210 Years Ago

It was 210 years ago today (or because of today) that these words were penned in Baltimore:

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, Thru 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?

The answer?  YES!!!!!  Yes, she does!  

It was another close, close call.

The Brits had just landed seasoned troops from Europe having defeated Napoleon, and the USA was now in the cross hairs.  The Brits had marched into Washington D.C. and set it ablaze on August 24 (1814) but God sent a storm that extinguished the fires and scared the Brits into leaving.

Now, three weeks later, the British were attempting to destroy a barrier to their capturing of Baltimore and ultimately the country.  They relentless bombarded the fort all through the night of September 13-14 and come morning light, the flag still flew!

A defeat in either of these events could been the young country’s end.

But NO – providence – God’s providence!  God said, “No!”

There she was, tattered and torn, yet lifted to the sky in triumph!