INSIDE:  May we always remember and be thankful for the Lord’s mighty hand on our nation throughout our history. 

A Young Nation

Things had been going rough for our young nation in 1777 as we fought our War for Independence.  There had been a string of defeats in 1776 and 1777, but in October 1777, something remarkable happened…  we were blessed with victory at Saratoga, New York, where British General Burgoyne, with his Army of 5000, surrendered to the American General Horatio Gates.  This victory proved to be a turning point in the war, which among other things, led to the French supporting the American cause as well.  What did we do as a result of this amazing work of God?  Congress made a proclamation of a National Day of Thanksgiving and Praise to thank the Lord for working on their behalf.

 Since we also have an opportunity for a day of Thanksgiving today as well, I thought we would consider the proclamation Congress made that day (November 1, 1777), when they recommended to the United States of America that all would observe a day of “solemn thanksgiving and praise”.  We will quote and consider parts of the document in this article, but feel free to reference the entire document here.  What can we learn from this resolution passed by Congress in 1777?  How can we better thank the Lord today for His hand of blessing on this nation from the very early days, all the way through our history up to current times?  What truths can we better learn about the foundation of this nation?  For example, as we look at some of the key points of this declaration by Congress, I think it is abundantly clear they were not trying to separate things of God from things in the nation.

A Proclamation of Thanksgiving and Praise

The document begins, “FORASMUCH as it is the indispensable Duty of all Men…”  It starts with recognizing three areas where men have duties that are “indispensable”, which according to Webster’s 1828 Dictionary, means they are “absolutely necessary or requisite”.  What are these indispensable duties of all men?  They are:

1. to adore the superintending Providence of Almighty God
2. to acknowledge with Gratitude their Obligation to him for benefits received
3. to implore such farther Blessings as they stand in Need of

We are only in the first few lines of the document, but we are already learning valuable lessons. Notice that Congress said it is ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY that all men adore the Providence of Almighty God.  We tend to not use the word “Providence” these days, but it was a common word at the time and meant “the care and superintendence which God exercises over his creatures” (Webster’s 1828 Dictionary).  So, we thank God because He takes care of us.  Secondly, we express our gratitude for “benefits received”, or for the wonderful things He has done for us.  Thirdly, we implore farther blessings, or let Him know what things we need.  God loves us – we should let Him know what we need.  This reminds me of a Bible verse:

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”          

–Philippians 4:6

Our Founders

Our founders were carrying out the instructions received in this verse.  They were encouraging folks to prayer and thanksgiving, and also letting God know their needs.

The first paragraph continues as they thank God specifically in the way the war is going.  They say God has smiled “upon us in the Prosecution of a just and necessary War”, and they go on to say “He hath been pleased in so great a Measure to prosper the Means used for the Support of our Troops and to crown our Arms with most signal success”.  Understand the Americans were in a war with the most powerful nation in the world.  There was no human way they could hope to win.  In a letter to one of his generals, as he considered the success of the army against the British, George Washington went as far as to say: 

“The hand of Providence has been so conspicuous in all this, that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith, and more than wicked, that has not gratitude enough to acknowledge his obligations”                              

– George Washington

Why?

They decide on 18 December 1777 as the day they will use for this purpose of “Solemn Thanksgiving and Praise”.  I love the several-fold purpose that is given for this day.  The purposes listed are:

1. “That with one Heart and one Voice the good People may express the grateful Feelings of their Hearts, and consecrate themselves to the Service of their Divine Benefactor” – They encourage people to be thankful to God and to sacredly commit themselves to His service.
2. “That together with their sincere Acknowledgments and Offerings, they may join the penitent Confession of their manifold Sins, whereby they had forfeited every Favour, and their humble and earnest Supplication that it may please GOD, through the Merits of Jesus Christ, mercifully to forgive and blot them out of Remembrance” – they encourage all to repent of the sin against God because their sin would cause them to forfeit God’s favor.
3. “That it may please him graciously to afford his Blessing on the Governments of these States respectively, and prosper the public Council of the whole” – They are asking for God’s blessing on their government institutions.
4. “to inspire our Commanders both by Land and Sea, and all under them, with that Wisdom and Fortitude which may render them fit Instruments, under the Providence of Almighty GOD, to secure for these United States the greatest of all human blessings, INDEPENDENCE and PEACE” – they are praying for God to give their military commanders great success. 
5. “That it may please him to prosper the Trade and Manufactures of the People and the Labour of the Husbandman, that our Land may yet yield its Increase” – They are praying God will make their nation productive.
6. “To take Schools and Seminaries of Education, so necessary for cultivating the Principles of true Liberty, Virtue and Piety, under his nurturing Hand, and to prosper the Means of Religion for the promotion and enlargement of that Kingdom which consisteth “in Righteousness, Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost.” – they are praying God will bless the work of their educational institutions that are “nurturing” the next generation. 

Thank and Praise God

As we have considered the grateful hearts of our founders and as we have seen the way they used the Congress of the United States to encourage all to thank Him and praise Him for the blessings He had bestowed upon them, may we remember – especially in this time of Thanksgiving – the mighty hand of God Himself that worked on behalf of our infant nation.  As we talked about last Thanksgiving in our article, An Unparalleled and Surprising Thanksgiving Bike Ride, may we thank God for the opportunity He has given us to pause the crash course we were on, and to have opportunity to stop and make corrections.  May we make those corrections!  May we re-establish this nation on the firm, Biblical foundation upon which she was built.  As God gives us victory, may we never forget to thank Him! 

From our family to yours, we want to wish you the happiest of Thanksgiving holidays.  May we always remember and be thankful for the Lord’s mighty hand on our nation throughout our history.