“Quicken Me, O LORD”!
Introduction: What is the Meaning of “Quicken”?
To be “quickened” in the Biblical sense, is to be “born again“, by being made “spiritually alive“, which is accomplished by God as a gift to a person of His Holy Spirit. All believers are, and must be, quickened (“made alive”) by God’s Holy Spirit. That “quickening” by the Holy Spirit is integral and synonymous with Salvation, which is the result of the Atoning Sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ and the the resultant, implanted, faith in Jesus as that person’s Savior, which accompanies that quickening.
John 3:5-8, “¶Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.“
“Quicken” as Found in the Old Testament
All but one of the references in the Old Testament, which include the word that is translated into English as “quicken” by the King James translators, are found exclusively in the Book of Psalms, and nine of those are found in Psalm 119 (KJV). Notably, in Psalm 119, the quickening is closely linked to God’s Word, Judgments, and precept.
As noted above, that “quickening” by the Holy Spirit is the regeneration of the dead soul and is synonymous with Salvation. This is accomplished at the time appointed by God in the presence of God‘s Word and God‘s minister, which is why the gospel is to be preached and testified of throughout the world.
Notice how perfectly this fits with Romans 10:14-16, “¶How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
חָיָה (ḥāyâ)H2421
The word in the Old Testament, which has been translated as “quicken” by the King James translators, is from the original Hebrew word, חָיָה (ḥāyâ)H2421 which is actually found 262 times in the Bible and has been translated variously as live (153x), alive (34x), save (13x), quicken (14x), revive (12x), surely (10x), life (9x), recover (8x), miscellaneous (9x).
Psalm 71:20, “[Thou], which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.“
Psalm 80:18, “So will not we go back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name.”
Psalm 119:25, (DALETH). “My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.“
Psalm 119:37, “Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; [and] quicken thou me in thy way.“
Psalm 119:40, “Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.“
Psalm 119:88, “Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.“
Psalm 119:107, “I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word.“
Psalm 119:149, “Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: O LORD, quicken me according to thy judgment.“
Psalm 119:154, “Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word.“
Psalm 119:156, “Great [are] thy tender mercies, O LORD: quicken me according to thy judgments.“
Psalm 119:159, “Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to thy lovingkindness.“
Psalm 143:11, “Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.”
Psalm 119:50, “This [is] my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.“
Psalm 119:93, “I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.“
“Quicken” as Found in the New Testament
The key word that is found in the New Testament, which has been translated as “quicken” by the King James translators, is from the original Greek word, ζῳοποιέω (zōopoieō)G2227, which is actually found twelve times in the New Testament and is translated variously as quicken (9x), give life (2x), make alive (1x).
ζῳοποιέω(zōopoieō)G2227
1 Peter 3:18, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:“
Romans 8:11, “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall G2227 also quicken (ζῳοποιέω (zōopoieō))G2227your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”
1 Corinthians 15:22, “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall G2227 all be made alive. G2227“
[Note to the Reader: the second “all” cannot possibly mean “everyone”, which was indeed the case for the first “all”, as clearly only the believers are “quickened” (or “made alive” or “born again”).]
1 Corinthians 15:36, “[Thou] fool, that which thou sowest is G2227 not quickened, G2227except it die:“
1 Corinthians 15:42-45, “¶So also [is] the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam [was made] a quickening G2227 spirit.”
John 5:21, “For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth G2227 [them]; even so the Son quickeneth G2227 whom he will.“
John 6:63, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; G2227 the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life.“
Romans 4:17, “(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, [even] God, who quickeneth G2227 the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.”
2 Corinthians 3:6, “Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. G2227“
Galatians 3:21, “[Is] the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, G2227 verily righteousness should have been by the law.“
1 Timothy 6:13, “I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth G2227all things, and [before] Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;“
1 Peter 3:18, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened G2227 by the Spirit:“
συζωοποιέω (syzōopoieō)G4806
Another related word that is found in the New Testament, which has been translated as “quicken together”(implicitly in Christ) by the King James translators, is from the original Greek word,συζωοποιέω (syzōopoieō)G4806, which is found twice in the New Testament (and implied once) and is translated either as quicken together with (1x) or quicken together (1x).
Ephesians 2:1, “And you [hath he quickened] (IMPLIED based upon verse 5 below), who were dead in trespasses and sins;“
Ephesians 2:5, “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us togetherG4806 with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)“
Colossians 2:13, “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together G4806 with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;“
Deliverance from Bondage and the Condemnation of Carnal, Sinful, Flesh
In closing, let us all remember what we read in Romans 8:1-11, “[There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace. Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ [be] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin; but the Spirit [is] life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.“
Conclusion
In the end, it all comes down to this: only by the sheer Grace of God alone do believers receive the Holy Spirit indwelling their hearts. This happens because God Himself chooses and calls them, and raises them spiritually from their dead spiritual state, “quickens” them (makes them truly alive), and causes them to be born again by the Spirit. Only then are their spiritual ears and eyes opened to perceive and understand the hidden Truth of God—and at the same time, He grants them the necessary faith, hope, and love, along with a genuine desire to obey Jesus. Apart from this Sovereign work of God’s Grace, it would be impossible.
Because that Truth is of God, and about God…then “spiritual” discernment is required (NOT carnal/ earthly/ human discernment). Spiritual discernment can only come to someone who has been quickened by God’s Holy Spirit because the flesh is dead in sin. In Romans 7:14 we read, “For we know that the law (the whole Word of God, the Bible) is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.“ and later in Romans 7:18, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not.” and finally at the end of the chapter in Romans 7:24&25, “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.“
POSTSCRIPT:
Most people are familiar with Colossians 1:18, “And he (The Lord Jesus Christ) is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all [things] he might have the preeminence.” Jesus is declared to be the “Firstborn from the dead”. Therefore, please note what we find in 1 Pe 3:18, “¶For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:” Jesus was also the first to be “quickened” by God’s Holy Spirit at the Resurrection!
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