God’s Promise and the Power of the Word
- Raymond Melendez
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
“At TheGoodNewsCast.com, we believe God’s grace and presence transcends the temple, with Jesus revealing a royal priesthood empowered to carry out God’s will."
From the story of Israel’s inheritance to the modern words of American presidents, history reveals how the presence of God has been invoked to influence a nation's identity, purpose, and future.
In Joshua 21, Scripture records the fulfillment of God’s promise:
“So, God gave Israel all the land promised to their ancestors, and they possessed it and settled there.” Joshua 21
Each tribe received its portion, yet the Levites, unlike the others, did not inherit land but the very presence of God (Numbers 18:20). This distinction gave the impression that God's presence was available only to those designated for holy tasks.
Centuries later, nations would assert this same claim of spiritual presence, not through priestly roles, but through speeches. From George Washington's inaugural address, highlighting the necessity of spiritual guidance for the republic's survival, to Franklin D. Roosevelt's prayerful leadership during World War II, presidents have consistently relied on faith to stabilize the nation during crises.
Abraham Lincoln, however, offered a strikingly different voice. In his Second Inaugural Address, he refused to claim God’s favor for either side of the Civil War, instead reflecting on the paradox of both the Union and the Confederacy praying to the same God (Lincoln).
In the modern era, presidents continue to invoke God’s presence—whether in the aftermath of September 11 or in moments of national mourning—demonstrating how religious rhetoric remains a powerful tool for fostering unity and political legitimacy. Just as the Levites embodied God’s presence for Israel, presidents have sought to do the same for their people, reminding nations that survival is not found in military power alone, but in the presence of something far greater.
God’s Presence Beyond the Temple
From the temple courts of Israel to the public squares of nineteenth-century America, history reveals a consistent truth: God's presence and grace extend beyond temples, reaching out to address the world's needs while bringing it into union with the creator.
In Matthew 12, Jesus recalls David’s act of eating the consecrated bread reserved for priests. Jesus explains that God's mercy and power extend beyond the temple walls and are actively at work outside of them.
Centuries later, abolitionists drew upon this same conviction to challenge slavery in America. Frederick Douglass exposed the hypocrisy of a nation that proclaimed liberty while denying it to millions, criticizing churches that sustained the practice (Douglass). William Lloyd Garrison declared slavery a sin against God, insisting that emancipation was not merely ethical but God's will. Their words carried the force of spiritual authority, positioning abolition as part of God’s larger plan.
From David’s mission to the calls for emancipation, it is evident that God's Spirit extends beyond the temple, reconciling humanity with the Creator, showing mercy to all nations.
Greater Than the Temple: A Holy Nation
In Matthew 12:6, Jesus declares, “I tell you that something greater than the temple is here.” Jesus explains that the priesthood is not limited to the descendants of Aaron. The Pharisees sought to restrict priestly duties to the temple, but Jesus shined a light on God’s true intention: God's mercy.
“No one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal the Father.” Matthew 11
Jesus did not initiate something new; he revealed what had always been true yet misunderstood under the Old Covenant—the Heavenly Father moving freely outside the temple.
Centuries later, this same freedom fueled the Civil Rights Movement in America. At its heart stood Martin Luther King Jr., a Baptist minister who drew upon biblical imagery to confront segregation and racial injustice. King proclaimed that civil rights were not merely constitutional guarantees but part of God's plan. In his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech, he envisioned a nation where all people would be judged by the content of their character, convicting a nation before God (King). His rhetoric elevated the struggle beyond legal battles, portraying it as a crusade rooted in God’s justice.
In equating civil rights with God’s justice, King and his followers positioned their cause as a holy act. His speech inspired courage in the face of tyranny and helped secure landmark victories, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Both Jesus and King revealed God's work outside the temple, delivering a message and vision that reminded the world that God's mercy and presence are everywhere.
The Royal Priesthood: God's Kingdom
Peter in 1 Peter declares a profound truth:
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may proclaim the wondrous works of God who called you out of the darkness and into the light.” 1 Peter 2
Followers of Christ are part of a “royal priesthood,” not because Jesus initiated something new but rather because he revealed what had always been true. Followers of Christ partake in God's mercies and are empowered by the Holy Spirit. The priesthood is not limited to Aaron's descendants or restricted to the temple; it is available to everyone who believes in and follows Jesus, who reveals God's intention.
This royal priesthood extends well beyond the temple, igniting movements in times of national crises. From the founding of the United States to the struggles for abolition and civil rights, leaders have invoked the authority of God to inspire, to unite, and to bring freedom and justice to all. George Washington sought spiritual guidance in the nation’s early years, while Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison condemned slavery as a sin against God. Later, Martin Luther King Jr. drew upon biblical imagery to demand equality, portraying civil rights not merely as constitutional guarantees but as what God always intended.
History reminds us of faith’s complexities—Lincoln warned of the peril in claiming God’s favor, and critics of abolitionists and civil rights leaders accused them of turning religion into politics. Still, their claims have been instrumental in convicting the nation of its moral duties. These leaders declared God's presence and mercy among their people, while Christ revealed a royal priesthood available to all who believe in and accept him as their King.
Jehovah's Witnesses: The Legacy of Christ
From the pages of scriptures to public speeches, history reveals a consistent truth: God’s presence and grace are meant to be witnessed everywhere and by everyone. Alma urges believers in the Book of Mormon:
“Stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things and in all places…” Mosiah 18
Likewise, Peter affirms that followers of Christ are a “royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9), called to proclaim the wondrous works of God. Jesus, the Light, revealed that this priesthood was not new but a timeless reality—the Heavenly Father moving freely among us, empowering everyone to bear witness and testify in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
The call to witness and testify has echoed across centuries, motivating nations and movements. In America, leaders and activists have invoked the name of God during crises to inspire hope. Presidents have done the same in times of war, while abolitionists and civil rights leaders proclaimed God's justice. From Abraham Lincoln's efforts to preserve the union to Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision, faith has been a source for both peace and justice.
Together, these voices testify that God’s presence and mercies reach beyond the temple. Whether in peace or in times of war, the call remains the same: to bear witness and testify of God’s holy work, proclaiming the truth in every generation, and to believe in Jesus, who reveals it all.
Works Cited
Douglass, Frederick. What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July? 5 July 1852. TeachingAmericanHistory.org, teachingamericanhistory.org/document/what-to-the-slave-is-the-fourth-of-july/.
King, Martin Luther Jr. “I Have a Dream.” 28 Aug. 1963. National Archives, www.archives.gov/.
Lincoln, Abraham. Second Inaugural Address. 4 Mar. 1865. The Avalon Project, Yale Law School, avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/lincoln2.asp.
