|
Welcome to Pro-Net-Work Articles!
Articles » Politics » History >> View Article
|
 |
|
 |
| How a Bible Verse Influenced the American Revolution in 1776 |
By:
Monte Luxley |
|
Thomas Paine, an Englishman who migrated to the English Colonies in 1775 with the help of Benjamin Franklin, authored and published the pamphlet, "Common Sense" on January 10, 1776. The pamphlet was published anonomously and created an immediate sensation with 120,000 copies printed in the first three months. Common Sense also became popular in England and Europe and in six months a total 500,000 were printed.
In Chapter II of Common Sense - On Monarchy and Hereditary succession, Paine's central theme against the King of England focuses on a strong moral argument, based on the book of Judges (Chapter 8). Gideon a judge leader of Israel, after defeating the Midianites, is asked to become King of Israel. He refuses and justifies this request by pointing out that it was not right for him to be king, since their only king was God.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jdg 8:23 And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paine emphasized that kings were an invention of Heathens and it was a form of idolatry that was not part of God's natural order. One hundred and thirty years after Gideon, the nation of Israel continues to seek a king and obtains one after pressuring Samuel to ask God. Their rationale for a kind was because they wanted to be like the nations around them. Paine described this as the second error in Israel's history. Using historical examples to prove that kings (both in England and in Europe) brought tyranny and numerous wars to their respective nations, and the fact that the English Colonies were now in a unique position to break away from England, Paine's arguments fired up the colonists to break away and begin the American Revolution. Paine also played a role in the French Revolution, although he was almost executed and spent 18 months in prison before returning to the United States.
To look back today at how one story in the Bible, and perhaps one key verse, Judges 8:23, affected the course of a new nation in another continent is in the realm of the providential. Despite of Thomas Paine's controversial beliefs as a Deist, rather than a mainline Christian, God was able to use him to change to course of history and raise a blessed nation. How the book of Judges, which can be to some a boring read about the ancient struggles of a young Israeli nation, was used to influence the course of the American Revolution and make law it's king is certainly something we should appreciate to this day! It certainly is food for thought.
Monte Luxley writes on a variety of subjects and including health, essential oils and important historical events. You can find his articles in: http://Essential-Oils-for-Health.com, and http://Real-Food-for-Thought.com and numerous blogs. |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
