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My Country, ‘Tis of Thee (Psalm 122)
15 Plays6 months ago
Our national anthem was officially adopted in 1931. Long before the nation ever sang the Star-Spangled Banner (which I love), we sang another song written by Samuel Francis Smith. Smith was a seminary student and claimed that he penned the words to My Country, ‘Tis of Thee in 30 minutes back in 1831. He stated that he wanted to humbly express his gratitude for the blessings given by the Lord to our country and offer up a simple prayer asking the Lord to continue to guide her into the future.
My favorite stanza in My Country, ‘Tis of Thee is the last verse which says, “Our father’s God, to Thee, Author of Liberty, to Thee we sing: Long may our land be bright with freedom’s holy light; protect us by Thy might, great God, our King!” Amazing how relevant his song offered up so long ago still is for our times.
To assist us in praying for our country in celebration of Independence Day, I thought I would also pass along a song from the Bible’s hymnbook, Psalms. Psalm 122 is “a song of ascents”, referring to the three times per year that God’s people would journey to Jerusalem. Along the way, they would sing some of the pilgrim songs recorded in Psalms 120-134.
The famous British expositor, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, said of Psalm 122 that even though they sang this song after they completed their journey and entered into Jerusalem, anyone can sing this prayer from wherever they are standing in the place where God has planted them. It offers six prayer prompts for our country, or really any country.
Pray for the Priority of Praise within My Country, 122:1-2, 4, 9
Pray for the Protection of Peace within My Country, 122:2, 6-7
Pray for Prudence along with Progress within My Country, 122:3
Pray for Purity of the Policies within My Country, 122:5
Pray for the Provision of Prosperity to My Country, 122:6-7
Pray for Providence over the People of My Country, 122:8
Growing in Grace Devotions and Inspirations
Hosted by Pastor Victor Morrison
First Baptist Church
1700 Milam Street
Columbus, TX, USA 78934
http://fbccolumbustx.org/
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction and Church Invitation
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Welcome to Growing in Grace with Pastor Victor Morrison. This is a ministry of First Baptist Church located at 1700 Milam Street, Columbus, Texas. We are praying that God will bless you as you listen to this message. If you would like additional information on worship times and ministries at FBC Columbus, you can find out more at our website, FBCColumbusTX.org.
Sermon Introduction: Psalm 122 and Independence Day
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And now take your copy of God's timeless word as Pastor Victor gives today's message.
00:00:43
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Welcome back to Growing in Grace. I'm Victor Morrison. I'm the senior pastor at First Baptist Church in Columbus, Texas, and I'm glad you're listening in today. I've got a word from Psalm 122, and it's sort of in honor of the American Independence Day, but you may find that God's going to talk to you wherever you are in the world from this great Psalm, Psalm 122. But I'm going to call it, My Country, Tis of Thee. Do you know that 100 years before the Star-Spangled Banner became our national anthem back in 1931, as a country, we were singing a different song.
Song Inspiration: 'My Country, Tis of Thee'
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We were singing My Country, Tis of Thee. In 1831, a seminary student named Samuel Francis Smith wrote these words he said in 30 minutes. He just scratched them out.
00:01:33
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And so they ask him, well, what were you trying to say in the song? And he said, well, really, I wanted to express my gratitude for the blessings that have been given to my country across the years, but i also wanted to offer up prayer that God would guide her in the future. You can hear that sort of idea in the last stanza, especially, that says, our Father's God to thee, author of liberty to thee we sing. Long may our land be bright with freedom's holy light, protect us by thy might, great God our King." I think it's well said. I think Samuel Francis Smith was doing great to write that in 30 minutes.
Psalm 122: Pilgrim's Song and Historical Insights
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But you know this Psalm 122 is actually what they call a pilgrim's song or a journey song.
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Because the Jewish people, they were spread out all across Israel, but three times a year, they would make a journey to Jerusalem to worship the Lord there. And so whenever they were on the way, they would sing these pilgrim psalms. And so one of them was Psalm 122. And Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the great British expository, he said, he thinks that since they were standing in that place of worship in Jerusalem, you'll hear him say that in the moment when I read this Psalm. Well, he said, maybe we could pray that for wherever we're standing, wherever God has us. Because, you know, God told Jeremiah in Jeremiah 29.7, but seek the welfare of the city where I've sent you into exile and pray to the Lord on its behalf
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For in its welfare, you will find your welfare." Wow, I bet that was pretty hard for them to pray for Babylon, that Babylon would be blessed. But he says, don't forget, since that's where you are, you might want to pray for him. So let me read this great psalm and share with you six prayer requests that I think on this Independence Day, we could be praying for our country.
Praying for the Nation: Biblical Instructions and Historical Parallels
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He says, I was glad when they said to me, let us go to the house of the Lord. our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem built as a city that is bound firmly together, to which the tribes go out up the tribes of the Lord, as was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord. There, thrones for judgment were set, the thrones of the house of David. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. May they be secure who love you.
00:04:14
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Peace be with your walls and security within your towers. For my brothers and companion's sake, I will say peace be within you. For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good." So let's look at this passage and think, how can we pray for our country the way that David was praying for his? I think one thing we could pray for is to pray for the priority of praise. you know He says, I was glad when they said to me, let us go to the house of the Lord. you know They're going there to worship the Lord. Do you know that's why God made the nations?
00:04:55
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In Acts 17, 26 and 27, it says that He made from one man every nation of mankind, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place that they should seek God. That's why we've been created. Psalm 22, 27, David said, all the families of the nations shall worship before you.
Christianity's Role in American Civilization
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He said again in Psalm 86, 9, all the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name." I just love that. You know, I think it's interesting too that our first president, George Washington, made a public statement on Thanksgiving, October 3rd, 1789. And here's what he said, it is the duty of all nations, not just the United States, it's the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God
00:05:53
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to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and to humbly to implore his protection and favor. Wow, I love that. You know, I think also it's important for us to remember that um the word of God is a part of things. You know, President Zachary Taylor said this, it was for the love of the truths of this great book, the Bible, that our fathers abandoned their native shores for the wilderness. The same truths sustained them in their resolutions to become a free nation. And guided by the wisdom of this book, they founded a government
00:06:33
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under which we have grown from three millions and from being but a stock on the borders of this continent, we have spread from the Atlantic to the Pacific." Wow, thought that was so amazing. But remember, all of it is like verse four of our passage here, to which the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, as was decreed for Israel to give thanks ah to the name of the Lord. you know ah Teddy Roosevelt once said this when he was president, no candid observer will deny that whatever of good there may be in our American civilization is the product of Christianity. Still less can he deny that the grand motives which are working for the elevation and purification of our society are strictly Christian. A belief in Jesus Christ is the very fountainhead
00:07:30
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of everything that is desirable and praiseworthy in our civilization. And this civilization civilization is the flower of time. But just think about so many of those founding fathers and how they spoke about the praises of the Lord. But I think a second prayer request
Divine Providence and National Guidance
00:07:51
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that we could pray is for the protection of peace within our country. You know, in the midst of his Psalm of praise, thanksgiving, and prayer, David mentions these kinds of words. Did you hear them when I read Psalm 122, the word security, the word gates, the word walls, the word towers? You see, the place where he worshiped was a protected place. Humanism teaches that mankind is basically good.
00:08:21
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But the Bible teaches that mankind was created good, but chose evil. I just wonder how many Americans live in complete trust of the goodness of all others when they leave their house unlocked, their doors wide open, their windows unlocked. no No security alarms, no security cameras. I wouldn't say there'd be too many of those. You know why we have freedom in our houses? Why we have freedom to worship? Because people have protected that peace and people have prayed over that peace.
00:08:58
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You know, back in the early days of the Federal Convention of 1787, James Madison was taking notes and he wrote down something, a comment made by one of the members at the convention named Benjamin Franklin. He made this comment on June the 28th, 1787. Listen to what he says about the founding fathers of this country and about how prayer for God's protection had made such a difference to them. Because remember, just before that time, the ah the Britain was ah imposing high taxes, they seized property and crops, they had indiscriminate looting, and they could take your house or your field, take all your food to feed the British troops. But here's what Benjamin Franklin said in 1787. In the beginning of the contest with Great Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayer in this room
00:09:57
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for the divine protection. Our prayers, sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending providence in our favor. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? Or do we imagine we no longer need his assistance?
Biblical Principles and American Prosperity
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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 man." Wow, what a powerful reminder by Benjamin Franklin, someone you wouldn't think would say that. You know, David wrote in Psalm 33, blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. And so we need to remember we always need God. That's why we should pray. He'll continue to protect.
00:10:52
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our peace that we have within our country. I think another thing that we should add to our prayer list would be to pray for prudence in any progress that it is made within our country. You know, he talks about how in verse 3, Jerusalem was built as a city that is bound firmly together. and So think about how societies change. I know definitely America has changed. If you were to run back the clock all the way to the Civil War and then let the clock start from there, what kind of inventions have been ah created since then? How about telephone, electricity, the automobile, indoor plumbing, air conditioning,
00:11:40
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the airplane, radio, television, the power drill, penicillin, the computer, contact lens, cell phones, and on and on we could go. But I guess this third prayer request is for prudence in the midst of any kind of, quote, progress, end of quote, that takes place within our country. I think there are two words in this one verse three that can help us to evaluate any kind of modifications that are happening. Those words are build and bound.
00:12:16
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build and bound. In other words, are these things that we are calling progress, are they constructive or are they destructive? We should say, is this building us into a better country or is this weakening us into a weaker country? But then I think about the word bound. Are these things helping us to be more cohesive to where we're standing together, united as a country? The United States, for example? You know, there are some governments that actually produce anarchy. There are some governments that actually produce tyranny.
00:12:56
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And then there are other governments that somehow by the grace of God are able to produce liberty. I don't know about you, but that's the one I want. That's the one I've received as a gift from forefathers who've passed it down to me. But I think we should pray for wisdom and discernment. Some things are okay to change, but some things, well, they simply must never change. May our nation discern what
Balancing Liberty and Unity in Governance
00:13:24
Speaker
morals, what values, what principles, what actions honor the Lord and what things do not. Samuel Adams in an article published in the Boston Gazette in ah June 12th, 1780 made this comment, may every citizen in the army
00:13:43
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and in the country, have a proper sense of the deity upon his mind, an impression of that declaration recorded in the Bible, him that honoreth me, I will honor, but he that despithers me, shall be lightly esteemed." That is a quote from 1 Samuel 2 and verse 30. You know, the founding fathers believed that God was the source of absolute truth, the source of power, and the source of authority. And you know what it did?
00:14:17
Speaker
It helped build us. It helped bind us. We were able to welcome people from all across the world to come and be here. The United States suggests that when people came here from other parts of the world, they became a part of something that was known by historians as, well, the melting pot. And it means that we are melded together as if there were metals being melted down to become a stronger alloy. You know, in 1787, Alexander Hamilton wrote these words, For in my own part, I sincerely esteem it a system which, without the finger of God, never could have been suggested and agreed upon by such a diversity of interests. James Madison would later write in the documents known as the Federalist Papers, It is impossible for the man of pious reflection
00:15:17
Speaker
not to perceive in it a finger of that almighty hand which has been so frequently and signally extended to our relief in the critical stages of the revolution." In other words, they saw, they knew that God was the one who had helped them all the way. Even George Washington, February 7, 1788, said, as to my sentiments with respect to the merits of the new Constitution, I will disclose them without reserve. It appears to me, then little short of a miracle, that the delegates from so many different states should unite
00:15:58
Speaker
informing a system of national government. Do you see what I'm saying? There was something built, something built that was able to be united around where the whole country could come together. I think another great prayer request would be to pray what verse five talks about, for the purity of the policies within my country. David wrote, these thrones for judgment were set, the thrones of the house of David, You know, I think that he's referring there to government, isn't he?
Biblical Wealth and Prosperity
00:16:32
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When he's talking about thrones and judgment and things being set. You know, most students, when they're learning about US government, learn about the three branches of government. The executive branch, legislative branch, judicial branch. But what many do not ah really know
00:16:50
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is that James Madison was inspired by Isaiah 33, 22 at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 when he said, listen to this, men, for the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king. He will save us. From that, they thought we need an executive branch We need a legislative branch and we need a judicial branch. Well, I think it's so important that all the powers were divided powers. So all of that just to say, why don't we pray that God would continue to help our policies be pure policies?
00:17:31
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you know ah ah chief The first Chief Justice of the United States was John Jay. He served from 1789 to 1795. And here's what he said, I recommend a general and public return of praise and thanksgiving to him from whose goodness these blessings descend, the most effectual means of securing the the continuance of our civil and religious liberties is always to remember with reverence and gratitude the source from which they flow. I think he knew God did this. Well, let's move to another prayer request that it's a fifth one would be to pray for the provision of prosperity to our country. Now, I'm not a prosperity gospel preacher.
00:18:20
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But I do believe that the Bible addresses the right handling of money and possessions in 2,350 verses that are found within the
Welfare, Unity, and Historical Virtues
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Bible. And so there's a right way and a wrong way to handle money and and the the blessings that God may entrust to us. For example, scripture forbids stealing, but it commends work. It warns of incurring too much debt. Jesus urged trusting in God rather than giving way to worry. The Bible encourages to reduce spending. Wealth is a way to honor God. There's so many ways that we have been blessed as a nation because we were founded on biblical principles.
00:19:09
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And I just thought, well, how about what John Adams said? He was once president of the United States. He said, the experiment is made and has completely succeeded. It can no longer be called in question whether authority in magistrates or civil leaders and obedience of citizens can be grounded on reason, morality, and the Christian religion. the general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity. Well, let's go to the final prayer request, and that would be to pray for providence over the people of our country, to pray for providence over the people of our country. You know, in verse eight, David says, for my brothers and companion's sake, I will say, peace be within you.
00:20:03
Speaker
Yeah, it sounds like he cared about those people, didn't he? He was praying for peace within his capital city and he was praying for God's providence to be over the people of that city. You know, prayer for God's sovereign control and plan for his capital and country was important because it helped him remember that any country is made up of families and friends. Do you know that Jesus wept over the capital? Paul wept over his countrymen in Romans 9. You know, sometimes I think that people forget that we're all connected to one another. The founding fathers of this nation understood that the future of the nation would be more determined by the virtue of the people than the quality of the government. I want you to listen to what Samuel Adams wrote to James Warren in a letter dated February the 12th
00:20:59
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1779. Samuel Adams wrote these words, while the people are virtuous, they cannot be subdued. But when once they lose their virtue, they will be ready to surrender their liberties to the first external or internal invader. I pray we never lose our virtue. Even Benjamin Franklin, eight years later, wrote these words, only a virtuous people are capable of freedom.
Sacrifices for Independence
00:21:29
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As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters. I pray that never happens to us as a nation. You know, um whenever the Declaration of Independence was written, do you know that 56 men signed that Declaration of Independence?
00:21:50
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They signed the Declaration of Independence, and the last thing that they wrote there said this, and for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor. Wow. See, those men had strong convictions. willing to sacrifice for the cause of liberty. And so I thought to myself, wow, that one sentence says we're ready for whatever may come for us to protect that freedom that we enjoy together as Americans. Do you know that history tells us that of those 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence, five were captured by British troops and tortured. 12 had their homes looted
00:22:46
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ransacked and burned. Two lost sons in the Revolutionary War. Two more had sons captured, and nine fought and died from wounds they suffered in the war. When they wrote those words, I think they meant it. I think they were serious, and they thought, okay, here's what we're going to be willing to do for our country, and I think they did it. You know, I just really pray that you'll have a ah wonderful Fourth of July, a wonderful Independence Day.
Closing Prayers and Reflections on Freedom
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But just remember, our freedoms were not free. They cost a lot of people so much, and they were willing to pay that price so that we as future generations would be able to live here in freedom. So I just thank the Lord so much for our nation. And I want to close by just praying over our nation. If you'll join me in prayer, we'll pray these six things over the nation together. Let's pray together. Lord, thank you so much for giving us so many blessings, Lord. We can't even count. We can't count that high.
00:23:55
Speaker
But I thank you that these words that are written here in Psalm 122 can at least point us in the direction of how to pray for our nation. And so we wanted to pray first that you would help our nation always make it a priority to praise the Lord, to give thanks to the Lord. I pray that we would never assume or presume upon you, but that we would always want to give you the thanks for our blessings. I pray also, Lord, that you would protect the peace that we have. I thank you, Lord, that we're able to go home to our homes and our homes are our peaceful homes and we are able to worship and there's peace in our ah churches and in our cities where we work. But Lord, I realize that that peace needs to be protected. So this day we pray for all of our law enforcement officers. We pray for those who are
00:24:53
Speaker
ah protecting our peace around the world through our military. So I pray that you would be their shield and protect them this day. Father, thirdly, I want to pray that you would give us discernment, give us prudence for progress that happens in our country. Lord, I don't want our country to be backwards. I don't want our country to to live in the dark ages, so to speak, in terms of technology or improvements of different ah ah inventions and so forth.
00:25:25
Speaker
But at the same time, not all changes are always good. And so help us to have prudence as there are different changes that are made to our nation and to our lifestyles. I also pray for the purity of the policies that are within our nation. Thank you for our forefathers who thought this through and who based the branches of our government on scripture. That's why we have the executive legislative and judicial branch. And so Lord, I thank you for how the patterns are there. They believed Romans 13, where it talks about that the government has a sword for a reason, to protect the peace that we all enjoy. And so God, I pray you would continue to help us have policies that are good policies, policies that are noble and right and just.
00:26:20
Speaker
I pray fifthly, Lord, that you would also guide us. We're definitely struggling with materialism. There's no doubt. So I feel funny praying that you provide for our prosperity. But I know that our prosperity is what feeds our families. The prosperity that we have is what helps us to be able to send missionaries around the world It helps us to be able to help those who are having disasters in their countries. And so all I know to say, God, is please continue to provide for our needs as a nation. Please give us prosperity that we might be a country that can help others and send out missionaries around the world, and that we would be able to care for the families that we love so dearly.
00:27:10
Speaker
And that leads me to the final prayer request, that Lord, you are just in your providence and sovereignty. Would you please bless the people of the United States? Lord, if Jesus wept over his capital, if Paul prayed over his countrymen, help us to realize that we're connected. Lord, we're so polarized these days, but I pray that you would bring us back. Help us to unite around the gospel message. It is a gospel that will reach the whole world. It can make disciples of all the nations.
00:27:45
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And thank you, Jesus, how you show us what we were made to be. I thank you, Jesus, that the word actually says, so if the Son sets you free, you'll be free indeed.
Conclusion and Blessings
00:27:58
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Lord, true freedom is spiritual freedom. And that's the freedom I pray for every person listening today. May they find freedom that's found only in Jesus Christ. It's in his powerful and wonderful name we pray together. Amen. Well, thank you, friends, for listening today. Pray that God will bless you. I pray you will have a great time on Independence Day. Thanks again for listening to Growing in Grace.
00:28:30
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This is a ministry of First Baptist Church, located at 1700 Milam Street, Columbus, Texas.