Gary Varvel: When America gave thanks to God

A review of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamations

ARCHIVE: My 2022 cartoon.

THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATIONS

"Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!" (Psalm 107:1)

GEORGE WASHINGTON’S PROCLAMATION

On October 3, 1789, the first President of the United States, George Washington, issued a national Thanksgiving Proclamation. It began by saying: 

“WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the Providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.”

First of all, notice that Washington said it’s the duty (obligation) of all nations to acknowledge (admit, concede) the providence (protective care) of “Almighty God.” Washington mentions God twice in the first paragraph and a total of 15 times in his Proclamation.

Second, he says we are to “obey His will.” News Flash: We can’t obey His will if we don’t know His will and we can’t know His will if we don’t read His word.

Third, after saying that we should obey God, Washington says that we should be “grateful (thankful) for His benefits.”

Fourth, he says we should “humbly to implore” “His protection and favor.” Humility is a word our generation doesn’t understand and “implore” means to plead, beg, ask God for His “protection and favor.”

In the third paragraph of Washington’s Proclamation, he does something that is unheard of today but something that is desperately needed. He said:

“And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions.”

“Transgressions?” That means “sins.” And “beseech Him to pardon” means Repent! Americans have a lot of “beseeching” and repenting to do today for disobeying God’s will by aborting 62 million babies, redefining marriage and genders, record-setting crime, homicides and immorality. 

Will President Biden issue a Proclamation to repent of our national sins? Will he even acknowledge Almighty God, our duty to obey Him and our thankfulness for His benefits? Or will he drone on and on about what big government can do for you and end with a “God bless, uh, you know, the thing.”

It’s obvious from Washington and the Founders’ writings that they sought the Creator God and God answered by making the United States of America, the greatest nation in history.

Washington designated Thanksgiving Day to be celebrated on Thursday, November 26, 1789. John Adams and James Madison similarly declared Thanksgiving a holiday.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN’S PROCLAMATION

But it wasn’t until October 3, 1863, at the height of the Civil War, when our 16th President Abraham Lincoln issued a Thanksgiving Day Proclamation and it became a national holiday. He encouraged Americans to set aside a day of prayer and thanksgiving. The Proclamation began by saying:

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.

Lincoln admitted that we are “prone to forget the source” of blessings and then acknowledged “Almighty God.” Forgetting our Creator seems to be our default setting. History is full of examples of good people living like practical atheists.

Lincoln wrote:

“In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity…order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict.”

Lincoln addressed the civil war but then lists the good things that were happening in our country. This is a needed lesson for us. When we are faced with suffering, that is the time to count our blessings and thank the Giver of the blessings. Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Lincoln continued:

“No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.”

Lincoln admitted that no human wisdom or hard work had produced our blessings. No, they were the gracious gifts of God while He dealt with America in His anger for our sins.

Next, Lincoln called for Americans to join him on the last Thursday of November to humbly pray for those who had lost loved ones in the war and to “fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation.”

Did you notice that both Washington and Lincoln spoke often about God? Perhaps that is why they are legendary. Their faith in Almighty God enabled them to do great things in His power. Oh, if only God would give us a leader who is not afraid to call on our nation to repent and return to God.

Who knows perhaps the new Speaker of the House Mike Johnson will be such a man. 

ARCHIVE: Another 2022 cartoon.

THANKSGIVING GALLERY

ARCHIVE GALLERY: Every 8 seconds you’ll see a Thanksgiving cartoon from the past.

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RIGHT LINKS

Townhall - Sarah Arnold: Tucker Carlson offers grim warning for the U.S. in 2024.

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My Latest Series of Essays

Part 1 — God’s 7000-year timeline: Mount Sinai, Transfiguration, Jericho and Sabbath Prophecies

Part 2 — The Rapture

Part 3 — God’s 7000-year timeline: Hosea and Woman at the Well Prophecy

Part 4 — God’s 7000-year timeline: The Lazarus Prophecy

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