By Amy Carlson

There is a common theme of revival that runs through the Old Testament. All throughout the scriptures the Israelite people would rebel against God and turn away from Him. God and His glory would depart from them until they repented and then He would return to them, save them, and shine down His glory upon them. The Old Testament is also full of signs and wonders manifested by God for his people. God also instilled order and law among the Israelite people

God gave the original laws to Moses that dictated every aspect of life like eating, clothing, holidays, and sex. God also wanted the people to make Him a tabernacle. The Hebrew word for tabernacle is mishkan which means a residence, dwelling place, or habitation. God said to Moses, “They are to make me a sanctuary, so that I may live among them. You are to make it according to everything that I show you – the design of the tabernacle and the design of its furnishing. This is how you are to make it” (Exodus 25:8-9). God then proceeded to give Moses exact instructions on how He wanted the Tabernacle, who He wanted to serve therein, and how he wanted them to serve. All the supplies and furnishings for the Tabernacle were to be a “contribution for anyone who wholeheartedly wanted to give” (Exodus 25:2). While God was giving Moses all these laws and instructions on Mount Sinai, the people had made a golden calf and worshiped it, doing lewd activities and debauchery. When Moses saw what the people had done, his anger flared up against them and he shattered the stone tablets at the base of the mountain. He also ground up the golden calf and put it in the water for all people to drink. Moses asked the any of the people who were for Adonai to come forward and some of the Levites came forward. Moses ordered them to kill their own men, of whom they killed 3,000. Then Moses asked God for forgiveness of the sin’s people. God said that he would bless the Levites for standing up to God and being able to kill their own men. God also took care of the rest of the sinners by sending a plague on them. God gave the law to Moses again, and then Moses gave it to the people. “Then the whole community of the people of Israel withdrew from Moses’ presence; and they came, everyone whose heart stirred him and everyone whose spirit made him willing, and brought Adonai’s offering for the work on the tent of meeting, for the service in it and for the holy garments…Thus every man and woman of the people of Israel whose heart impelled him to contribute to any work of Adonai had ordered through Moses brought it to Adonai as a voluntary offering” (Exodus 35: 20, 21, 29). Then Moses and the people began work on the Tabernacle, and Moses did everything according to God’s instructions. “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of Adonai filled the tabernacle. Moses was unable to enter the tent of meeting, because the cloud remained on it, and the glory of Adonai filled the tabernacle” (Exodus 40:34-35).

The glory of God, also known as the Shekinah, hovered over the Tabernacle and over the people. It manifested itself as a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. The people moved when the Glory moved and were still when the Glory was still. The Jewish Encyclopedia states that:

“Unsullied thoughts and pious deeds render one worthy of the Shekinah, which is present when two are engaged in the Torah, when ten pray…; and it is likewise attracted by the study of the Law at night; the reading of the ‘Shema’; prayer; hospitality; benevolence; chastity; peace and faithfulness in married life; and similar deeds and qualities. Sins, on the other hand, cause the Shekinah to depart. It inspires correct judgment in upright judges, while unrighteous magistrates cause it to depart. It appeared on the day on which the Tabernacle was first erected. Before the Israelites sinned the Shekinah rested on everyone; but when they did evil it disappeared. In like manner it departed from David when he became leprous. Among the transgressions which have this result are the shedding of blood and idolatry. Whosoever sins in secret or walks with a proud and haughty bearing ‘crowds out the feet of the Shekinah’” (Kohler 3).

The Shekinah would also not descend in the midst of sadness for it is believed that there can be no sorrow in the presence of God. Simply stated, if one follows the commands of God, the Shekinah will descend among them.

During a period of time when Samuel was judge and priest over the people, before there was a King that ruled over Israel, the Ark of the Covenant with the commandments in it was stolen from the people of Israel during a battle with the Philistines. While the Ark was gone, the glory of God had departed from the people of Israel and God oppressed the Philistines for taking the Ark. The Philistines did not want the Ark because it caused such terrible harm to the people and the Israelites got it back. When the Ark was returned the Glory did not return with it. The people were perplexed and asked Samuel why glory did not come back. “[Samuel] addressed all the people of Isra’el; he said: ‘If you are returning to Adonai with all your heart, then be done with the foreign gods and ‘ashterot that you have with you, and direct your hearts to Adonai. The people gathered together and repented of their sins and forsake the false gods. Adonai had returned and rescued them from the Philistines.

David, King of Israel appointed by Samuel, wanted to build a Temple for God to permanently dwell. God told David that David would not build the Temple, but one of his descendents would. David started the preparations for the building of the Temple, but when he died, his son Solomon preceded him. In I Kings 6:11-13 “…This word of Adonai came to [Solomon]: ‘Concerning this house which you are building: if you will live according to my regulations, follow my rulings and observe all my [commandments/laws] and live by them, then I will establish with you my promise that I made to David your father – I will live in it among the people of Isra’el, and I will not abandon my people Isra’el”. King Solomon did everything according to what God had willed for his dwelling place. All of the leaders and the people of Israel gathered; there was a processional for the ark of the covenant to be placed in the Temple and there were sacrifices made; “then, when the trumpeters and singers were playing in concord, to be heard harmoniously praising and thanking Adonai, and they lifted their voices together with the trumpets, cymbals and other musical instruments to praise Adonai: ‘for he is good, for his grace continues forever’ –then, the house, of the house of Adonai, was filled with a cloud; so that because of the cloud, the [priests] could not stand up to perform their service; for the glory of Adonai filled the house of God” (II Chronicles 5:13-14). King Solomon then blessed the people of Israel, pleaded with God to keep His covenant “provided they live in [your] presence with all their heart” (II Chronicles 6:14) Solomon also asked God to judge the sins of the people accordingly with what they have done, and forgive them as long as they have repented. “When [Solomon] had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of Adonai filled the house…All the people of Isra’el saw when the fire came down, and the glory of Adonai was on the house; they bowed down with their faces to the ground on the flooring; prostrating themselves, they gave thanks to Adonai, ‘for he is good, for his grace continues forever” (II Chronicles 7:1,3). Again, just like the tabernacle, the people did exactly what God had commanded, repented, unified, and the glory of God, the Shekinah, had descended among them.

God warned the people in I Kings 9:6-7 “If you turn away from following me, you or your children, and do not observe my [commandments] and regulations which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods, worshipping them; the I will cut off Isra’el from the land I have given them. This house, which I consecrated for my name, I will eject from my sight; and Isra’el will become and example to avoid and an object of scorn among all peoples”. The people did just this and forsook God and did what was right in their own eyes. They worshipped false gods and idols and did not follow the law that God had given them through Moses. “However, Adonai was unwilling to destroy the house of David, because of the covenant he had made with David; inasmuch as he had promised to give him his children a lamp that would burn forever” (II Chronicles 21:7). A few of the kings that ruled after Solomon did what was right according to God’s law, but they gradually became corrupt and strayed away from God’s law. The temple was eventually shut down and the glory of God was no longer there.

II Chronicles 29-30 tells recounts the reign of King Hezekiah of Israel. As soon as he became king, he reopened the doors to and cleaned the temple, and had the leaders of the Temple consecrate themselves back to God. Once the Temple was done being restored, there were sacrifices made for the people and the priests sang praises to God. Hezekiah decided to follow the Law of Moses and celebrate Passover. “Then the [priests], who were [Levites], stood up and blessed the people; [Adonai] heard their voice; and their prayers came up to the holy place where he lives; heaven” (II Chronicles 30-27). God returned to his people once they returned to him. II Chronicles 31:20-21 states that Hezekiah “accomplished things that were good, right and faithful before Adonai his God. Every project that he undertook in order to seek his God, whether in the service of this house of God or in connection with the Torah and the [commandments], he did with all his heart; and so he succeeded”. Not long after this, the King of Ashur tried to take over Israel. Hezekiah and the Israelites believed that God would save them, but the King spoke out against God and the Israelites for believing in God. “Then Adonai sent an angel, who cut down the valiant warriors, the leaders and the officers in the king of Ashur’s camp, so that he had to return shamefaced to his own country. When he entered the house of his god, his own sons, whom he had fathered, put him to death with the sword there. In this way Adonai rescued [Hezekiah] and those living in [Jerusalem] from Sancheriv the king of Ashur and from everyone, caring for them in every respect” (II Chronicles 32:21-22).

The last six chapters of Second Kings are about the last of Israel’s kings and Israel’s demise. There was one king who tried to turn around the people and the kingdom. A couple of his servants had found a torah scroll and were commanded to read it. Once they knew all that God had commanded, they did what God had willed. All the pagan idols and places of worship were destroyed. All of the Biblical feasts and laws were put into place. The scripture says that “No previous king was like him; because he turned to Adonai with all his heart, with all his being, and with all his power, in accordance with all the Torah of Moshe; nor did any king like him arise afterwards” (II Kings 23:25). Unfortunately God’s anger did not subside and he rejected the city. Not long after, Nebuchadnezzar over took the city and laid waste to the temple. The Israelite people were now in exile.

After the Israelite people returned from exile, they rebuilt the Temple. Once the temple was finished being built God told the people, “From this day on, I will bless you” (Haggai 2:19). God told Zechariah,

“Return to me…and I will return to you…Don’t be like your ancestors. The earlier prophets proclaimed to them ‘Adonai…says to turn back now from your evil ways and deeds’; but they didn’t listen or pay attention to me….Your ancestors, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever? But my words and my laws, which I ordered my servants the prophets, overtook your ancestors, didn’t they? Then they turned and said, ‘Adonai has dealt with us according to our ways and deeds, just as he intended to do’” (Zechariah 1:2-5).

After the rebuilding of the second temple, there is on unifying principle that God stresses to the Israelites; ‘return to me and I will return to you’. God lets the Israelites do what they want, with warning, but waits for them to return to Him.

There are ‘three biblical precepts associated with revival’ according to Rabbi Eric Carlson which can be applied to all the passages stated above. The first step is to return to the word, the second is a desire to unify, and the third is to return of supernatural signs and wonders. In each of the accounts from the Old Testament the Israelite people were rebelling against God’s word, but they returned to Him. Once they did, they came together under the Law. Then God began to move, he answered prayers, his Shekinah descended among the people, and the Israelites were victorious.