Thoughts on Independence Day ... the 4th of July.
The phrase "let freedom ring" is deeply rooted in American history and culture. It gained widespread prominence through the hymn "My Country, 'Tis of Thee," better known as "America" written by Samuel Francis Smith in 1831. The relevant stanza goes:
"My country, 'tis of thee,Sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing;Land where my fathers died,Land of the pilgrims' pride,From every mountainside, let freedom ring!"
For many folks the Liberty Bell comes to mind in relationship to the 4th of July, Independence Day. In fact however, the Liberty Bell was originally cast to commemorate the 50th anniversary of William Penn's Charter of Privileges, Pennsylvania's original constitution.
The Liberty Bell was ordered by the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly in 1751 to hang in the new Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall in Philadelphia. It gained iconic status in American history as a symbol of freedom and independence, especially after it was associated with the Declaration of Independence and later with the abolitionist movement.
IF NOT FOR A BIBLE VERSE ...
Do you think the "Liberty Bell" would be iconic, let alone even remembered, if not for this verse on it?
"Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants thetherof."
If not for those remarkable words, I highly doubt it! Plus, "Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants thetherof" is only part of the full bible verses. Here is the "rest" of it:
Leviticus 25:8-10
You shall count off seven weeks of years—seven times seven years—so that the period of seven weeks of years gives you a total of forty-nine years.
Then you shall sound the horn loud; in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month—the Day of Atonement—you shall have the horn sounded throughout your land
and you shall hallow the fiftieth year. You shall proclaim release throughout the land for all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you: each of you shall return to your holding and each of you shall return to your family.for it is a jubilee. It shall be holy to you: you may only eat the growth direct from the field.
I find one other Hebrew Bible verse with the words "Proclaim Liberty" in it.
Isaiah 61:1 (KJV) "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;"
Does Isaiah 61.1 sound familiar to you? Do you see a deeper common theme between the verse from Isaiah, Leviticus and Independence Day?
When it comes to "freedom" I am reminded of the phrase "The truth sets you free." That statement encapsulates the idea that understanding reality as it truly is, rather than living under illusions or deceptions, is the path to genuine freedom and fulfillment. This applies on personal, social, intellectual and spiritual levels.
The big question is, where can you find truth and the freedom it brings?
I heard this statement this morning: "What you don't know, you can't walk in, even though it is yours." It resonated in my mind. If there ever was a time when America and Americans needed "freedom," this is it.
Have a fun and safe 4th of July!
