The Constitution, the Law of Moses, and the Gettysburg Address

This week, the Republican led House of Representatives will, for the first time ever, read the Constitution word for word in the People’s Chamber.  Perhaps not since the founding fathers convened a Constitutional Convention to write the original document has such a public display of fidelity to the covenant between the people and those whom they elect to lead them been witnessed.

Interestingly, each year since 2004, when we passed a federal law requiring it, Americans have celebrated the original signing of the Consitution on September 17, 1787.  As an adjunct professor for the University of Phoenix, I participate in a university – wide focus on the Constitution.  Yet, in spite of this annual ritual, it would seem that some in our nation draw a line at respecting this covenant between the People and their elected Rulers.  Evidently, the “ruling class” does not believe it is required to live under the requirements of this covenant – not required to aspire to the ideals that have made this country great.

Some don’t seem to think the Constitution has any power whatsoever, and therefore can’t understand all the fuss about paying attention to it.  One such person is Ezra Klein, a reporter for the Washington Post.

While I don’t want to elevate the Constitution to the status of Scripture, it is worth noting that even non-Americans have opined over the years that our Constitution is a remarkable document.  British Prime Minister William Gladstone once said:  ”The American Constitution is, so far as I can see, the most wonderful work ever struck off at a given time by the brain and purpose of man.”

A History Lesson from King Josiah of Judah

Why the uproar against following the constitution?  The answer is the same for any culture in any time in history when the ruling class feels threatened by those they claim superiority over.  The ruling class has always attempted to set itself above God, dictating to the people they regard as inferior to themselves.  Such was the case during the reign of Josiah, King of Judah from 641 – 609 B.C.

When King Josiah was 26 years old, laborers were repairing the Temple in Jerusalem when they found a copy of the Law of Moses.  You see, the two kings of Judah before Josiah – his father and his grandfather – had failed to obey the covenant of God’s word.  When they brought the word of God to Josiah, here’s what he said to the high priest (II Kings 22:13):

Go, inquire of the LORD for me and the people and all Judah concerning the words of this book that has been found, for great is the wrath of the LORD that burns against us, because our fathers have not listened to the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.

Did you catch that last sentence?  “our fathers have not listened to the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.” Isn’t that the same thing the American People have been saying to their rulers – that they have not listened to the words of the Constitution – our “book”?

When the priest came back and spoke with the young king, Josiah knew what he needed to do.  In II Kings 23:2, we read the following:

The king went up to the house of the LORD and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests and the prophets and all the people, both small and great; and he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the LORD.

Imagine that!  He read the entire Law of Moses, out loud, right there in the Temple.  Can you imagine what the Ruling Class of Josiah’s day said about this young, upstart, CONSERVATIVE king who actually wanted to pay attention to a covenant document that some argued had no binding authority whatsoever?  Probably the same thing the Ezra Kleins, Harry Reids and Nancy Pelosies of our day are saying.

Will the Restoration of the Constitution Succeed?

In the end, the reforms King Josiah instituted died when he was killed in battle.  With him out of the way, the ruling class of Judah returned to its destructive ways, and so the country was destroyed by Babylon in 586 B.C.  The lesson for us Americans is that we can’t leave the restoration of OUR Covenant relationship with each other – our Constitution – to “them”.  WE THE PEOPLE have an obligation to see that our nation follows this document – each and every one of us.

If we are successful, then we will have honored the words of perhaps the greatest American President, Abraham Lincoln, who said in the Gettysburg Address:

… we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom— and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

So to Ezra Klein, and the liberal left he represents:  Yes!  When the Constitution is read in the House Chamber, the People’s Chamber, this will be an exercise of faith.  We, the People, have no faith in you and the rest of the Ruling Class.  We do, however, have faith in our heritage, in our Constitution, in our nation, and in our God under whom we live and draw breath.

Do you have a Bible Study that’s looking for new material?  Consider Think Like Jesus, Lead Like Moses: Leadership Lessons from the Wilderness Crucible You can find it at http://www.wisejargon.com/thinklead.htm

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