Isaiah 26:3-4 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.”
Francis Scott Key’s poem, inspired by the sight of the American flag waving over Fort McHenry after intense bombing, was almost immediately distributed to the public. The first printing was made on September 17th, 1814, with the first publication a few days later. What is lesser known today is that this poem and our current National Anthem contains not just one, but four stanzas. Indeed, the fourth stanza poignantly reminds us of the pervasive faithfulness of our founders:
“Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war’s desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heaven-rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust.”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Time and again, we have been a “heaven-rescued land.” As our founders did, we must recognize that “the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation” is worthy of our praise. Above all, we must embrace the motto that “In God is our trust.” PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICANS WOULD RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO FULLY TRUST IN THE ONE WHO HAS EVERLASTING STRENGTH. Perfect peace awaits those who do.
