With special thanks to Constituting America and Heritage College, we will be taking part in their project:The U.S. Constitution: A Reader. It is a 90 day challenge to learn and dive deeper into understanding the Constitution.
In case you missed it, catch up with day 10 HERE.
It seems that we got a little ahead of ourselves, instead of getting behind like we were at the start of this challenge. But, that’s okay. It gave us some time to ponder and reflect what this was all about. One thing that continues to bother us, is that so many people, young and old, just don’t know enough about the Constitution and what the other Founding Documents mean and stand for. So let’s get started.
Abraham Lincoln understood how all these things fit together. It’s comforting to know that since he was our President. He tried to explain this somewhat in a little known writing called: Fragment on the Constitution and the Union. Read it HERE.
Lincoln was a man of faith who was often seen studying in the Bible. A man of few words, he drew these words from Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver” – which he used to describe the relationship between the purpose of the Constitution and the principles of the Declaration of Independence.
The main theme of this writing is centered on the principle of “Liberty to all.” It’s what Lincoln referred to as:
. . .the principle that clears the path for all – gives hope to all – and, by consequence, enterprise, and industry to all.
Profoundly written at a time, much like today, when this Union was divided. Many felt that slavery was okay, and they even tried to link it to biblical ideas. However, the principle of Liberty lit something within Lincoln. He knew and understood that Liberty was Freedom. The very principle which defined us. It is the reason we for the Declaration of Independence. Freedom, or Liberty, definitely clears the path for all. It does give hope. It’s why people want to come here.
So, how does this fit in with Proverbs 25:11? Here is the connections Lincoln found:
- The principle is the word that is “fitly spoken.”
- It is an “apple of gold” to us.
- The “pictures of silver” are the Union and the Constitution.
Are you starting to see it yet? They are very powerful documents in and of themselves, however, when you put them together and link them together, they are profoundly inspired which brought forth this nation.
Slavery takes away those Liberties. Those Liberties are being threatened more and more each day. Education is the only way to combat these threats.
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