Lord, hear the lonely sufferer's cry

Authors:
Themes:
Scriptures:
  • Psalms 22
Book Number:
  • 1182

Lord, hear the lonely sufferer’s cry:
‘Why, God, have you forsaken me?
Why does your silence fill my ears
though I pursue you fervently?
For are you not the Holy One
enthroned in timeless splendour,
the One whose aid our forebears knew,
their Refuge and Defender?’

2. Denied the joy of self-respect,
beset by those who doubt your care,
LORD, who could quell the anxious thoughts
which pave the pathways of despair?
But still your lifelong call remains,
through testing times enduring –
come, faithful God, your promise prove,
the sufferer’s hope restoring.

3. With strength and courage ebbing fast,
with fierce opponents close at hand,
with life itself about to end
this sufferer prays for grace to stand:
‘Come swiftly, LORD! I need your help—
aggressive foes assail me!
Be nearer than the threats I dread—
I trust you not to fail me!’

4. LORD, hear the joyful sufferer’s cry—
the cry of faith refined and strong
from one who tells of answered prayer,
inviting all to join the song:
so may your worship, gracious God,
resound through all the nations,
to publicise your righteousness
to future generations.

(BASED ON PSALM 22)

MARTIN E LECKEBUSCH © 2001 KEVIN MAYHEW LTD
Martin E Leckebusch

The Christian Life - Suffering and Trial

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Tune

  • Fernhurst
    Fernhurst
    Metre:
    • 88 88 87 87
    Composer:
    • Mawby, Colin

A look at the author

Leckebusch, Martin Ernest

b Leicester 1962. King Edward VII Coll, Coalville, Leics; Oriel Coll Oxford; BA/MA (Maths) 1983; Brunel Univ Middx, MSc (Numerical Analysis) 1984. He worked for 16 yrs as a Computer Systems Programmer, followed by 5 as Support Specialist. In 2006 he was redirected to the role of Technical Design Authority for the IBM mainframe platform within Lloyds TSB. He has belonged to various CofE and Free Churches, including 6 yrs as a Methodist Local Preacher (1992–1998); currently a member of Kendal Rd Baptist Ch, Longlevens, Gloucester since 2001. His hymn-writing began in 1987; 144 hymn texts were collected in More than Words, 2000, some of which had appeared in earlier books including NewStart (1999, 6 hymns in a total of 71), Sing Glory (14 hymns), and Praise! A collection of 150 texts based on the Psalms, for singing to well-known tunes, appeared in 2006, giving a total of 275 texts by then in print. 6 of these are in Carol Praise (2006). In that year he also joined the Text Advisory Group (TAG) of Jubilate Hymns which he later chaired, and he also consults regularly with representatives of the more informal songwriters; he is active in the Hymn Soc, and lives with his family in Gloucester. In the 2005 edn of A Panorama of Christian Hymnody, which features 2 of his texts, Paul A Richardson notes their ‘conservative theology, biblical imagery and structural ingenuity’, adding that ML ‘advocates a restoration of hymnody in traditional forms to those who, like him, are in the charismatic wing of the church’. He is also keen to explore some issues often neglected by contemporary writers. By 2010, which saw the publication of a further collection Never Let the Songs End, the total number of his hymns had exceeded 400. Nos.270, 278, 285, 322, 381, 586, 604, 665, 756, 770, 771, 841, 856, 882, 892, 926, 936, 942, 1023, 1029, 1111, 1112, 1113, 1114, 1123, 1124, 1125, 1139, 1140, 1141, 1142, 1167, 1168, 1170, 1171, 1173, 1176, 1177, 1182, 1194, 1196, 1197, 1202, 1206, 1207, 1208, 1217, 1240, 1243.