Which Verse Would YOU Choose?
20 January 2021
It’s a powerful image, when presidents-elect choose to place their hands on a Bible when they swear the presidential oath of office guided by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
Our last two presidents enjoyed the honor of using the personal Bible of President Abraham Lincoln. Sometimes the presidents decide to open the Bibles to specific passages. Wow!
If YOU were being sworn in as president today (or who knows, in four or eight years from now), which verse would YOU choose to signify your prayer for your years of serving? According to the records of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, here are some presidential selections, as worded in the King James Bible:
George Washington in 1789: Genesis 49:13
Perhaps the most bizarre verse, we should note this page was opened at random. (While I like Washington’s image of a Bible open, this goes to show you when you’re praying, it’s probably a bad idea to just randomly select a verse for divine guidance.) “Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be a haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Sidon.”
Abraham Lincoln in 1865: Matthew 7:1; 18:7 and Revelations 16:7
Matthew 7:1: “Judge not, that ye be not judged.”
Matthew 18:7: “Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!”
Revelations 16:7: “And I heard another out of the altar say, even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.”
Chester A. Arthur in 1881: Psalm 31:1-2
“In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness…”
Grover Cleveland in 1885: Psalm 112:4-10
“Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious and full of compassion, and righteous…”
Benjamin Harrison in 1889: Psalm 121:1-6
“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help…”
Grover Cleveland in 1893: Psalm 91:12-16
“They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone…”
William McKinley in 1897: II Chronicles 1:10
“Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge thy people, that is so great?”
William McKinley in 1901: Proverbs 16:20-21
“He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.”
Theodore Roosevelt in 1905: James 1:22-23
“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves…”
William H. Taft in 1909: 1 Kings 3:9-11
“Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy great people?…”
Woodrow Wilson in 1913: Psalm 119:43-46
“And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments…”
Woodrow Wilson in 1917: Psalm 46
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble…”
Warren G. Harding in 1921: Micah 6:8
“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”
Herbert C. Hoover in 1929: Proverbs 29:18
“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”
Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933, 1937, 1941 and 1945: I Corinthians 13
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing…”
Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953 and 1957: Psalm 33:12
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.” During his 1953 Inauguration, Eisenhower also had a Bible opened to II Chronicles 7:14: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
Gerald Ford in 1974: Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding…”
Jimmy Carter in 1977: Micah 6:8
“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”
George W. Bush in 2005: Isaiah 40:31
“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
Quite a list. I admire these presidents for asking the Lord’s blessing through the act of laying their hands on these holy promises of God while they swear their oath. It reminds me of our confirmands choosing “life verses” at the affirmations of their baptisms, life verses which speak to them as they commence a new phase on their baptismal journeys.
The confirmation/life verse I chose is John 8.31-32: “Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” I’ll keep reflecting on other verses too, but I think I’d be happy to lay my hand on these words of Jesus if I’m ever elected president.
But how about you? It’s a neat exercise for us all to consider. What Bible verse would we choose as our pledge, our inspiration, our prayer? We might not be taking the presidential oath, but for our country to thrive during the next four years, each one of us needs to “pony up.” Each one of us should take an oath to be the best citizen we can, to play the role we can play to foster liberty and justice for all.
So, let me challenge you today. First, can our nation count on YOU playing your part even as we support our new local, state, and national leaders who are starting their new terms of service? Second, which Bible verse can you choose this day as your inspiration/theme for your next four years of faithful citizenship?
Let us pray:
Dear Lord, today we pray for all our elected leaders who commence their terms of service. Let their serving connect to the Scripture verses we’ve read above. Likewise, steer each of us with your promises as we pledge to play our vital roles as faithful and positive citizens. In Jesus’ name, Amen.