CLEANSE ME (SEARCH ME O GOD)

In Psalm 139 we read, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”  These are beautiful words and a humble prayer of repentance to God.

Our hymn today was written by J. Edwin Orr who was widely known as an evangelist and a noted scholar of the revival movements in history.  Many times, in the history of the world, there have been evangelical awakenings or spiritual revivals that God has initiated in various countries or nations.  Consistently, these revivals have spilled across the world as new believers in God felt compelled by the Holy Spirit to share the gospel with others. 

A revival always will begin after a vibrant spiritual awakening of faith within individual hearts.  A movement of God in people’s lives cannot be planned by humans, but are orchestrated by God alone.

Edwin Orr was born in January 1912 in Belfast, Ireland and died in April of 1987.  He was highly educated, and was a Chaplain in the US Airforce.  He travelled to more than two thirds of the world’s 600 major cities. 

It was in a specifically powerful movement of the Holy Spirit in New Zealand during a 1936 revival that inspired this hymn of repentance, and it is this hymn that he is most remembered for. CLEANSE ME is considered one of the most challenging revival hymn texts in all of hymnody.  Further campaigns by Dr. Orr throughout the English-speaking world popularized this hymn of prayer everywhere.

As his last verse states…”O Holy Ghost, revival comes from thee; Send a revival – start the work in me.”  These are beautiful words of commitment and humble prayer.  May they be your prayer too.  SEARCH ME, O GOD!