(1) My Country 'tis of thee
Sweet land of liberty
Of thee I sing:
Land where my fathers died,
Land of the pilgrims' pride,
From every mountainside
Let freedom ring!
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(4) Our father's God, to Thee
Author of liberty
To Thee we sing:
Long may our land be bright
With freedom's holy light;
Protect us by Thy might,
Great God, our King!
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Although much less well known, the fourth verse here embodies the reason for the United State's existence and the reason for its future if God so wills. And that reason most obviously is God Himself. It is by His mercy that the United States has survived 232 years, and it will only be by His mercy that we survive in the future. It's odd that the American culture promotes pride and being proud a noble thing, when in reality, pride will be the downfall of our nation. When America in its pride fails to recognize the reason for its existence, and instead boasts because if its existence, it seems inevitable - but for the grace of God - that America will not long last.
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It's amazing when you think about it, that we as country are still here. Going back to our very beginning "...and the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there...". Is it anything short of a miracle that we were the victors in the Revolutionary War? And time and time again God has shed His abundant grace on us throughout the course of our history. I'm so thankful that He has preserved us a nation. I love this land that we live in very dearly, and it makes me wonder how long we will be here as our countrymen drift further from God and His rules of morality. But in this I rest: that we are in God's hands. And as much as our God is just and wrathful, He is gracious and merciful as He reigns in sovereignty over the universe.
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I pray that He would again show His grace and overlook our transgressions so that the Star Spangled Banner would continue to wave over the land of the free, and the home of the brave!
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I hope you all had a wonderful Independence Day! =)
