The Restoration Project

res·to·ra·tion [res-tuh-rey-shuhn] –noun

1. the act of restoring; renewal, revival, or reestablishment.
2. the state or fact of being restored. 
3. a return of something to a former, original, normal, or unimpaired condition.
4. restitution of something taken away or lost.
5. something that is restored, as by renovating.
6. a reconstruction or reproduction of an ancient building, extinct animal, or the like, showing it in its original state.
7. a putting back into a former position, dignity, etc.

1 Samuel 7:12-14

Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far has the LORD helped us." So the Philistines were subdued and did not invade Israelite territory again.

Throughout Samuel's lifetime, the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines. The towns from Ekron to Gath that the Philistines had captured from Israel were restored to her, and Israel delivered the neighboring territory from the power of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

Samuel's righteousness restored Israel.

2 Samuel 8:3-4

Moreover, David fought Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, when he went to restore his control along the Euphrates River. David captured a thousand of his chariots, seven thousand charioteers and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He hamstrung all but a hundred of the chariot horses.

In this case, David restored his control... knowing David, he did everything he did for God, so David restored the land for God. There's a whole mess of questions with David.

Current Questions That I Have Been Pondering (related):

• I have been praying recently (actually, 11 years) for a righteous change, so can God change me?
• If God can change me, why hasn't he? Does God care?
• Is the so-called creator of this universe not powerful enough to change me or does God not want to change me?
• Is a habit more powerful than God's power?
• If David's heart was a heart that pleased God, and David had a habit of women, how does having multiple wives and sexual partners (concubines) please God? (Note: David wasn't alone in this action, either.)

2 Samuel 9:7

"Don't be afraid," David said to him, "for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table."

Mephibosheth son of Jonathan was restored simply based on the relationship Jonathan had with David. Mephibosheth didn't really have anything to do with his being restored within the Kingdom of Israel.

 

1 Kings 13:4-6

When King Jeroboam heard what the man of God cried out against the altar at Bethel, he stretched out his hand from the altar and said, "Seize him!" But the hand he stretched out toward the man shriveled up, so that he could not pull it back. Also, the altar was split apart and its ashes poured out according to the sign given by the man of God by the word of the LORD. Then the king said to the man of God, "Intercede with the LORD your God and pray for me that my hand may be restored." So the man of God interceded with the LORD, and the king's hand was restored and became as it was before.

It is interesting that Jeroboam requested someone intercede for him to be restored.

in·ter·cede [in-ter-seed]

–verb (used without object), -ced·ed, -ced·ing.

1. to act or interpose in behalf of someone in difficulty or trouble, as by pleading or petition: to intercede with the governor for a condemned man.
2. to attempt to reconcile differences between two people or groups; mediate.

Is intercede the best word here? Shouldn't it be said that this man of God petitioned the LORD instead of interceded? I mean, who can be a mediator to God, right, I mean, besides Jesus.

2 Kings 4:32-35

When Elisha reached the house, there was the boy lying dead on his couch. He went in, shut the door on the two of them and prayed to the LORD. Then he got on the bed and lay upon the boy, mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes, hands to hands. As he stretched himself out upon him, the boy's body grew warm. Elisha turned away and walked back and forth in the room and then got on the bed and stretched out upon him once more. The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes.

Elisha restores a child back to life. Since the boy was dead, someone HAD to intervene for him.
 
Restoration Ideas Thus Far:

• A return to God has to happen and Obedience to God is REQUIRED. That is spelled out in Deuteronomy.
• God does the restoring (Also in Deuteronomy).
• Someone has to INTERVENE. And thus far, it has always been an active representative of God. (Ex: David, Elisha, Samuel)
• Action is required (Elisha laid on the boy, David went to restore the land, etc.)

So, the idea of what is restoration is becoming pretty clear, however, those questions linger to the point to where I have to ask, why? Some may say that is the boobie question, but I feel it is pretty legitimate, at least for right now.