Lincoln's Second Inaugral Address

I loved the opportunity to read and study Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address this past week. Abraham Lincoln has always been one of my greatest role models. He was not only an incredible president and leader, but also a phenomenal man. According to Philip Schaff, Lincoln was one of the rare men that actually understood what the Civil War was really about. Other historians note that through his leadership, Lincoln was trying to see what God intended, and act accordingly. I wish we always had such God-fearing men of strength and unmatched integrity to lead this great nation.

I was impressed to learn why Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address was so short. I always just used to think it was because all of his speeches were short and succinct, but that was definitely not all. In giving this speech, he felt that the nation already knew how things stood with the war. They knew the issue, and what was presently at stake, so he didn’t feel the need to use redundancy. The power of his speeches never ceases to amaze me.

From Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address, I learned that there are several conclusions the revered president wanted to drive home. First was that the Civil War was God’s War. I thought it was insightful how he noted that both sides had prayed for the defeat of the other side. Brothers, enemies, were uttering the same prayers to the same God and hoping for the same results. Lincoln also established that this war was the result of the Nation’s sin; not the North or South alone. This is significant that he did not place blame on one side or the other. He truly saw the need for working together in both unity and love if this great Nation was to be rebuilt. Liberty, he said, must be re-founded based on charity and love.

I am so grateful for incredible men like Abraham Lincoln, who have led our great nation through some of its darkest hours. One of the most important things to recognize, however, is the role of religion in his life. As is especially seen through his Second Inaugural Address, Lincoln acknowledged the hand of God in all things. He was a man of humility, integrity, and charity. I really feel that Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address provides us with a unique window to the past. It allows us to see and truly understand the environment, facts, and impact of our great nation’s Civil War. May we always learn from the past, live in the present, and look to the future.