“There are six things the Lord hates. There are seven things he cannot stand: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that kill innocent people, a mind that thinks up evil plans, feet that are quick to do evil, a witness who lies, and someone who starts arguments among families.” (Proverbs 6:16-19, NCV). “Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34, KJV). “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy.” (Psalm 33:12, 18, KJV).Happy Birthday, America, on our 234th! After much deliberation and great sacrifice on the part of our founding fathers, the Declaration of Independence was signed and implemented to birth a new nation: “One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all,” the pledge of allegiance to our flag so clearly states. In the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence, these words were boldly delineated:
“We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness…”And to close that inimitable document, these words were emboldened:
“And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.”For modern day objectors who want mention of God deleted from our public documents and transactions, they should read again the writings of our forebears who recognized God’s hand in America’s destiny and in the affairs of men as they sought “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” at great sacrifice and with life blood. To pledge ‘lives, fortunes and sacred honor” turned out to be very true for the signers of the Declaration 234 years ago.
Now return to the lesson in Proverbs: Seven things, we read, God hates: the proud or haughty look (Could this be a look that denies the Providence of God in the affairs of men?); a lying tongue (Could this refer to promises of politicians to get elected, who have no intention of upholding the right and righting wrongs?); hands that kill innocent people (Are we talking about murder and mayhem in a society gone berserk, and unnecessary bloodshed in wars of aggression?); a mind that thinks up evil plans (How about ‘pork barrel’ spending and special interest legislation, together with a plethora of other unnecessary and selfish laws?); feet that are quick to do evil (Consider this any moves to get bills through government channels that do not benefit our country in general); a witness who lies (Our courts are filled with lying, subterfuge, and release of persons who should be convicted for crimes); and someone who starts arguments among families (With America’s divorce rate escalating to unprecedented levels, how sacred are family relationships in present-day society?). We forget that the Word teaches that God hates all these perversions of truth, inequities and the deviations from “unalienable rights” of individuals and citizens within a nation.
Birthdays are a good time to take stock of where we’ve been, where we are and where we are going. America’s birthday is a good time for us to think about and act on God’s plan for our country. “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people,” declared the sage in Proverbs 13:34. Turn, turn; we still have a window of opportunity, but time may be running out. People are trying to deny God’s place in the affairs of our nation, but regardless of the atheists’ and agnostics’ stance, this Truth still stands: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord and the people whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance” (Psalm 33:12). Turn, turn back to God, He invites, firmly and pleadingly: “If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (II Chronicles 7:14). Grant, O God, that America will return to Your way, and may the turning begin in the heart of each who reads these words, beginning with me. Amen.
c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Sunday, July 4, 2010
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