I pondered Psalm 119:149 as I was memorizing it. It says, “Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness; O Lord, revive me according to Your justice.” Why did the writer use the word justice in relationship to revive?

I looked up the Hebrew on biblos.com and it gave the Strong’s as judgment, ordinance, or act of deciding a case. I asked one of my pastors to explain. Here are his words, “The Word of God is the standard for His judgment of our lives and obedience to that Word. If justice is on view, His righteous examination of our obedience, as judged according to His word and our further obedience, even if through correction, brings revival and revitalization.”

His explanation took me to Hebrews 12:11. Our trials are divinely orchestrated to bring us into greater conformity to His image. The verse ends with, “…afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

We recently reviewed God’s way of forgiveness. I encourage you to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you any hidden heart-unforgiveness.