Lesson 23: Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.
www.bible.com/bible/59/psa.25

O Lord of hosts, now that I have confessed my sins before You, prayed for my transgressions, praised Your mercy, and desired Your grace, I must, with David, beseech You in behalf of my brethren.

The bride of Christ, the glorious Church, who was clothed in variegated raiment, and decked with divine ornaments in honor of the king, is changed completely into a disgraceful harlot. The King of glory, Christ Jesus, blessed forever, is daily esteemed as a simpleton and despised as a fool. His holy apostles, the beloved witnesses of Your truth, must as liars give way with their doctrine to all men.

If I travel east, west, north or south, I find in all places nothing but vain stubbornness, perversion, blindness, avarice, pride, wantonness, rioting, drunkenness, pomp and splendor, strife, envying and ungodliness. I find the learned speak like the beast, are ambitious, avaricious, gluttonous, earthly and carnally minded and teach according to the lusts and desires of men. There are scarcely any who seek for truth and if there are, they must bear Your cross.

Therefore, my cheeks are wet with tears day and night. My soul finds no comfort. Like the prophet Micah, I may well go naked. The light of our candlestick is put out, the ark of our covenant is spoiled, our holy things are defiled, and the name that is called upon us is almost profaned. Our righteous men are carried away, our little ones are destroyed, our young men are bought in bondage, and our strong men are become weak.


Repair and rebuild Your fallen temple, the stones of which are trampled upon in every street. Gather together Your wandering sheep and receive Your returning bride who has behaved so perversely with strange lovers. O God of Israel, create in us a pure heart that longs for Your blessed word and will. Send forth faithful laborers into Your harvest who cut and gather the grain in due season.

Perfect the builders who lay for us a good foundation, that in the last days Your house may be established and appear above all the hills, that many people may go there and say, "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths" (Isaiah 2:3). We pray that we may walk before You in peace and liberty of conscience all the days of our lives, under a good government and with blameless teachers, with a Christian baptism, true Supper, godly life, and a just separation.

We pray that You may in power be eternally honored and praised in us as in Your beloved children, through Your dear Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, to whom with You, O Father, and Your Holy Spirit, be praise and everlasting dominion, Amen.