Except The Lord Builds It...

 

Benjamin Franklin addressed the Constitutional Convention in 1787 during crisis in their deliberations and was recorded as follows: “Mr. President; The small progress we have made after 4 or five weeks close attendance & continual reasoning’s with each other, our different sentiments on almost every question, several of the last producing as many noes and ayes, is methinks a melancholy proof of the imperfection of the Human Understanding. We indeed seem to feel our own want of political wisdom, some we have been running about in search of it. We have gone back to ancient history for models of Government, and examined the different forms of those Republics which having been formed with the seeds of their own dissolution now no longer exist. And we have viewed Modern States all round Europe, but find none of their Constitutions suitable to our circumstances. In this situation of this Assembly, groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings? In the beginning of the Contest with G. Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room 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. To that kind Providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? 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 men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that ‘except the Lord build the House they labor in vain that build it’. I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye word down to future ages. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments be Human Wisdom and leave it to chance, war and conquest. I therefore beg leave to move, that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the Clergy of the City be requested to officiate in that service.” https://wallbuilders.com/franklins-appeal-prayer-constitutional-convention/

[Matthew 24:36-39] Our God is a God of infinite virtue. His love is boundless. His mercy is absolute, His grace unhindered. But even our God in time will say, “Enough.” As in the era of Noah; of Sodom; the nation of Israel; time came when God said, “I will go no farther with these people.” This lesson from the Word of God - people, nations, and even the Lord’s church never seem to take serious. In God’s own good time he will bring an end to this foolishness of our self-governing, and the curtain will come down on the final day. Paul put it in these words, “…in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:8). “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31). Except the Lord builds the house our labor is vain (Psalm 127:1).