Dwight Eisenhower: A Good Man, Well-Intentioned but Mistaken

Eisenhower takes the oath of office with his hand on the Bible, opened to Psalm 33:12.

The 20th Amendment to the Constitution set January 20th as the official inaugural date. Because January 20, 1957 fell on a Sunday, President Eisenhower took the oath of office for his second term in a private White House ceremony. He repeated the oath and was formally inaugurated again in public on Monday, January 21. Dwight David Eisenhower thus began his second term by placing his hand on Psalm 33:12 as he took the oath of office. Psalm 33:12 reads:

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance."

There is no doubt he is one of the most respected presidents of the 20th Century. He was certainly a sincere and God-fearing man. His presidency had no taint of scandal like some others.

However, with all due respect to him, and no desire to dishonor his memory, his choice of verses, though admirable as an aspiration, is not applicable to the United States. Two reasons.

(1) America's God is not the LORD. While some vestige of godliness remained in Eisenhower's day, liberal and worldly forces were hard at work and gaining ground in their strategy to make America not a godly nation but a worldly one. Evolutionist have worked hard to erase belief in God as Creator. Public schools that once began classes with Bible reading and prayer now prohibit both. A generation of godless teachers mold the thought and destiny of students. Those born in the latter years of the 20th Century and the first years of the 21st have no perspective on this, for the change had already taken place. Biblical Christianity has been replaced by atheism and contemporary "world views" that tolerate any belief system as long as it is not dogmatic. In other words, anything but Biblical Christianity. Any message but the Gospel. Any God but Jesus Christ. The faithful of Eisenhower's generation have passed into history.
Even among New Testament assemblies, long known for faithfulness to the Lord and His Word, we know of a case where a young contemporary leader named McNichols said to William MacDonald, "We won't get all the world war two times, Bill, but we'll get all the rest." This incident was quoted directly to the writer by brother MacDonald. So the liberalizing forces have been at work everywhere, and the spiritual landscape in the nation and its churches has been greatly altered, and not for good.

(2)America is not and has never been the people chosen by God for His inheritance. This phrase "the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance," refers exclusively to the nation of Israel. People may say what they want, but God has never chosen any other people, nor will He. Israel occupies a unique place in the plan of God. Romans 11:26 promises: "and so all Israel shall be saved." This has never been said of any other nation. Israel means Israel, not the church. Romans 11:29 explains, "For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance." God made promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that have never been revoked, nor will they be. In divine grace He chose the nation of Israel; they are "the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance."

If any nation humbles itself, repents of its sin and turns to the Lord, it can be forgiven and visited with salvation. The city of Nineveh in Jonah 3 illustrates this. Perhaps this was Eisenhower's desire. But the nation went in the opposite direction. 21st Century America is in decline in every way except sin. Decisions have consequences, even for nations like the U.S.A. No amount of technology or military might can save America from divine retribution. 

A more applicable verse for America from Psalm 33 would be verse 10, "The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect."

J. Gresham Machen said, "America is running on the momentum of a godly ancestry. When that momentum goes, God help America."  Time to wake up and repent. The momentum is gone. Next stop: judgment.