Psalm 127:1 “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it; except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.”
In the speech referenced in the previous post, Dr. Ben Franklin went on to say:
“I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth – that God Governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that ‘except the Lord build the House they labour in vain that build it.’ I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better, than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye word down to future ages. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments by Human wisdom and leave it to chance, war and conquest.
I therefore beg leave to move – that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the Clergy of this City be requested to officiate in that Service.”
Whatever we attempt to build or keep will be in vain unless we relinquish control unto the Lord. Ben Franklin specifically applied this truth to the political realm in the attempt to create and sustain the United States of America. How did Dr. Franklin recommend that the Founding Fathers put this truth into action? His recommendation was a simple one, to pray daily for our nation while imploring the assistance of Heaven.
May we take this advice and apply his recommendation today as our Founding Fathers readily did during late June of 1787. For them, it created an environment that mended their divisions and yielded a Heavenly wisdom that formed our founding document. For us, may it mend our divisions and yield a Heavenly wisdom that returns us to the truths contained in that founding document.
PLEASE PRAY DAILY, IMPLORING THE ASSISTANCE OF HEAVEN TO REDIRECT OUR ERRANT NATION. God does govern the affairs of men and our efforts are in vain without Him.