of Kings (Rom 8). And all by mercy and grace.

• God’s desire is that broken relationships be restored. (Malachi 4:6a)

• In both old and New Testaments we see examples of physical bodies being restored:-

• The boy brought back to life by Elisha (2Ki 8:5), Naaman’s leprous skin (2Ki 5:14)

• Jesus restores the man’s crippled hand (Matt 12:9-13), the blind man’s sight (Mark 8:22-25); Paul’s sight was restored when Ananias laid hands on him (Acts 9:12,17,18)

Meditation/Memory:

Lower Grades: I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark. John 12:46  (NLT)

I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”    Revelation 21:3-4  (NLT)

Middle Grades: Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces; now he will heal us. He has injured us; now he will bandage our wounds. In just a short time he will restore us, so that we may live in his presence. Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know him.

Hosea 6:1-3a  (NLT) 

Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.

1 John 3:2-3 (NLT)

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.”    Luke 4:18-19  (NLT)

Upper Grades:  I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!”              Revelation 21:3-5a  (NLT)

For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.    Colossians 1:13-14  (NLT)

Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.... Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.    Psalm 51:7,10-12  (NLT)