Amidst all the patriotic fervour (note the 'u') in the USA this weekend I starting thinking of some of the verses of the British national anthem, God Save the Queen. Most know the first verse only,
God save our gracious Queen Long live our noble Queen God save the Queen! Send her victorious Happy and glorious Long to reign over us God save the Queen!
But there are a number of other notable verses which very few know about.
One of my favourites (again note the 'u') is this one,
One realm of races four Blest more and ever more God save our land! Home of the brave and free Set in the silver sea True nurse of chivalry God save our land!.
Some of the fun ones would be these,
O Lord our God arise, Scatter her enemies, And make them fall: Confound their politics; Frustrate their knavish tricks; ON thee our hopes we fix; God save us all.
From France and Pretender Great Britain defend her, Foes let them fall; From foreign slavery, Priests and their knavery, And Popish Reverie, God save us all.
While I smile at the reference to France in that last verse, I can certainly agree with the prayer that God deliver us from slavery to man and man-made religion. These last verses show a great desire for right behaviour toward God as well as man. The words in all these verses should be a great challenge and blessing to the citizens of the United Kingdom today. They reflect a Godly purpose and foundation, one which we must regain if we are to see God's blessings on us as a nation once again.
God bless our native land! May heaven's protecting hand Still guard our shore: May peace her power extend, Foe be transformed to friend, And Britain's rights depend On war no more.
2 Lord, our monarch bless With strength and righteousness: Long may she reign:Her heart inspire and move With wisdom from above; And in a nation's love Her throne maintain
3. May just and righteous laws Uphold the public cause, And bless our isle: Home of the brave and free, Thou land of liberty, We pray that still on thee Kind heaven may smile.
And this final verse definitely has overtones of evangelism for me as a Christian:
4. Nor on this land alone, But be God's mercies known From shore to shore: Lord make the nations see That men should brothers be, And form one family The wide world o'er Read more
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