We will be learning a new little song this week. It is called “Bonhoeffer’s Prayer” as it is adapted from “Morning Prayer” by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) was a faithful German Christian who ultimately gave his life resisting the evils of Hitler and the Nazis. He was arrested and imprisoned in April of 1943 and eventually hanged, naked, by a noose allegedly made of piano wire in April of 1945 at the direct order of Hitler himself. It was Bonhoeffer who famously said, “When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die.” and thus even while in prison he carried on as a beacon of faithfulness and courage. The following is one of his last know poems.
By gracious powers so wonderfully sheltered,
And confidently waiting come what may,
we know that God is with us night and morning,
and never fails to greet us each new day.Yet is this heart by its old foe tormented,
Still evil days bring burdens hard to bear;
Oh, give our frightened souls the sure salvation
for which, O Lord, You taught us to prepare.And when this cup You give is filled to brimming
With bitter suffering, hard to understand,
we take it thankfully and without trembling,
out of so good and so beloved a hand.Yet when again in this same world You give us
The joy we had, the brightness of Your Sun,
we shall remember all the days we lived through,
and our whole life shall then be Yours alone.
Our song is adapted by Isaac Wardell from Bonhoeffer’s morning prayer for fellow prisoners that he wrote presumably around Christmas in 1943. Listen and learn and take heart for God knows the way for you.
Here are our songs for this Lord’s Day:
- Bonhoeffer’s Prayer
- Shout To The North
- Come Let Us Return
- What A Friend
Or here…