Restoration
Restoration in Scripture is the undoing of Eden's loss — bringing back what was broken, raising what was dead, returning what was exiled. Joel 2:25 promises "the years that the locust hath eaten" restored; John 21 shows Peter restored by the risen Christ beside another charcoal fire; Revelation 21 ends where Genesis began — a garden, a river, a tree — but with nations walking in the light of the Lamb.
Key verses (14)
- Psalms 23:3He restoreth my soul
“He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
- Psalms 51:10Create in me a clean heart — David
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”
- Psalms 51:12Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation
“Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.”
- Isaiah 61:1Preach good tidings — beauty for ashes set-up
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto...”
- Isaiah 61:3Beauty for ashes, oil of joy for mourning
“To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mour...”
- Joel 2:25Restore years that the locust hath eaten
“And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller,...”
- Luke 15:20The father ran — prodigal's return
“And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and h...”
- Luke 15:24This my son was dead, and is alive again
“For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.”
- John 21:15Feed my sheep — Peter's restoration begins
“So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than th...”
- John 21:17Feed my sheep (third time)
“He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he ...”
- Galatians 6:1Restore such an one in spirit of meekness
“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spiri...”
- James 5:19Convert the sinner from the error of his way
“Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;”
- 1 Peter 5:10God of all grace — stablish, strengthen, settle
“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye h...”
- Revelation 21:5Behold, I make all things new
“And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for...”
Relevant characters (5)
Peter
Restored after denial (John 21:15-17)
David
Psalm 51 — restore the joy of thy salvation
Jonah
Prayer from the fish's belly, then second commission (Jonah 2-3)
Onesimus
Returned to Philemon as a brother beloved
Prodigal Son
Father ran and embraced him (Luke 15)
Further reading
- Timothy Keller — The Prodigal God, Dutton (2008)
- Michael Wilcock — The Message of Revelation, IVP (1986)
- Herman Bavinck — Reformed Dogmatics, Vol. 4, Baker Academic (2008)
Pastoral commentary
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