September 14, 1814. Some sources place lawyer, Francis Scott Key, aboard the HMS Tonnant. Others say it was the HMS Surprize or the HMS Minden. Either way, Key and John Skinner had gone to secure the release of an American POW. Not knowing that the British were about to attack Ft. McHenry, they were detained in fear that they might reveal those plans. While standing aboard the ship, Key helplessly watched as the fort was bombarded. In the early light of day, they saw a beautiful sight that caused Key to write those famous words.
O 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;
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
Take a moment and reread those lyrics. Pause at each phrase and each line, allowing the imagery to soak in. Key painted quite a picture for those of us who weren’t there.
On this day in 1931, 117-years later, President Herbert Hoover made it official. The Star Spangled Banner, originally titled Defence of Fort M’Henry, was the official national anthem of the United States of America. Unfortunately, the National Anthem is being vilified these days, especially in the athletic arena.
Please do not misunderstand what I’m about to say. Hear it, read it, and receive it in the intended spirit. I love American. I am a patriot and patriotic. I am emotionally moved by our National Anthem and totally agree with it being sung at sporting events, churches, community centers, or wherever an opportunity arises.
But I do think there is a better song to sing.
Psalms 96:1-3 says, “O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth. (2) Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day. (3) Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.” And Psalms 67:3-5 says, “Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. (4) O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah. (5) Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.”
The nations are supposed to be singing about the Lord. We are to be exalting His name. This certainly should be true about Christians, that we would lift up the name of the Lord on high wherever we go.
A national anthem heralds the nation to which we belong. 1 Peter 2:9 reminds us that the Christian belongs to another nation. “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.”
Let’s lift our voices today with glory for God. Let’s extol the virtues of Heaven, a land we have not seen but to which we are headed. It’s the place we call home.
“For our conversation (our citizenship) is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: (21) Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” Philippians 3:20-21
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