Two hundred and forty-two years ago the families living in the thirteen English colonies came together to establish an independent nation. Our children are taught the Pledge of Allegiance which was penned in 1892 by Francis Bellamy. The original version: “I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” The pledge has changed several times through the influences of independent groups to add the phrase, "the Flag of the United States of America" in 1923 with the final addition of "under God" in 1954.
Our forefathers established these United States using the Ten Commandments as the basis for our laws just as the LORD God Almighty gave these to the Children of Israel after He took the former slaves from Egypt and taught them the rules to live by as a new nation with Himself as King. Israel's commitment to following the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob has wavered throughout history, and Elohim's protection and blessings have followed suit.
In my daily quiet time, I am reading God's Word chronologically. Currently I am in 2nd Chronicles which describes the Temple of the LORD built by Solomon. Soon after its completion, the LORD appeared to the wise king and reminded him of the rules (chapter 7): "As for you, if you walk before me faithfully as David your father did, and do all I command, and observe my decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with David your father when I said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor to rule over Israel.’
“But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. I will make it a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples." (v.17-20)
These verses made me consider that Solomon, although the wisest man to ever live did exactly what God warned him no to do. During Solomon's forty years as king, his seven HUNDRED wives who led his heart to worship other gods. The temple he built was plundered and destroyed, then the nation of Israel was uprooted about 350 years after God gave Solomon this warning. Our God is a jealous God, who will not share our affection and attention with anyone or anything else. What is this saying about the future success of our nation? How many other gods are being worshiped in our nation?
As we celebrate our nation's independence, take a few minutes to remind your family what our Heavenly Father requires of us: "Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow. Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."
We are blessed to live in the United States of America with our abundant freedoms and privileges. Many have fought and died to preserve this "one nation, under God," but today our nation needs each of us to join the fight to preserve the unity of our country. Please join me in prayer for the United States. May the Holy Creator God of the Universe, forgive the corporate sins of the American people, turn our hearts away from our selfish, idolatrous pursuits, so we may be restored into a right relationship with the King of Kings. As your family gathers with friends and other believers to celebrate our nation's birth, I hope you will join my family as we pray for every citizen of this great nation to repent from our wickedness. Ask for the LORD's mercy upon our sins, so we may continue to proclaim, "in God we trust" as "one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."