Psalms for the Suffering Church

By Jeffrey A. Stone

Demands for justice. Prayers for healing, mercy, and protection. The call for enemies to embrace as brothers. Psalms for the Suffering Church takes readers into the hearts of the broken and those who suffer for the sake of Jesus Christ. These modern-day psalms give expression to the deep emotion of the persecuted believer, pastors, and the temptations of the church in modern North America. Even as Christians worldwide are called to be faithful to the point of death, there remains steadfast confidence in the resurrection of Jesus and the living hope to which we are called. May we be evermore reminded that whoever bears the cross will wear the crown of eternal life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Resource Publications
• Release date: Aug 22, 2022
• ISBN: 9781666749663

Jeffrey A. Stone

Jeffrey A. Stone has served as a pastor in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod for almost twenty years, leading congregations in Ohio and Indiana. He is the husband of Julie and the proud father of Caleb and Abigail. He is the author of Proclaim the Wondrous Birth: Daily Prayers for Advent (2011) and Branches of the Tree (2012). A proud Kentucky native, Jeffrey and his family reside in Indianapolis.

Book preview

1

Lord and Master, Your love for Your people is great.

Greater than the mountain peak, more vast than the savannah.

We pray the prayers our fathers taught us,

We sing the songs of our mother’s mother.

Like great birds with winged beauty and lions with clawed strength, we, Your creatures, praise You.

Earth and sky, river and sun, moon and mountain praise You.

Grasshopper and mighty warrior lift up the arms you fashioned for them

All for the sake of your goodness.

As we praise, others laugh. Those who mock Your Name are outside shouting.

Ones who hate You hurl lies like stones with murder in their hearts.

Save us, Abba, from the violence of evil men. Protect us with Your grace.

By Your strong hand and Your mighty arm, save those who love Your words.

All the day, my Father, I will acclaim You and worship You.

Even though I am weak with fear, I will trust You to keep me strong.

Those who hate Your righteousness surround Your house of worship.

They pound on the doors of Your holy temple.

Arrogance fills their hearts and blood is on their hands.

They use bullets and grenades and bombs on Your people.

These are the ones who set violence ablaze to consume the green grass while Your children try to run.

They fear not Your judgment or Your justice.

Save us, Abba, from the violence of evil men. Protect us with Your grace.

By Your strong hand and Your mighty arm, save those who love Your words.

Turn back the evil, Lord, with a gentle wind of grace.

Make the gun to cease and bombs to stop.

Cause the bullets to freeze in the barrels of their rifles;

Make them fall to the earth like harmless rain.

Turn grenades into doves who fly away to rest in the shade.

Save us, Abba, from the violence of evil men. Protect us with Your grace.

By Your strong hand and