Deus Misereatur

  Many years back I was working with teenagers from all over a west Texas city. After giving a Gospel presentation, talking about the Father’s love for his people, and so forth, I dismissed the kids. But there was one teenage girl left in the room, and she was weeping. I asked an older couple to stay in the room at the back while I talked to her. When I sat down to see why she was crying and maybe how I could help, her situation unfolded before me. My talk about a Father’s love left her cold and crushed. Her father left her as a child, and several of the adult males in her family (stepfather, uncle, etc.) had abused her, both physically and sexually. I was face-to-face with the outworkings of evil, the lasting damage it causes, and the way it keeps hearts away from God and his love. With that experience in the back of my mind I was delighted, and keenly interested, when I received “Sensitive Preaching for the Sexually Hurting,” a 208-page softback published in 2016. The book is penned

  Long ago I stumbled on the New England Primer of 1690. As it goes through the alphabet for young minds, it has a specific letter and then a short ditty. For example, under “A” it has, “In Adam’s fall, we sinned all.” Very catchy for both teaching letters and Protestant theology. In a similar way, Jonathan Gibson, minister in the International Presbyterian Church (UK), Associate Professor of Old Testament, Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, and author, has compiled a snazzy kid’s book, “My First ABC Book of Bible Verses: Big Truths for Little Minds”. It is brightly illustrated by Mike Mullan. As the title indicates, the book follows the twenty-six letters of the alphabet, one letter per page. But instead of using cute ditties the letters are attended by a Bible verse at the top of the page. It’s all very simple. For example, the radiantly displayed letter “A” has Isaiah 53:6 attending it, “ All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way .” T

  LORD God, to whom even the darkness is not dark; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. Who formed our inward parts; knitted us together in our mother's wombs. We praise you, for we are fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; our soul knows it very well (Psalm 139:12-14). We remember those of our children and grandchildren who are still being formed by your skillful hands in their mother’s wombs (…). Smile on their gestation and may they each come forth always trusting in you and your goodness. But we also remember before you those who never saw the light of day, as well as those who quickly passed away (…). Thank you for the little moment their mamas and daddies had with them. Thank you for the brief kick or movement in their mother’s womb. We believe your Son when he said the kingdom of heaven is heavily populated with brephas , with pre-born and newborn children. Give soothing stillness and healthful wholeness to their mothers and

  You declared through Isaiah that you are the LORD, and there is no other, besides you there is no God; you equip people, even those who do not know you, so that folks may know from one horizon to the other that you are the LORD. You form light and create darkness; you make well-being and create calamity; you are the LORD, who does all these things (Isaiah 45:5-7). It’s to you we pray: Back when we were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures (Titus 3:3) you saved us according to your own mercy. In like manner, please save those who trust in their own strength, those who walk in their own darkness, those who are hostile and alienated from others and hostile and alienated from you (…). As you have been our healer and helper in days past; therefore, please restore and raise up those dealing with depression, dementia, disease, debilitation, and distress (…). You have taken care of our needs and provided for us in ordinary and extraordinary ways; please