#212 The Thanksgiving Proclamation

Program #212 “Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Proclamation” – 11/22/2015 – Synopsis

In view of our upcoming celebration of Thanksgiving, Program #212 is about President Lincoln’s proclamation to make Thanksgiving a national holiday. It is quite unusual that a day for thanksgiving was not instituted during a time of prosperity, but during the bloodiest conflict in America’s history. More lives were lost in the Civil War than all other America’s wars combined.

What is most unusual about the Civil War is (1) the fear of God’s wrath driving Americans in 1860 to end injustice (It parallels ancient Israel’s civil war over immorality described in Judges 19-21. As we see in the current abortion battle, it is doubtful that our generation would ever go to war over a moral issue.), and (2) the ease in which the war could have been avoided. (But God so blinded the minds of the participants that they would walk into their own judgment.)

So here is a truth that we don’t often consider on Thanksgiving: thankfulness for the chastening of the Lord upon the nation – thankfulness even when we have to reap the consequences of the sins of our fellow countryman.

Scripture References: 2 John 11; 1 Timothy 5:22; Genesis 18:25; Joshua 7; Judges 19-21; Isaiah 59:15-16; Psalm 46:8-10; 1 Kings 12:15; Hebrews 12:11; Job 13:15; Genesis 50:20; Habakkuk 3:16-19