PM 18 January 2026
01 The Lion Has Roared Amos 1’1-2
Introduction: The Voice of a Lion
Imagine the silence of the Judean wilderness at dusk. The shepherd keeps watch over his flock in the cooling air when, in the distance, comes the deep, rolling roar of a lion. Every ear perks up. Every creature freezes. The roar announces the presence of danger and the certainty of action. The lion does not roar for no reason.
The book of Amos begins with a roar — the roar of the Lord from Zion. It is a voice of authority, a voice that cannot be ignored, a voice announcing that judgment is at hand.
This roar will be the soundtrack of our study through the prophecy of Amos. Over the coming weeks, we will walk through a book that confronts God’s people — then and now — with the seriousness of sin, the demands of covenant faithfulness, and the unchanging holiness of our God.
We will see that Amos is not a relic of ancient history but a timeless word for the covenant people of God. The sins of Israel in the eighth century B.C. — complacency, false worship, greed, injustice — are alive and well today. The roar from Zion still calls for repentance and faith, still warns of judgment, and still offers the hope of restoration through the Lion of the tribe of Judah, Jesus Christ.
As we begin this series, we will see in just these opening verses who Amos is, where and when he ministered, and the power and urgency of his message: The Lion has roared. Will we listen?
I. Historical and Literary Context (v. 1)
A. The Prophet: Amos, a Shepherd and Fig Harvester from Tekoa
The book opens with a strikingly simple introduction:
“The words of Amos, who was among the shepherds of Tekoa…” (Amos 1:1, ESV)
At first glance, we might picture Amos as a simple shepherd boy tending a few sheep on the hillsides of Judah. But the word translated “shepherd” here — נֹקֵד (noqed) — is not the common Hebrew word for shepherd (ro‘eh), which we find in places like Psalm 23:1, “The LORD is my shepherd.” This rarer term appears only one other time in Scripture, in 2 Kings 3:4, where Mesha, king of Moab, is described as a “sheep breeder,” a man who managed flocks and produced wool as tribute for trade.
This means Amos was not just a hired hand; he was a breeder, a manager of livestock. He was a man of ordinary but steady work, familiar with the responsibilities of raising and protecting flocks, someone who lived in the rhythms of rural labor but who carried the quiet dignity of one who faithfully worked with his hands.
Later in his prophecy, when the priest Amaziah at Bethel tries to silence him, Amos testifies about his humble background in Amos 7:14–15:
“I was no prophet, nor a prophet’s son, but I was a herdsman (boqer) and a dresser of sycamore figs. But the LORD took me from following the flock, and the LORD said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’”
Here Amos uses another word — בּוֹקֵר (boqer) — derived from a root meaning cattle or livestock (baqar). This suggests that Amos not only bred sheep but also worked with larger animals, perhaps cattle or oxen, and supplemented his income by tending to the sycamore-fig trees that produced a coarse fruit eaten by the poor.
Put together, these terms paint a picture of Amos as a working man, rooted in the land, industrious and practical, but without status or standing in the religious or political elite. He was not a trained prophet. He was not a priest. He was a herdsman and a fig-picker — until the Lord called him.
And that is the point: the authority of Amos’ message rests entirely in the God who called him. The same God who took Moses from the back side of the desert (Ex. 3:1–2), who raised up David from the sheepfolds (1 Sam. 16:11–13), who called fishermen and tax collectors to be apostles (Matt. 4:18–22), now calls a breeder from Tekoa to carry the roar of heaven into the courts of kings.
Paul captures this principle in 1 Corinthians 1:26–29:
“For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world… so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.”
Beloved, this is a humbling encouragement. God does not measure usefulness by pedigree, training, or influence. He delights to take ordinary men and women, set His Word in their hearts, and use them for His glory. When the Lion roars, it is not the voice of the man that commands attention but the power of the God who speaks through him.
As we begin this series through Amos, let this be our foundation: Amos’ authority came not from who he was but from who God is. And when the Lord roars from Zion, even a shepherd from Tekoa — even a fig-picker — becomes the herald of heaven.
II. The Roar of the LORD (v. 2)
After introducing Amos and his humble background, the tone of the book changes abruptly in verse 2. The quiet hills of Tekoa give way to the deafening voice of God:
“The LORD roars from Zion,
and utters his voice from Jerusalem;
the pastures of the shepherds mourn,
and the top of Carmel withers.” (Amos 1:2, ESV)
The image is vivid and terrifying. God is not whispering. He is not negotiating. He roars — like a lion about to strike its prey. Let us linger over this verse and hear the weight of what Amos is saying.
A. “The LORD roars from Zion”
The roar of a lion is a sound you do not ignore. In the ancient Near East, the roar signaled that the lion had already seen its prey and was about to pounce. The roar is not a hollow threat — it is the sign of imminent action.
This is the image Amos uses for the voice of the LORD. When God roars, He speaks with irresistible authority, power, and certainty. This is not the voice of man but of the covenant-keeping God, the Holy One of Israel.
Notice the location: “from Zion … from Jerusalem.” The roar comes from the very center of God’s covenant presence — the temple, where He had chosen to make His name dwell (Deut. 12:5–6). This is an intentional rebuke to the northern kingdom of Israel. By this time, Jeroboam II had established rival centers of worship at Bethel and Dan (1 Kings 12:28–29), complete with golden calves, priests, and feasts. These centers were popular, convenient, and impressive — but they were illegitimate in God’s eyes.
By declaring that the LORD roars from Zion, Amos is saying: God has not changed. His authority, His presence, His worship — all are centered in the place He appointed. Israel may have rejected Zion, but Zion has not rejected Israel. The Lion roars from His holy mountain, summoning His covenant people back to faithfulness and warning them of coming judgment.
This is not the first time the prophets use this imagery. Joel 3:16 says:
“The LORD roars from Zion,
and utters his voice from Jerusalem,
and the heavens and the earth quake.
But the LORD is a refuge to his people,
a stronghold to the people of Israel.”
The roar of the Lion is both terrifying and comforting — terrifying to those who resist Him, comforting to those who take refuge in Him. And in Revelation 10:3, the glorified Christ, the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Rev. 5:5), lifts His voice with a roar that shakes the heavens, showing us that this imagery ultimately finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the Word of God incarnate.
B. “The pastures of the shepherds mourn”
The second line brings the roar down to the ground level, to the quiet pastures where men like Amos worked. “The pastures of the shepherds mourn.”
The Hebrew word for “mourn” here conveys the idea of drying up, languishing, grieving. What was once lush and green — the symbol of safety, abundance, and quiet — is now desolate.
This imagery would have hit hard for an agrarian people. When the pastures dry up, the economy collapses. Flocks starve. Families suffer. Security vanishes. God is announcing that His roar will disrupt the comforts and rhythms of daily life, tearing away the illusion of peace and prosperity that the people had built for themselves.
Beloved, this is what sin does. It brings mourning where there should be joy, barrenness where there should be fruitfulness. When a people turn from the living God, He removes His blessing and sends signs of His displeasure, calling them to repentance.
C. “The top of Carmel withers”
The verse ends with an even more striking image: “the top of Carmel withers.”
Mount Carmel, a range of hills along the Mediterranean coast, was known for its fertility and beauty. Even in times of drought, Carmel retained its greenery and abundance (cf. Isa. 35:2; Song of Solomon 7:5). To say that Carmel withers is to say that nothing is safe from the judgment of God.
The highest, greenest, most secure places will feel the heat of His wrath. What seems untouchable in our eyes is no match for the consuming holiness of the Lord.
This is a sobering reminder for us today. What “Mount Carmels” do we trust in — our wealth, our education, our national strength, our health, our religious habits? When the Lion roars, every false refuge withers, leaving us exposed before the blazing holiness of God.
D. The Voice of Judgment and Grace
Do not miss the dual edge of this roar. It is, first and foremost, a voice of judgment. God is holy. He sees the sin of His people, and He will not remain silent. The roar is a warning that His patience has a limit.
But for those with ears to hear, the roar is also a call of grace. The roar awakens the complacent, shakes the indifferent, and calls the wandering back to the fold. As Joel reminds us, “The LORD is a refuge to His people.” The roar drives the sinner either to despair or to the only safe refuge: repentance and faith in the God who saves.
E. Transition to Theology and Christ
Here, at the start of this prophecy, the message is clear: the Lion has roared. Israel cannot claim ignorance. The voice from Zion demands attention. And as we will see, this roar finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ, the Lion of Judah, who roars not only in judgment but also in salvation.
Beloved, do you hear His voice? Do you tremble at His Word? Or have you grown dull, deafened by the noise of the world? The Lion has roared. The question is not whether God is speaking but whether we are listening.
III. Theological Themes
As we have listened to the opening roar of Amos, three theological truths rise to the surface — truths that not only framed Amos’ original message to Israel but also speak with undiminished authority to the church today.
A. God’s Sovereign Word
The first and most obvious theme is this: when God speaks, He speaks with sovereign authority and irresistible power.
The roaring of the lion is not a mere sound; it is a declaration of intent. A lion does not roar without purpose. So when God roars from Zion, He signals that His word will accomplish exactly what He sends it to do (Isa. 55:10–11).
The psalmist captures this reality in Psalm 29:
“The voice of the LORD is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the LORD, over many waters.
The voice of the LORD is powerful;
the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.” (Ps. 29:3–4)
The people of Israel needed to remember that the voice coming through this shepherd from Tekoa was not the opinion of a man but the decree of the Lord of heaven and earth. When God roars, His Word shakes the wilderness (Ps. 29:8), breaks the cedars (Ps. 29:5), and strips the forest bare (Ps. 29:9).
This is why the Word of God cannot be taken lightly. His voice does not come to entertain or to be treated casually. It comes with power — power to create, power to judge, and power to save.
Application: When we open our Bibles, when we sit under the preached Word, do we approach with reverence, with a sense of holy awe that the voice of the Lion is roaring in our midst? Or do we come distracted, unprepared, assuming that God’s Word can be safely ignored? Beloved, when the Lion roars, the only right response is trembling obedience.
B. The Certainty of Judgment
The second theological theme in this opening roar is the certainty of God’s judgment.
In Amos’ day, Israel enjoyed unprecedented prosperity under Jeroboam II. Borders were secure, trade was booming, and the upper classes were enjoying wealth and leisure. Outwardly, it looked like the kingdom was flourishing. But spiritually, Israel was rotting from the inside — idolatry at the shrines of Bethel and Dan, exploitation of the poor, and empty religious ritual divorced from justice and righteousness (Amos 5:21–24).
Into this false sense of security, the Lion roars. God is saying: your prosperity will not protect you; your religion will not shield you; your complacency will not excuse you. The judgment is coming, and nothing will stop it.
This theme echoes throughout Scripture:
- Deuteronomy 28 warns Israel that covenant unfaithfulness will bring curses as surely as obedience brings blessing.
- Isaiah 5:25 describes the Lord’s hand outstretched still in holy wrath.
- Romans 1:18 reminds us that “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men.”
God is patient, but He is not indifferent. His holiness demands that sin be confronted, judged, and purged.
And this, beloved, is a word for us. We live in an age that despises the very idea of judgment. Even in the church, we are tempted to smooth the sharp edges of God’s holiness, to whisper where He roars. But the truth remains: the Lion roars because judgment is certain. As Hebrews 10:31 warns, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
C. Covenant Centrality
The third theme woven through this text is the centrality of God’s covenant.
Notice again where the roar originates: “from Zion … from Jerusalem.” Israel had built its own worship centers, devised its own liturgies, and crowned its own priests — but God still speaks from the place He appointed. His presence and authority remain in Zion, where He had set His name and promised to meet with His people.
This is a powerful reminder that God does not adjust His covenant to suit our preferences. He sets the terms of the relationship; He defines the boundaries of true worship; He alone determines what is pleasing in His sight. Israel’s innovations — their golden calves, their festivals, their priesthoods — did not bring them closer to God but drew His judgment.
For the church today, this warns us against shaping worship, doctrine, or ministry according to the spirit of the age. God still calls us to gather around His appointed means of grace: the Word, the sacraments, and prayer. He still calls us to submit to His covenant rule, not to invent substitutes of our own making.
D. Pastoral Reflection
Here, at the threshold of Amos, we are confronted with the weight of God’s voice:
- It is a sovereign Word, that must be heard and obeyed.
- It is a judging Word, exposing sin and warning of wrath.
- It is a covenantal Word, summoning God’s people back to the place of true worship and obedience.
Beloved, the Lion has roared, and the roar demands a response. Will we cover our ears, like Israel did, continuing in self-deception and sin? Or will we bow in humble repentance, fleeing to the refuge of His mercy?
IV. Fulfillment in Christ
Every word of Scripture ultimately points us to Christ (Luke 24:27), and the opening roar of Amos is no exception. In these verses we hear the sound of divine authority and judgment, but also the faint melody of grace — a melody that crescendos in the person and work of Jesus Christ, the Lion of Judah.
A. Christ, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah
The imagery of the lion is taken up in the final book of the Bible. In Revelation 5:5, the elder announces to the weeping apostle John:
“Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that He can open the scroll and its seven seals.”
The roar of Amos was a foretaste of the roar of Christ. As the eternal Son of God, Jesus is the authoritative voice of the Father. When He speaks, demons flee, storms are stilled, and graves are emptied (Mark 1:25; 4:39; John 11:43–44). His roar shakes both heaven and earth because it carries the sovereign power of God Himself (Heb. 12:26).
But unlike the roar of judgment alone in Amos, the roar of Christ carries grace and truth together. His roar calls sinners not only to tremble but to come and find refuge in Him.
B. Christ’s Prophetic Authority
Throughout His earthly ministry, Christ roared with divine authority. The crowds marveled because He “taught them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes” (Mark 1:22). His voice cut through the religious fog and cultural noise with piercing clarity.
In John 10:27, Jesus said:
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
That is the roar of the Lion calling His people. It is a voice that penetrates dead hearts and awakens them to new life. When Christ speaks, His people respond, because His Word is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword (Heb. 4:12).
C. Christ Bearing the Roar of Judgment
The roar of Amos announced judgment against the sins of Israel and the nations. But where does that roar ultimately fall? It falls upon Christ Himself at the cross.
On Calvary, the Lion of Judah bore the holy wrath of God that His people deserved. He became the substitute for covenant-breakers, taking the roar of judgment into Himself so that we might know the roar of mercy. As Paul writes in Galatians 3:13:
“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us…”
Even Psalm 22 — the psalm of the suffering Messiah — anticipates this reality. The cry, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Ps. 22:1; Matt. 27:46), is the cry of the Lion silenced under the roar of holy justice.
D. The Resurrected Lion Who Roars in Salvation
But death could not silence Him. On the third day, the Lion roared again — this time in victory. In His resurrection, Jesus demonstrated that the judgment had been satisfied, sin defeated, and death destroyed. Now His roar is not one of condemnation for those in Him, but of salvation, hope, and mission.
In John 5:25, Jesus declares:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.”
Even now, Christ roars through the preaching of the gospel, calling men and women out of spiritual death into life. His Word does what our words cannot: it raises the dead.
E. The Lion Who Will Roar Again
And there is yet a future roar. The Bible promises a day when the Lion will roar in final judgment. Acts 17:31 says:
“He has fixed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom He has appointed; and of this He has given assurance to all by raising Him from the dead.”
On that day, all who ignored His roar in this life will tremble in terror. Every false refuge will crumble, and every knee will bow (Phil. 2:10–11). But for those who have fled to Christ by faith, that roar will not terrify but comfort. It will signal the end of sin, suffering, and death, and the dawn of everlasting joy.
F. Pastoral Reflection
Beloved, hear this clearly: Christ is still roaring today. He roars in His Word, calling the lost to repentance and faith. He roars in the church, summoning us to holiness and steadfastness. He roars in the world, warning nations that their power and pride are nothing before Him.
Do you hear His roar? Do you recognize His voice? If you are outside of Christ, His roar is a call to flee from the wrath to come and to seek refuge in Him who bore the judgment for sinners. If you are in Christ, His roar is your comfort and your commission — a reminder that the Lion who conquered is also the Shepherd who will never let you go (John 10:28–29).
V. Applications
The roar of the Lord from Zion in Amos 1:2 is not a distant echo of an ancient warning; it is the living voice of the God who never changes (Mal. 3:6; Heb. 13:8). This roar calls for a response. Let us draw out several pressing applications for us today.
A. To the Complacent: Wake Up and Tremble
Israel in Amos’s day was outwardly prosperous but spiritually bankrupt. They assumed their success was proof of God’s favor. They went through the motions of worship while their hearts were far from Him (Amos 4:4–5; 5:21–23).
Beloved, how easy it is for us to do the same. We measure God’s blessing by how comfortable or successful we are. We treat prosperity as though it is proof that all is well with our souls. But the Lion roars to shake us awake.
Examine yourself: Are you presuming upon God’s patience? Have you grown dull to His Word, content with a form of godliness but denying its power (2 Tim. 3:5)? The roar from Zion reminds us that complacency is deadly. When the Lion roars, delay is not an option — repentance must be immediate.
“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” (Heb. 3:7–8)
B. To the Faithful: Take Courage
For those who are walking humbly with God, the roar of the Lion should not terrify but comfort. Joel 3:16 reminds us that the Lord, who roars in judgment, is also “a refuge to his people, a stronghold to the people of Israel.”
To the believer struggling with fear, with persecution, with grief — take courage. The Lion roars not only to warn but also to protect. He is your shield and defender. He roars to remind you that your enemies cannot ultimately harm you, for you are safe in His covenant love (Rom. 8:38–39).
When you feel small and weak, remember: the Lion of Judah roars for you, and His roar will one day silence every accuser (Rev. 12:10).
C. To the Church: Speak When the Lion Roars
Amos reminds us that when God roars, His servants cannot stay silent. In Amos 3:8 we read:
“The lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken; who can but prophesy?”
The church today is often tempted to soften its voice — to whisper where God roars, to avoid offense, to be “safe.” But beloved, silence in the face of sin, injustice, and unbelief is disobedience. If the Lord has spoken, we must speak.
This means preaching the whole counsel of God, even the parts the world despises — His holiness, His wrath, His call to repentance, as well as His mercy and grace in Christ. It means standing for truth in a culture of lies, and doing so with humility, courage, and love.
D. To the Individual Believer: Return to the Place of True Worship
The roar from Zion reminds Israel that God’s presence, authority, and blessings are found where He has appointed them — not in the counterfeit shrines of Bethel or Dan.
What about you? Where are your false “shrines”? Where do you seek security apart from the Lord — in wealth, relationships, achievements, or even religious activity that has no heart for God?
Christ is the true Zion, the living temple (John 2:19–21). To hear His roar is to be called back to Him, to rest in His finished work, and to worship in Spirit and truth (John 4:24).
E. To a Watching World: Judgment Is Certain
Finally, to those outside of Christ, the roar of the Lion is a gracious but urgent warning. Judgment is not a myth, nor is it reserved for a few especially wicked people. It is certain for all who remain in rebellion against the King.
The world laughs at the idea of judgment, but laughter will turn to terror when the Lion roars in finality on the last day (Rev. 6:15–17).
The invitation is clear: flee to Christ while there is time. The same Lion who will roar in judgment offers Himself now as the Lamb who was slain for sinners (John 1:29).
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Rom. 10:13)
F. Searching Questions
- Do you tremble at the voice of the Lord, or do you treat His Word lightly?
- Have you been lulled into spiritual complacency by comfort and routine?
- Are you trusting in your “Mount Carmels” — things you think will never fail — instead of resting in the unshakable Rock of Christ?
- Are you proclaiming His truth courageously in your home, in your workplace, in your community?
G. Pastoral Exhortation
Beloved, the Lion has roared. Do not ignore His voice. Let His roar drive you to your knees in repentance and lift your eyes to the cross, where judgment and mercy meet. Let it drive you into the world with boldness, to proclaim to every ear that will listen: “The King is coming. Find refuge in Him.”
VI. Conclusion: When the Lion Roars
Beloved, the Lion has roared.
The book of Amos does not begin with a whisper but with a roar — a sound that shakes the heavens and the earth, that pierces through complacency, that exposes false worship and empty religion. It is a sound that no one can ignore.
The roar is not the idle growl of an animal marking its territory. It is the deliberate, sovereign announcement of the Holy God who sees, who knows, and who acts. When God roars, the pastures mourn, and even the heights of Carmel wither.
This roar still echoes today. It echoes in the conscience of every sinner, reminding them of the God to whom they must give account. It echoes in the life of the church, calling us to holiness, to repentance, to faithfulness. It echoes in the preaching of the gospel, summoning men and women from death to life.
A. A Call to Repentance
Friend, if you are here today still outside of Christ — if you are trusting in your own strength, your own morality, your own religion — hear the roar of the Lion as a gracious warning. Judgment is certain. The patience of God is long, but it is not infinite.
The roar calls you to flee, not from God, but to God — to the refuge He has provided in Jesus Christ, the Lion and the Lamb. The One who roars in judgment also whispers in mercy:
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28)
Do not delay. Do not harden your heart. The roar that awakens you today will one day be the roar that seals your fate if you refuse to repent.
B. A Call to the Church
Church of Christ, the Lion has roared — what will we do with His voice?
Will we tremble at His Word, or will we grow comfortable with selective obedience, hearing only what we want to hear? Will we proclaim His truth with boldness, or will we try to tame the Lion so that the world will approve of us?
Amos was just a herdsman, a fig-picker, but when the Lord took him and sent him, he became a mouthpiece for heaven. We, too, are ordinary men and women — but we have been entrusted with an extraordinary gospel. If the Lion has roared, who can but prophesy? (Amos 3:8).
C. A Call to Hope
For the weary, for the fearful, for the one who trembles at the thought of God’s holiness, hear this: the roar of the Lion is not only judgment — it is protection and comfort for those who are His.
When the Lion roars, He defends His flock. When He raises His voice, He reminds us that no enemy, no power of darkness, no sin, no suffering can ever separate us from His love. His roar is the roar of victory, declaring that sin is defeated, death is conquered, and He will make all things new.
One day, that roar will fill the heavens and the earth. Every knee will bow. Every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phil. 2:10–11). On that day, the roar that terrifies the nations will be the sweetest sound we have ever heard — the sound that announces our final salvation and the beginning of eternal joy.
D. Exhortation
So let us listen well. Let us humble ourselves under the mighty roar of the Lion. Let us repent where we have grown cold or complacent. Let us run to Christ for refuge and stand firm in Him. And let us proclaim, without fear or apology, that the Lion of Judah reigns, and that in Him there is mercy for every sinner who bows the knee.
Beloved, the Lion has roared. Are you listening? Are you trembling? Are you trusting?
Closing Prayer
Our Father and our God,
We have heard Your voice today — the roar of the Lion from Zion, the voice that shakes the heavens and the earth. We confess, O Lord, that we are often slow to listen, quick to presume upon Your patience, and content to live as though Your holiness were not a consuming fire. Forgive us for our complacency, our pride, and our sin.
We thank You for Jesus Christ, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, who bore the roar of judgment in our place, that we might know the roar of mercy. Teach us to tremble at Your Word, but also to rest in the refuge of the gospel, where judgment has been satisfied and grace overflows.
Grant us ears to hear and hearts to obey. Shake us from our slumber, O Lord, and make us bold witnesses in a world that seeks to silence Your truth. Let the voice of Christ, our Shepherd and King, be heard clearly in our homes, in our church, and in our community.
Strengthen the weary among us. Comfort those who mourn. Guard and keep Your flock until that great day when the Lion will roar again, not in warning but in final victory, when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
We pray these things in the name of Jesus, our refuge and our strength, Amen.