A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. – Proverbs 25:11
In 1889, the townspeople of Plymouth dedicated a memorial to the Pilgrims who had settled there 269 years earlier. Known as the National Monument to the Forefathers, the memorial stands 81 feet high and is sculpted from 300 tons of New England granite. It features a massive octagonal pedestal surmounted by a 36-foot-tall female figure labeled “Faith.” She faces Plymouth Harbor with a Bible in her left hand and her right hand is pointed toward Heaven, reflecting the importance of divine inspiration to guide the Forefathers to Plymouth.
The sides of the pedestal supporting the Faith statue have four upright panels, two of which list the Mayflower passengers. The northeast panel bears the dedication, and a panel on the monument’s southwest face bears a quote from William Bradford, the second governor of the Plymouth colony. It reads: “Thus out of small beginnings greater things have been produced by His Hand that made all things that are; and as one small candle may light a thousand, so the light here kindled hath shone unto many, yea in some sort to our whole nation; let the glorious name of Jehovah have all the praise.”
Those people who disembarked from the Mayflower were men and women of deep conviction, uneasily daunted, willing to suffer for their faith. They have left an invaluable Christian legacy for America that is set in stone and continues for eternity.
Remember to tell others about this nation’s Judeo-Christian foundation and how God has worked in your life as a result. Pray that your local and national leaders make decisions in order to return America to its spiritual roots.
Today’s Verse: Proverbs 25:11
A word fitly spoken
is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Joshua 4:1-14
When all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, 2 “Take twelve men from the people, from each tribe a man, 3 and command them, saying, ‘Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests’ feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight.’” 4 Then Joshua called the twelve men from the people of Israel, whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe. 5 And Joshua said to them, “Pass on before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, 6 that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ 7 then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.”
8 And the people of Israel did just as Joshua commanded and took up twelve stones out of the midst of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, just as the Lord told Joshua. And they carried them over with them to the place where they lodged and laid them down there. 9 And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the covenant had stood; and they are there to this day. 10 For the priests bearing the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan until everything was finished that the Lord commanded Joshua to tell the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua.
The people passed over in haste. 11 And when all the people had finished passing over, the ark of the Lord and the priests passed over before the people. 12 The sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh passed over armed before the people of Israel, as Moses had told them. 13 About 40,000 ready for war passed over before the Lord for battle, to the plains of Jericho. 14 On that day the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they stood in awe of him just as they had stood in awe of Moses, all the days of his life.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
