Stand Still

"Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord."  Exodus 13:14

On September 13, 1814, during the War of 1812, Francis Scott Key was invited to dine aboard a British ship as a guest of the Vice and Rear Admirals,  as part of a group to negotiate the release of American prisoners.

The British ships were poised and intent to attack Baltimore. The three Americans, having witnessed the strength and position of the British ships were not allowed to return to their own ship.

Key was unable to do anything but watch the bombing of the American forces at Fort McHenry from the British deck.  At dawn, Key was able to see the American flag still waving and he wrote the poem which has become our national anthem.

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 rocket's 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,

For the land of the free, and the home of the brave.

The Lord would have us to be the same as Key during the assaults and attacks we face throughout our Christian life. We are as powerless to fight in our own defense as was Key on the deck of that British ship.  Our hearts, however, can be at peace and rest knowing that we don't fight our own battles. It is Christ in us who works in and through us to accomplish His will.  We must stand still and trust the Lord to be our strength, our strong tower, our deliverer.  

Let us rest in Him and ever "stand still and see the salvation of the Lord."