Independence Day - this 4th of July.
We believe we are independent, but we know we are truly dependent on the LORD our God. Trusting fully in His Son Jesus.
This past week as we were cleaning up in the basement, I stumbled across a scripture verse printed on a copy of a check so I looked it up…It was Daniel 6:23
Then the king was exceedingly glad and commanded that Daniel should be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no hurt of any kind was found on him because he believed in (relied on, adhered to, and trusted in) his God.
How wonderful that Daniel had not so much as a scratch on his person. And his Trust in GOD saw him through it all. Even the King realized the Power of the ALMIGHTY that Daniel worshiped. What a testimony of faith, to put one’s trust in GOD.
Then earlier in the Book of Daniel the 3rd chapter vs 25-29, we have Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who where cast into the fiery furnace, and a 4th was seen among them in the fire, and they emerged not so much as a hair singed, or even the smell of smoke upon their clothes. The King here says Blessed be their God, who delivered his servants who TRUSTED in HIM.
It cause me to think about the word TRUST and TRUSTING IN GOD
My message this Sunday is just that… “In God We Trust”.
Our founders of this nation knew what was needed, And we as a country need to get back to the basics.
It is a very interesting story of how the Rev. Watkinson started the ball rolling…
From the Treasury Department…
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From Treasury Department records, it appears that the first such appeal came in a letter dated November 13, 1861. It was written to Secretary Chase by Rev. M. R. Watkinson, Minister of the Gospel from Ridleyville, Pennsylvania, and read:
Dear Sir: You are about to submit your annual report to the Congress respecting the affairs of the national finances.
One fact touching our currency has hitherto been seriously overlooked. I mean the recognition of the Almighty God in some form on our coins.
You are probably a Christian. What if our Republic were not shattered beyond reconstruction? Would not the antiquaries of succeeding centuries rightly reason from our past that we were a heathen nation? What I propose is that instead of the goddess of liberty we shall have next inside the 13 stars a ring inscribed with the words PERPETUAL UNION; within the ring the allseeing eye, crowned with a halo; beneath this eye the American flag, bearing in its field stars equal to the number of the States united; in the folds of the bars the words GOD, LIBERTY, LAW.
This would make a beautiful coin, to which no possible citizen could object. This would relieve us from the ignominy of heathenism. This would place us openly under the Divine protection we have personally claimed. From my heart I have felt our national shame in disowning God as not the least of our present national disasters. To you first I address a subject that must be agitated.
>>>THEN, HERE WAS THE RESPONSE…IT GETS EVEN BETTER!
As a result, Secretary Chase instructed James Pollock, Director of the Mint at Philadelphia, to prepare a motto, in a letter dated November 20, 1861:
Dear Sir: No nation can be strong except in the strength of God, or safe except in His defense. The trust of our people in God should be declared on our national coins.
You will cause a device to be prepared without unnecessary delay with a motto expressing in the fewest and tersest words possible this national recognition.
He proposed that upon the designs either OUR COUNTRY, OUR GOD or GOD, OUR TRUST should appear as the motto on the coins. In a letter to the Mint Director on December 9, 1863, Secretary Chase stated:
I approve your mottoes, only suggesting that on that with the Washington obverse the motto should begin with the word OUR, so as to read OUR GOD AND OUR COUNTRY. And on that with the shield, it should be changed so as to read: IN GOD WE TRUST.
The Congress passed the Act of April 22, 1864. This legislation changed the composition of the one-cent coin and authorized the minting of the two-cent coin. The Mint Director was directed to develop the designs for these coins for final approval of the Secretary. IN GOD WE TRUST first appeared on the 1864 two-cent coin.
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Very Interesting I must say.
This sparked me to start a search through the scriptures.
I looked up the word “Trust” in the Bible, and there were so many references, so I looked up the word ‘TRUSTED’.
SEE THE SCRIPTURES BELOW…
TRUSTING
Daniel 6:23
Daniel 3:28
Psalm 28:7
Psalm 22:4-5
Isaiah 26:3
Psalm 112:7
TRUST AND TRUST NOT
Psalm 44:6-7
Psalm 118:8-9
Psalm 40:4
NOT TRUSTING – do not trust
Psalm 146: 3
Psalm 78:21
Job 15: 31
Judges 11:20-21
Zeph 3:1-2
Job 15:31
Psalm 62:10
There are so many references to How individuals and Nations TRUSTED GOD and were blessed.
And TRUSTED also is found throughout the Psalms telling us the benefits of the man that trusted in God.
Then as an antonym, I looked up TRUSTED NOT, and what came back was that when people TRUSTED NOT the LORD, they hit hard times, were defeated, or were even wiped off the face of the earth.
But what was very interesting was that when looked in context, I found this very plain and simple truth…specifically repeated through scriptures
We are to TRUST in GOD
We are to TRUST NOT in Man.
So, AMERICA, This Independence day…Where do we put our Trust?
In the ONE TRUE GOD…ALONE!
Let’s Pray!
Scriptures Referenced:
TRUSTING
Daniel 6:23
Then the king was exceedingly glad and commanded that Daniel should be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no hurt of any kind was found on him because he believed in (relied on, adhered to, and trusted in) his God.
Daniel 3:28
Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.
Psalm 28:7 (our call to worship this week)
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
Psalm 22:4-5
Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.
Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Psalm 112:7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.
TRUST and TRUST NOT…
Psalm 44:6-7
6 For I will not trust in my bow, Nor shall my sword save me.
7 But You have saved us from our enemies, And have put to shame those who hated us.
Psalm 118:8-9
8It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
9It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.
Psalm 40:4 Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
Psalm 146: 3 Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.
TRUSTED NOT – do not trust
Psalm 78:21 Therefore the LORD heard this, and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel;
22Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation:
Job 15: 31 Let him not trust in futile things, deceiving himself, for futility will be his reward.
Judges 11:20-21
20But Sihon trusted not Israel to pass through his coast: but Sihon gathered all his people together, and pitched in Jahaz, and fought against Israel.
21And the LORD God of Israel delivered Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they smote them: so Israel possessed all the land of the Amorites, the inhabitants of that country.
Zeph 3:1-2
1Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!
2She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God.
Job 15:31 Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity: for vanity shall be his recompence.
Psalm 62:10 Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.
