As a Priest, I have strived to enrich my understanding of the divine word of God, as embodied in the Holy Bible. A term that has often come under my reflection is “quicken”, used in the King James Version of the Bible. It might not sound familiar to many, as its usage in the Bible dates back to 1611 and may be considered somewhat obscure in our contemporary understanding. The term “quicken” implies to “revive or make alive”. It embodies the concept of being “quick” or “living”. To quicken is to bring something to life, or to restore lost vitality, symbolically speaking.
A captivating illustration can be seen in Psalm 25:11, as per the King James Version, “Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name’s sake.” This verse, when translated into the New International Version, reads: “For your name’s sake, LORD, preserve my life,” and in the New American Standard Bible, it says, “For the sake of Your name, O LORD, revive me.” This context reveals quickening as a process involving revival, a preservation of life, where God is glorified.
I believe God’s act of quickening significantly impacts our lives. Powered by His might, we can be quickened, or rather revived from ailments, discouragement, fear, and even death itself. Jesus, as the Life (John 14:6), has the power to grant us life. John 5:21 (KJV) reads, “For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.” Similarly, the Holy Spirit grants life, as John 6:63 (KJV) tells us, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing.”
According to His Word (Psalm 119:154) and His loving-kindness (Psalm 119:88), God quickens us. His quickening is associated with His tender mercy (Psalm 119:156), His righteousness (Psalm 119:40), and our joy (Psalm 85:6). His act of quickening guides us on the righteous path and sustains those who call upon His name. Psalm 119:37 (KJV) reads, “Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.”
As Christian believers, we call upon the Lord to quicken our thoughts and our ardor for Him (Psalm 42:11). We seek His grace to quicken us during our moments of distress (Psalm 119:25), asking Him to quicken our hearts keeping us faithful to His Word amidst worldly distractions (Psalm 80:18).
We are spiritually awakened, or quickened, by God the moment we accept salvation (Ephesians 2:1, KJV). And we look forward to being physically quickened after death at the resurrection (Romans 8:11, KJV).
Understanding the King James English can be challenging; however, comparing different translations of the Bible enhances our comprehension of the verses. This is particularly true with the term “quicken,” which, though may seem obscure, holds profound implications in our Christian walk of faith, signifying a divine act of revival and renewal granted by our gracious God; a gift of a revitalized spirit and a renewed life.
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