Happy Independence Day!

Oh say can you see
by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed
at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars
through the perilous fight
O'er the ramparts we watched
were so gallantly streaming.

And the rockets' red glare,
the bombs bursting in air
Gave proof through the night
that our flag was still there
Oh say does that star spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free
and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band
who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war
and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country
should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out
their foul footsteps' pollution.

No refuge could save
the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight,
or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner
in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free
and the home of the brave!

Francis Scott Key was a very religious man. He had seriously considered entering into the ministry and his faith was always a keen part of his life. The rarely sung last verse of his song points to his love of country, but points with even more clarity, to his love and recognition of the sovereignty of God.
—Janet Parshall

O! thus be it ever,
when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home
and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace,
may the heav'n 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!

Key saw the hand of God in the protection of Fort McHenry [the battle described in our national anthem]. But more importantly, he knew the Lord had clearly guided the establishment of our nation. Key's words are a lasting reminder of the profound truth that God can be trusted—both in times of war and times of peace.

Sometime this summer, you will probably hear or sing the national anthem. When you do, think of a lawyer from Maryland who loved God and country. Take a moment to remind yourself of his good counsel to "praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us as a nation." The same God who kept watch over Fort McHenry still watches over our nation today and because of that Truth, free men and women still stand.

Janet Parshall, An Anthem for the Ages, life: beautiful - Summer 2008, p. 95