TOPIC:“America, A Nation Under God”
“Lord, you have poured out amazing blessings on your land” (Psalms 85:1, NLT)
As America has acknowledged and obeyed God her Creator, He has continued to shower blessing upon her as a nation. America has been elevated from infancy to a place of influence and leadership in the world today. We have been described as “this nation under God.” But I wonder: Do you know how the words “this nation under God” originated?
Four months after the Battle of Gettysburg, the scene of that battle was dedicated as Soldiers National Cemetery. A man by the name of Edward Everett, a widely famed orator, was asked to speak at the ceremony. Almost as an afterthought, Abraham Lincoln was asked to have a small part in the ceremonies. The two hour oration as given by Everett is seldom read today. Whereas the two minute word speech as given by President Lincoln has become one of the greatest speeches in American history. It has become known as “The Gettysburg Address.” Contained in that immortal speech we find these deathless words: “That we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.”
Here President Lincoln followed President Washington in picking up the echo of the belief of American's dependence on God and America's submission to God. Lincoln was absolutely convinced that no nation can exist and thrive unless it is governed and guided by Almighty God. But it seems that we today have forgotten and ignored Mr. Lincoln's words - “that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom.”
If you desire on this special Sunday to learn how God blessed a nation for obeying Him, and then judged that same nation for disobeying Him, then look at His chosen people Israel. Israel was strong when they obeyed the commandments of God and enthroned Him at the center of their affairs as a nation. God ruled over them and they responded to His leading. I want in this message to examine the patriotism of this ancient Hebrew nation. And with the Holy Spirit as our Guide, compare it to our situation in America today.